Hong Kong skateboarders will be able to show off their skills at a new skatepark in Fanling on Saturday, with part of the site becoming the first of its kind in the city to receive a competition class certification from an international governing body.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department said on Thursday that the skate bowl at On Lok Mun Street Playground had been certified as “Competition Class 1 star” for holding events, while its street course had attained “Recreational Class 3 stars”.
The spokesman said the certifications were awarded by World Skate, the governing body officially recognised by the International Olympic Committee for skateboarding and roller sports.
The Civil Engineering and Development Department’s Tom Leung Wai-lok, a senior engineer involved in the park’s construction, said authorities had collaborated with US company California Skateparks, which had built the skateboarding venue for the Paris Olympics.
“Experts from Japan, Mexico and the United States had just finished the skatepark for the Paris Olympics, and then came to Hong Kong to build this skatepark for us,” he said.
“They are also skateboarding enthusiasts. With their craft and their attention to detail, they have meticulously built the skatepark to ensure a smooth skating experience.”
