Sponsored by Cathay Pacific, the weekend-long event featured performances from Kaiser Chiefs and Pete Tong, among others<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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\n\tBrit rockers Kaiser Chiefs and legendary DJ Pete Tong were among the musical headliners at the Hong Kong Sevens rugby<\/a> tournament last month, which also doubled as the debut event at the city\u2019s new Kai Tak Stadium. <\/p>\n \n\tSponsored by Hong Kong\u2019s home airline carrier, Cathay Pacific<\/a>, the weekend-long event brought out more than 110,000 fans, according to organizers, topping previous tournament attendance records. Argentina took home the men\u2019s title (winning for the first time), while the dominant New Zealand women\u2019s team repeated as Hong Kong Sevens champs for the second year in a row.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n \n\tThe fast-paced tournament featured a whopping 72 matches over three days, which each match lasting just 14 minutes in Rugby Sevens play. In addition to the action on the field, musical acts like Kaiser Chiefs, Tong, Italian singer GALA and Cantopop band RubberBand kept the crowd entertained, with rollicking sets of some of their biggest hits (think \u201cI Predict a Riot\u201d and \u201cEveryday I Love You Less and Less\u201d from the Chiefs, and \u201cFreed from Desire\u201d from GALA, a Eurodance song that has taken on a life of its own as an anthem for sporting clubs around the world). Local dance troupes doubled as cheerleaders in between matches, while the Cathay\/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens Fan Village offered live performances, DJs and interactive experiences for fans lined up outside. Inside the stadium, rugby diehards packed the infamous South Stand in full costume \u2014 and full voice \u2014 lending even more energy to the proceedings.<\/p>\n \n\tCathay Pacific was also given a prime showcase during the tournament. As the exclusive Founding Travel<\/a> Partner of Kai Tak Sports<\/a> Park (KTSP), the airline received a special fly-by during the final day of play, with a Cathay A350 plane breaking through the clouds at Victoria Harbour just next to the stadium. The fly-past was especially symbolic, as the new Sports Park sits on the site of the old Hong Kong International Airport in Kai Tak \u2014 Cathay Pacific\u2019s iconic longtime home base.<\/p>\n \n\tHong Kong Sevens was the inaugural event at Kai Tak Stadium, with a Coldplay concert taking place just a few weeks later. The stadium will also host top Asian artists like Jay Chou, Singaporean singer JJ Lin and Taiwanese rockers Mayday in the next few months, along with sporting events ranging from martial arts to tennis. While Cathay Pacific isn\u2019t officially sponsoring all of the events, the airline notes that it will \u201cwork in close collaboration to support KTSP in delivering world-class sporting, cultural and entertainment experiences to a global audience.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the first recorded flight from Kai Tak airport, and while the airport is now closed, Hong Kong continues to be a popular destination for tourists, with Cathay Pacific having the most daily flights into the new Hong Kong International Airport (a.k.a. Chek Lap Kok). The airline is also debuting some new programs to promote the city, including on-board partnerships with Michelin-starred, Hong Kong-based French restaurant Louise, and Michelin-starred Duddell\u2019s, known for its elevated take on Chinese \u201ccomfort\u201d dishes. Passengers in business and first class can select from a variety of signature dishes from both restaurants to enjoy on their flights, subject to availability \u2014 think everything from duck to seafood to Duddell\u2019s famous Iberico pork belly in a sweet soy sauce glaze (tip: we suggest pre-ordering your meal in advance to ensure that you get it).<\/p>\n \n\tCathay has also launched its own original musical composition, which soundtracks passenger journeys through the airline\u2019s luxe lounges and as they board and disembark the planes. Dubbed the \u201cSong of Cathay,\u201d the instrumental track is billed as an \u201cuplifting, inspirational and journey-like musical composition\u201d designed to captivate customers by \u201cevoking fond memories of travel, capturing the spirit of adventure, and exuding the warm sense of hospitality that embodies every journey flown with Cathay Pacific.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tMore musical moments from Cathay: the airline\u2019s robust entertainment offerings include exclusive sit-down \u201cCX Interviews\u201d with many of Hong Kong\u2019s most popular artists and entertainers, including Nicholas Tse, Sandra Ng and global sensations, Mirror.<\/a><\/p>\n \n\tYou can find out more about Cathay Pacific\u2019s latest routes and offerings at CathayPacific.com<\/a>. The 2025 Rugby Sevens series, meantime, wraps up in Los Angeles May 3-4 (find tickets here<\/a>). <\/p>\n<\/div>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/GettyImages-2206813560.jpg\")
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