Kai Tak’s new climbing wall can bring global scene to Hong Kong, ex-pro says

Just Climb founder Danny Ho Sin-fai said on Friday he hoped the opening of a new facility at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park could attract the sport's biggest events to the city.

Climbing was first included as an Olympic sport at the Tokyo Games in 2021, when there was just one event that combined the three disciplines: lead, which sees the climber ascend while clipping the rope into protection; bouldering – without a rope or harness – and speed, where the athlete attempts to reach the top as quickly as possible.

In Paris last year, speed climbing ran as a separate event, with lead and bouldering combined, but in Los Angeles 2028, all three disciplines will have individual medal potential.

And Ho, a former member of the Hong Kong national climbing team, said this was the perfect incentive for young people in the city to take up the sport.

“The Olympics has encouraged the sport to grow,” Ho told the Post. “Younger athletes now see climbing as a way to glory at the Olympics.

“We want more young kids from different generations, at university or even young adults to add taking part in this sport to their daily lives.