The source text is in Chinese. This English version is for reference only. In case of any discrepancy between this English version and the Chinese version, the Chinese version shall prevail.  

In March, a succession of mega cultural and sports events take place in Hong Kong, highlighted by Hong Kong Sevens 2025, a "M" Mark event which was hosted inaugurally at the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP). During the event, a Cathay Pacific’s low-flying plane flew near the KTSP and passed through Victoria Harbour, undoubtedly an important symbol of the local mega event economy’s take-off. According to the Government statistics, the number of "M" Mark events increased from 4 in 2005 to 25 in 2024 and reached 640,000 participants in 2023. Nevertheless, as the scale of mega events expands, the industry is facing an imbalance between the supply and demand of talent. 

Although universities have introduced courses related to sports event management in recent years, graduates generally lack practical experience. Consequently, there are vacancies in the sports sectors with no professionals to fill them, whereas graduates are uncertain about their employment prospects. In the light of the Government's ongoing promotion of sports in the community, supporting elite sports, promoting Hong Kong as a centre for major international sports events, enhancing professionalism and developing sports as an industry, bridging the gap between industry and academia has become a critical issue. 

Focusing on Practical Experience to Cultivate Talent 

The successful experience of the 2008 Beijing Olympics is worthy of emulation. Back then, to nurture professionals for the Mainland’s sports sector, the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games collaborated with 16 universities to train 826 interns for roles in the event organisation, with internships ranged from 6 to 12. In addition, Hong Kong may take reference from some international paradigms. For instance, the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 Team offered Singaporean youth opportunities to intern at their headquarters in the United Kingdom. In a period of just 2.5 months, the students gained not only an in-depth understanding of the operations of the sports industry but also participated directly in supporting the Singapore Grand Prix, which furnished them with invaluable experience for their future careers. 

In the context of Hong Kong, despite the existence of cooperative mechanisms between certain sports associations and universities, students are often assigned routine administrative tasks, with limited opportunities to engage with core operations of events. Alternatively, interns can gain first-hand experience of the distinctive appeal of the mega sports event industry by working at large-scale, international, and impressively exciting "M" Mark events, such as the Hong Kong Sevens and the Hong Kong Marathon. 

Therefore, the Government can leverage the "M" Mark events as a pilot scheme, commencing with the application criteria, which require organisers to recruit local interns for a minimum of 2 months. Positions may encompass core functions, such as marketing, communications, operations, and logistics. Furthermore, the internships should be closely tied to the key stages of events, for example the 2-month preparation period before and during an event, so that students can experience the entire process from planning to execution. To illustrate, mega sports events, including the Hong Kong Open Badminton Championships and the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open, in September and October will be potential summer internship opportunities for local students. 

Looking ahead, to pursue higher achievement, Hong Kong students should explore the Greater Bay Area (GBA). In 2023, Hong Kong hosted 46 mega events that created numerous potential opportunities, whereas the entire GBA organised a total of 118 events that represented even greater opportunities. The vigorous development of the sports economy in the cities, such as Shenzhen and Guangzhou, is driving an increasing demand for talent with a strong understanding of international standards and the Mainland market. Given talents in Hong Kong are recognized for their biliteracy and trilingualism, the local Government can collaborate with Mainland authorities or oganisations regarding the participation of Hong Kong students in mega events, including marathons or tennis opens held in the GBA cities. The internship period is expected to cover the entire process from event preparation to execution. As a result, Hong Kong will play a more significant role in the sports sector of the GBA. 

Formulate Strategic Plan for the Sports Sector 

In the longer term, the Government should take the lead in formulating a talent-planning strategy for the sports sector through the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau. Hosting a mega sports event involves multiple disciplines, namely event planning, public relations and marketing, venue management, refereeing, sports media, sports arbitration, etc. Anticipating the manpower requirements of the sector allows for the formulation of a more accurate long-term training strategy, facilitating the establishment of a professional certification system that ensures the professionalism of the talents meet market demands. 

To fully utilise the potential of a mega events capital, Hong Kong should focus beyond event hosting to talent investment. By establishing a "M" Mark internship programme and collaborating with the GBA, the Government, enterprises, and higher education institutions together can create a clear pathway from "interest" to "internship" and ultimately "employment," giving the youth a sense of passion and fulfilment in participating in world-class events. Once achieved, new vitality will be injected into the mega events economy, and the enhancement of professionalism will be driven by maintaining Hong Kong as a centre for major international sports events.