Hong Kong Velodrome

Hong Kong Velodrome is a velodrome in Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong. It has a 250-metre cycling track and spectator facilities for 3,000 people. It opened in December 2013 next to the Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground.

Hong Kong Velodrome
Hong Kong Velodrome in May 2014
LocationTseung Kwan O, Sai Kung District, New Territories, Hong Kong.
Coordinates22°18′47″N 114°15′44″E
OwnerHong Kong Government
OperatorLeisure and Cultural Services Department
Capacity3,000 (velodrome)
Field size250 metres
SurfaceWood
Construction
Broke ground2010
Built2010–2013
Opened30 December 2013
Construction costHK$1.13 billion[1]
ArchitectP & T Architects & Engineers Ltd.
Structural engineerOve Arup and Partners HK Ltd
Services engineerWSP Hong Kong Ltd
General contractorShui on Construction Co Ltd
Tenants
Hong Kong Cycling Association
Tseung Kwan O Velodrome site in 2006.

History

The Hong Kong government agreed to build the velodrome after Wong Kam-po won the gold medal for the men's road race in the 2006 Asian Games at Doha, amid concerns that athletes who represent Hong Kong had to rely on training facilities in China.[2] Construction of the HK$1.1 billion venue got the legislative go-ahead in January 2010 and work began two months later.[3]

On 5 November 2012, Chief Secretary Carrie Lam kicked off construction of the Tseung Kwan O Velodrome, as it was then known. The velodrome occupies 6.6 hectares, and cycling helmets inspired its wavy rooftop design. Mrs Lam officiated at the ceremony marking the start of construction.[4]

The velodrome officially opened on 30 December 2013. The inaugural international event, the 2014 Hong Kong International Track Cup (a UCI class-one event), was held 10–12 January 2014.[5][6]

On 3 March 2014, Lleyton Hewitt, Tomas Berdych, Sam Stosur and Li Na played in the BNP Paribas Showdown exhibition tennis matches at the Velodrome, all 3,000 tickets were sold out. Li and Stosur were complimentary about the unusual location for a tennis event, which featured ground-level VIP seating on either side and spectator stands at both ends inside the 250-metre cycling track.[7]

On 2 May 2015, the International Cycling Union (UCI) awarded the final leg of its 2015–16 UCI Track Cycling World Cup to Hong Kong, The Cycling Association of Hong Kong hosted a round of the World Cup for the first time on 16–17 January 2016. Racing took place at the Hong Kong Velodrome.[8]

In March 2016 the UCI announced that the Hong Kong Velodrome had been selected as the venue for the 2017 UCI Track Cycling World Championships.[9]

Facilities

Velodrome

The velodrome comprises a 250-metre long, 7-metre wide wooden cycling track surrounded by 2,000 fixed seats and 1,000 retractable seats. Supporting facilities include changing rooms, a press conference room, drug testing rooms, and a pressroom.

Sports centre

The space within the centre of the cycle track forms a multi-purpose area for basketball, volleyball, badminton, gymnastics and other sports, but the space is closed to the public whenever the cycling track is being used.

The remainder of the public sports centre is located on the ground floor, beneath the cycle track level, comprising a table tennis room, a dance room, a fitness room, activity rooms, and a children's playroom.[4]

Town park

The Hong Kong Velodrome Park is a 5.3-hectare park surrounding the velodrome building. The park includes grassy lawns, a restaurant, artificial lakes, a concrete skatepark, a jogging track, chess tables, an amphitheatre, and a climbing wall.[10]

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References
  1. "Working wheels turn at velodrome". The Standard. 6 November 2012. Archived from the original on 10 September 2015.
  2. 單車場明年落成 學者批拖足7年 Archived 9 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine Sina.com.hk (Ming Pao). 5 August 2012.
  3. "Critics fail to knock wheels off velodrome". The Standard. 21 January 2010. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011.
  4. "CS launches velodrome works". Hong Kong Government News – Health and Community. 5 November 2012. Archived from the original on 19 December 2012.
  5. Chan, Kin-wa (28 November 2013). "New velodrome 'can host world's best cycling events'". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  6. Chan, Kin-wa (10 January 2014). "Sarah Lee and Hong Kong riders vow to put on a show at new velodrome". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  7. "Tennis: Stosur joins Li in praising Hong Kong Velodrome arena". Sport Asia. 5 March 2014.
  8. "Cycling: Hong Kong lands final round of Track Cycling World Cup". Sport Asia. 2 May 2015.
  9. Wynn, Nigel (7 March 2016). "Hong Kong will host 2017 Track World Championships". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  10. "Facilities". Hong Kong Velodrome Park. Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
Preceded by
London Velodrome
London		 UCI Track Cycling World Championships
Venue
2017		 Succeeded by
Omnisport Apeldoorn
Apeldoorn
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