Hong Kong, 23 August 2023 — Gay Games 11 Hong Kong 2023 (GGHK), the first Gay Games to be held in Asia, today shared some important updates on the preparation and planning of the event, which will take place from November 3 to 11, 2023.
Lisa Lam, co-chair of GGHK, said: “The Games are less than 100 days away so the entire GGHK team is excited to announce these important updates on our preparation and planning of Gay Games 11 Hong Kong 2023. We have secured all of our venues and will engage some amazing performers to make this a truly memorable and inclusive event for all.
“We are especially pleased to introduce our official mascot, Sunny the Lion, who embodies the spirit of resilience and determination that we want to celebrate and share with the world. Sunny will be our guide and companion throughout the Games, inspiring us to create miracles from the impossible.
“We invite everyone to join us in November 2023 for a spectacular celebration of sports, arts, culture, and diversity.”
New Venues
GGHK has secured Queen Elizabeth Stadium (QES) as the venue for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Gala Concerts, as well as the Martial Arts and Dodgeball sporting competitions. QES is a multi-purpose indoor arena located near Hong Kong’s bustling Causeway Bay district. Other confirmed venues include MacPherson Stadium, Jockey Club HKCFA Football Training Centre, HKC Dragon Boat Association Training Centre, Sha Tin Rowing Centre, HKU Stanley Ho Sports Centre, Victoria Recreation Club, KGV School, Kowloon Junior School and SoHo House.
GGHK has confirmed AIA Vitality Park as the venue for the Festival Village thanks to the generous support of The Entertainment Corporation, operator of the Hong Kong Observation Wheel. This will include use of The Grounds, a spacious outdoor event space, exclusively for GGHK participants, and the use of the AIA Vitality Hub for GGHK programmes. The Village will be a hub of social and cultural activities during the Games, featuring live performances, workshops, seminars, and stalls.
Robyn Joseph, COO of The Entertainment Corporation Limited, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming visitors to the Festival Village at AIA Vitality Park. It is especially meaningful for The Entertainment Corporation Limited because it aligns with our vision and values of connecting brands and communities through entertainment.
“This is a unique opportunity to showcase the diversity and vibrancy of Hong Kong’s culture and community. We are committed to creating a safe and inclusive space for all GGHK participants and visitors, where they can enjoy a variety of events and activities that celebrate their identity and achievements. We look forward to welcoming everyone to The Grounds and the AIA Vitality Hub, where they can experience the best of Hong Kong’s entertainment and hospitality.”
New Performers
GGHK is pleased to reveal new performers for the Gala Concerts, including the Brass Ensemble of the Hong Kong Philharmonic, one of Asia’s leading orchestras; Darkwah, a singer-songwriter from the UK, and Jason Dhakal, a Filipino R&B artist and rising star. They will join previously announced performers such as Courtney Act from Australia, Virgin X from the UK, Silvy from Thailand, Cambodian dance troupe Prumsodun Ok and Natyarasa, local talents Terence Siufay, Miss Janni, Zelos Wong, and local drag queens.
Official Mascot and Medal Designs
GGHK today also unveiled our official mascot and medal designs. The mascot’s name is Sunny the Lion (神奇小獅), who can “create miracles from the impossible” (化腐朽為神奇). Sunny is inspired by Hong Kong’s iconic Lion Rock, which symbolizes the city’s spirit of resilience and determination and the ability to rise above difficulties and stand strong. The “Lion Rock Spirit” reflects the collective will to preserve and maintain a sense of unity and purpose in the pursuit of a better future. Sunny is a lion that leads the Games, blessing all with good fortune and success, inspiring Gay Games participants to never give up and strive together for greatness in the name of sports, friendship and inclusion.
The medals for GGHK are designed to reflect the core values and identity of the event. The outer ring of the medals consists of bauhinia petals, a prominent feature of the GGHK logo and brand. The petals form a circular shape that resembles a crown, a lion’s mane, or rays of light, symbolizing glory, courage, and vitality. The petals also have different heights to create a sense of movement and energy.
The inner ring of the medals features a more traditional motif of bauhinia petals arranged as a laurel wreath, which represents honor, victory and peace. The inner ring also bears the official slogan of GGHK in both English and Chinese: Unity in Diversity. The center of the medals displays the official logo of GGHK, which includes the icon, the wording, and the FGG logo. The back of the medals will have a simple design with enough space to write the relevant information for each sport discipline.
