​The 8th Hong Kong Games (HKG) has been postponed for a year due to the COVID-19 epidemic situation. Athlete selection in the 18 districts, originally scheduled to start this year, will be held from April 2021 to January 2022 instead, while inter-district sports competitions will begin in March 2022.
      
     District athlete selection for the 8th HKG was scheduled to begin in September this year. However, as the epidemic situation has been fluctuating, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department has been obliged to implement corresponding disease prevention and control measures by temporarily closing some recreation and sports facilities and suspending recreation and sports programmes and competitions. As a result, athlete selection has not started yet. The process cannot be held within a short period, as athletes require sufficient time to undergo training in the recently reopened sports facilities before taking part in the selection.
      
     To safeguard public health and to ensure a high standard for the Games, the 8th HKG Organising Committee decided to postpone the event for a year to 2021 and 2022. The arrangement will allow sufficient time for the 18 District Councils and other co-organisers to better prepare for district athlete selection, inter-district sports competitions and community participation programmes. Spectators will be allowed to watch the competitions on-site if circumstances permit.
      
     Publicity and promotional activities for the 8th HKG will be launched soon. For the latest news of the Games, please visit the dedicated website at www.hongkonggames.hk.

Ends/Wednesday, October 7, 2020
Issued at HKT 10:00

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