Leong Sun Iok urges gov’t to clarify situation of IC and ID restructuring

Lawmaker Leong Sun Iok has urged the government to complete the ongoing restructuring of the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) and Sports Bureau (ID) so that staff from both bureaus have a clear understanding of their duties and responsibilities.

In a written inquiry submitted through the Legislative Assembly (AL), Leong noted that culture and sports are not only vital pillars of people’s livelihoods but also core drivers that showcase Macau’s soft power and support the moderate diversification of its economy.

“As the authorities move forward with this restructuring, they must carefully and appropriately manage the transition and placement of personnel,” he said, suggesting that the future development of cultural and sports initiatives must align with the vision of “popularization, elite development, and industrialization.”

Leong noted that, in recent years, many major sporting events have incorporated cultural activities, laying the groundwork for the integration of culture and sports.

“With the merger of relevant departments imminent, the authorities must not only ensure a smooth transition for staff and that public services and community cultural and sports activities remain unaffected, but also optimize the overall structure and resource allocation.

This will move beyond the current ‘coordination of activities’ to establish a deeper level of ‘industrialized development of culture and sports,’ thereby achieving synergistic benefits where ‘the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.’”

Regarding the popularization and elite development of culture and sports, the same lawmaker noted: “While organizing diverse, multi-tiered promotional activities to boost residents’ interest in cultural and sports events, the government hopes to actively make community spaces available and advance the planning and construction of professional, multi-purpose sports venues.

For example, the government is exploring ways to make effective use of the former Ocean World site to transform it into a center integrating cultural and sports facilities, cultural tourism, and industrial convergence, thereby better advancing the development of Macau’s sports sector.

Second, Macau must precisely allocate resources to improve talent pipelines for local cultural and artistic professionals and elite athletes, raising the professional standards of the industry.”

Leong also added that Macau should follow examples from the mainland regarding the industrialization of sports and cultural events, particularly through intellectual property (IP) initiatives.

Giving examples of Shanghai and Shenzhen, Leong said that such initiatives “not only drive the development of peripheral industries such as sports technology and equipment retail but also successfully integrate a multi-faceted consumption chain encompassing dining, shopping, and accommodation, generating significant economic benefits.”

In summary, he remarked that Macau needs to consider how to “better organize” large-scale events and make them “more impactful.”