No world-class swimming pool in Hong Kong any time soon, sources say
A previously considered location has since been deemed ‘not big enough’ for an Olympic-sized facility
A new swimming arena capable of hosting world-class competition was unlikely to be built in Hong Kong any time soon, sources have told the Post, with officials deciding there was no room for a pool near Kai Tak Sports Park.
Sung Wong Toi Park, a thin strip of land sandwiched between two major roads in Kowloon, had reportedly been considered for the project, but was later deemed “not big enough” for an Olympic-sized facility.
A government source said while they could build something there “for what we wish to have, we are not entirely sure we can fit everything – spectator stands and other facilities – in it”.
The source added: “We couldn’t quite visualise it happening there for now; maybe we could try squeezing everything in, but there’s no conclusion yet.”
Hong Kong’s leader John Lee Ka-chiu had mentioned the construction of a new pool in each of his past two policy addresses, after local swimming star Siobhan Haughey amassed four medals – two silver and two bronze – at the past two Olympic Games in Tokyo and Paris.
Despite the fact that a location had not yet been identified, the source confirmed that a new swimming arena remained a priority for the government.