Gay Games: Despite social turbulence, Hong Kong delivers “rainbows.”

At the Gay Games ‘ closing ceremony on Saturday in the Hong Kong, which includes dragon boat racing and actually game, contributors and volunteers will celebrate the end of the week-long sporting event.

However, there is also a sense of relief among the celebration for the organizers.

Since its inception in 1980s San Francisco, when a US Olympic decathlete wanted to embody the spirit of the Games for his society, the international competition, formerly known as the Gay Olympics, has drawn discussion.

However, the Hong Kong, a town whose political freedoms and liberal figure have been hampered by the pandemic and China’s tightened principle in recent years, has presented new challenges to the occasion celebrating inclusion and diversity this year.

When it won its bid to take the game to Asia this month, joining a past line-up of network cities like Paris, Amsterdam, and Sydney, the global financial center with its beautiful harbor and peaks had looked very different in 2017.

China swept into its semi-autonomous country with new capabilities in 2019 after large pro-democracy demonstrations rocked the town, passing a broad law to put an end to political opposition or dissent.

Beijing-backed authorities in the Hong Kong has used the National Security Law over the past two years to put an end to any protest, prosecuting and imprisoning about 200 people.

Residents of the Hong Kong also saw how a crackdown on LGBT advocacy and representation developed in mainland China during this time.

The largest Pride March in the nation, held in Shanghai, has been suspended since 2021, queer college students have complained about bias, and earlier this year, Beijing’s Gay center, which has existed for decades, announced it would close for reasons beyond its power.

Nini, a 50-year-old Chinese person who visited the Hong Kong for the Games, told the BBC that he believed the city’s atmosphere was still much more diverse and inclusive despite new changes.

He claimed that he was getting less and less chances to observe his neighborhood in China. He therefore made the decision to take part in the Gay Games by signing up for the zynga competition.

He told the BBC,” I do n’t seem to have taken part in any activities this year, so I want to feel like a rainbow shining.”

However, the Hong Kong’s standing has kept people away. The Games, which were originally scheduled for 2022, had to be postponed by a year due to the city’s strict Covid response—the city did not fully encouraged up foreign tourists until September of next year—and another city was chosen as the contingency: Guadalajara, Mexico, was selected as co-host.

According to organizers, this has caused a splitting in this year’s international attendance, with just over 2,300 participants—more than half of whom are locals—attending the the Hong Kong Games.

Different athletes have attended the Games in Mexico. Team Taiwan was one of them, and its representatives made clear the dangers of the Hong Kong’s National Security Law. In other words, they claimed they did n’t want their athletes to be in danger of being detained.

Such concerns about the environment for gay people in the Hong Kong were exacerbated by pro-China conservatives in the city’s parliament who claimed the Games were “promotions of the queer movement” and was “involve national security issues involving poor ideologies” without specifying how.

Some claimed that the Games were a present in favor of legalizing same-sex relationship in the area, which is still against the law for LGBT people and is further supported by this year’s historic court decision.

Regina Ip, one of the few legislators who openly supported the occasion, emphasized to the BBC that promoting same-sex wedding legalization in the Hong Kong was not the same as supporting the Games.

She also dismissed her opponents ‘ safety claims, pointing out that the Games had been conducted with the full support of the Hong Kong government.

It would be impossible to hold the event in the Hong Kong if it endangered regional security, she told the BBC.

” We are the first Asian area to host the Gay Games.” This is a quality of which we are happy. This is not possible in many other locations.

She argues, however, that despite the government’s tacit approval, there has n’t been much public promotion.

Ms. Ip argued that the city’s tourism board and related state agencies, such as the Equality Commission, had never done much to advertise the event.

Additionally, events have been more underwater in the Hong Kong, where street protests have all but disappeared since 2020, as opposed to the Mexico Games, which this month featured participants in a colorful parade flying spectrum flags.

The raucous opening ceremony, in which competitors entered dancing to Cher’s Believe, took place inside in Pale Chai, the Games ‘ sole public arena, Queen Elizabeth facility.

Every another location for occasions was a commercially or corporately leased space.

One Australian competitor in the dragon ship culture claimed that while she had a great time at the Games, the lack of brand around her had surprised and disappointed her. She told the BBC,” It felt a little bit speak-easy.”

In comparison to other activities like meal events the city had been promoting, she had only seen a few cars and buses bearing the brand.

The Gay Games were not mentioned anywhere on the formal commerce website for the Hong Kong either.

Mark Tietjen, a rival who traveled from Sydney, claimed he had also been hesitant to attend out of concern that the event would n’t happen or would be too small.

” And one day I really made the hasty choice. But it’s upsetting because you can see all the work that went into making it happen now that I’m below, Mr. Tietjen said. However, it is clear that many people have made the decision that the Hong Kong is not going to get it. It’s depressing.

The non-political nature of the event has been emphasized by the sports ‘ organizers.

” Through sports, the arts, and social activities, we promote diversity and inclusion.” These actions are entirely permissible and in accordance with the National Security Law. No issue at all, Lisa Lam, the co-chairman of the the Hong Kong Games, told the BBC prior to the Games ‘ opening.

It’s challenging to distinguish the politics of challenge from the celebration, as it is with any event involving a minority that is still underrepresented in society.

Cammy Kwok, a local gay rights advocate, told the BBC that she found it disappointing that the event’s organizers had hardly ever brought up the issue of LGBT individuals seeking relationship and housing rights, as well as the battle this season.

However, she added that any function honoring the group was pleasant, especially since” we have fewer and less occasions.”