Volunteer Recruitment Program
GGHK is launching its Onsite Volunteer Recruitment Programme and aims to recruit close to 2,000 volunteers for the events in November. Volunteers are essential for the success of Gay Games Hong Kong, and they will be engaged in a variety of roles such as registration, information booth, sports operations, ushering for the Opening Ceremony and concerts, media relations etc. Volunteers will have an opportunity to meet new friends, learn new skills, and experience the joy of playing an important role in the successful staging of Asia’s first Gay Games.
The registration site is: https://gghk.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=76738
New Partners
Klook will be the Ticketing & Experience partner for general admission tickets to the 9-day Event (including Opening and Closing Ceremonies) and specific sports tournaments. Leveraging Klook’s presence across regions, travelers across Asia are welcome to be a part of our event and games. Ticketing to individual concerts will be arranged separately. Details of the gala concerts and how to purchase tickets will be announced later.
Kenny Sham, General Manager of Hong Kong & Macau at Klook, said: “We are honored to be the ticketing & experience partner for the 11th Gay Games in Hong Kong. As a global experience brand, we celebrate diversity and inclusion in our culture and values, and we are proud to support this landmark event that showcases the vibrancy and diversity of Hong Kong and Asia. We are committed to providing our users with the best travel and leisure experiences possible, and we are confident that the Gay Games will be one of them.”
GGHK is also announcing the inaugural list of discount offers for participants, from renowned brands including:
- Joint Dynamics
- LANE EIGHT
- The Nesbitt Centre
- Taschen Hong Kong
- Walk in Hong Kong
More offers will be announced in the days to come. Please stay tuned to our social media for the latest participant benefits!
Community Business has also joined the GGHK partnerships as Knowledge Partner, delivering essential training for GGHK volunteers including workgroup collaboration, conflict management, and fundamentals of DEI and LGBTQ.
Janet Ledger, CEO of Community Business, said: “We have long been a champion of LGBT+ inclusion in Hong Kong through our research, campaigns such as the Hong Kong LGBT+Inclusion Index and our Mentoring Programme for early career LGBT+ professionals. We are proud to collaborate with Gay Games Hong Kong as a knowledge partner. It’s fantastic that this international, world-class, diversity festival of sports, arts and culture organized by the LGBT+ community is coming to Hong Kong and we urge the broader Hong Kong community to get behind this event.”
New Promotional Video
GGHK today also launched a promotional video produced by Havas Hong Kong entitled “The Pride Lions”, featuring an LGBTQ couple in a traditional Chinese village. Lion Dance is a traditional celebration in Hong Kong that symbolizes honor and respect. However, it is also generally seen as a “Chinese male-only” sport whereby other minorities, including women, sexual minorities and ethnic minorities may not feel included and welcomed. Our video challenges this norm by featuring a couple who proudly display the rainbow flag, which represents diversity and inclusion, alongside the colorful lion costumes. Their love story transcends the boundaries of tradition and shows that everyone deserves an equal stage to celebrate their identity.
Our video is accompanied by the classic song “Love is a flag flown high”, which was released in 1981. The song’s lyrics resonate with our message of courage and freedom: “Let the flag fly high from the castle of my heart, Let it fly in the sky, Let the whole world know that the rainbow is hanging over there”.
Commenting on the video, Kenneth Tung, executive creative director of Havas Hong Kong, said:, “How accepting is Hong Kong of the LGBT community? We don’t have a clear answer yet, so we decided to conduct an experiment. We had a gay couple perform lion dance in one of the most conservative spots in Hong Kong. Our goal was to increase the public’s awareness and acceptance of the LGBT community and to integrate them into our traditional values. We believe that everyone should have an equal opportunity to express themselves and celebrate who they are.”
The Games will feature close to 20 sports staged at a range of venues across Hong Kong, providing participants with a truly local experience worthy of the Games’ first time in Asia. Dragon Boat Racing and Mahjong have been especially added to give the sporting calendar a true Hong Kong feel.
To ensure that this is truly a “Games for All,” GGHK is offering fee waivers for younger people below the age of 25, as well as migrant workers, domestic helpers, and minorities, on a first-come-first-served basis.
Media Information
Please contact [email protected] or https://gghk2023.com/en/press/
Press materials and hi-resolution photos of mascot and medal designs can be downloaded at this link
