HK's biggest sports store finally revealed in Decathlon's star-studded preview event

French sports company Decathlon will open its highly anticipated giant third store in Hong Kong this weekend. As part of the opening celebrations, an array of family-friendly activities across the weekends this month has been organised for visitors.Opening on 15 June, the new store - located in Sheung Tak Plaza, Tseung Kwan O - has 36,000 sq. ft in retail space and access to an outdoor sports playground of equivalent size. It is set to be the biggest sports retail store in Hong Kong.Inspired by the concept of an urban neighbourhood, the new store will feature 13,000 products from over 70 sports with spacious areas and displays specifically designed for customers to have a hands-on experience. Part of the 36,000 sq. ft outdoor sports playground will be transformed into a campsite replicating the famous hiking trails of Hong Kong, while showcasing Decathlon’s comprehensive range of Mountain products. Over the weekends of 15-16, 22-23, and 29-30 June, Decathlon will launch 28 indoor and outdoor sports activities such as cycling, stand-up paddle, archery, pétanque, and yoga among others. All activities are free of charge and a limited edition backpack will be awarded to Decathlon members who join in.To further enhance the sports experience for customers, the new store will host daily experience sharing sessions and sports classes with inspiring athletes from the community such as Edie Hu, who swam around Hong Kong Island last year. These interactive sessions are aimed at encouraging the public to discover new sports and to try them with confidence. Cyclists can utilise the free bicycle workshop space to upgrade or repair their bikes DIY style, or with assistance from the staff.In addition to the product displays and activities, a year-round Hong Kong Sports Heroes photography gallery has beem set up at the main entrance of the store, acknowledging those in the community who are using sports to improve their lives and want to inspire others to follow their path. It will have a different theme each month, with a watersports exhibition of over 30 photos being the first for the official store opening.At Wednesday's media preview event ahead of Saturday's opening, Marc Zielinski, CEO at Decathlon Hong Kong, was joined by four cast members of the TVB sitcom “Come Home Love: Lo and Behold"; Ricco Ng, Lau Dan, Joyce Tang, and Chow Ka-lok. The artists supported a lighting ceremony riding stationary bikes to generate energy through pedal power.Zielinski said, “We are delighted to be opening our third store in Hong Kong this weekend, and we are proud that the Decathlon Tseung Kwan O store will become the city’s biggest sports retail space. We hope we can inspire more Hongkongers to exercise for a happy and healthy lifestyle.”“Decathlon aims to make sport accessible to all and we understand sports engagement can be a heavy financial burden to some. This is why we offer high-quality products at competitive prices across 70 sports so everyone can have that choice. With the outdoor playground, visitors who are curious about any sport can seek the advice of our specialist sports leaders and fully test our products before they buy,” he added.A key part of the unique customer journey is the online catalogue of Decathlon full-range products featuring over 13,000 models that are available on the 50” LED screens placed at prominent areas of the store. This means that even if customers cannot find the exact product they desire on the shop floor, they can visit the online catalogue in-store to learn about and compare different products. Furthermore, customers can checkout autonomously on the Decathlon mobile app for a fast and seamless shopping experience. Customers will also be able to choose to pick up their online purchases in store in one hour, through the Click & Collect 1H service.Appysport, whose main investor is Decathlon Hong Kong, has announced the launch of Hong Kong’s first all-in-one sports platform. The Hong Kong-based company founded in 2019 has started with offering tennis courts on demand that can be booked online and will soon expand to other sports and services. The ambition of the startup is to play a key role in increasing sports practice in Hong Kong by facilitating access to it.