The Hong Kong team playing against Kenya at the 2004 Rugby 7s. Twenty four international teams will play at the 2005 Rugby World Cup 7s in the city

An interesting line-up of the world's top rugby teams and a string of international music stars promises that 2005 is going to be an exciting year for both sports and music fans in Hong Kong.

The Rugby World Cup Sevens (18-20 March) is expected to draw in over 40,000 fans and 24 top teams from around the world. Thousands more who can't get tickets for the event described as "a cross between the Mardi Gras and Oktoberfest" will still be in Hong Kong to party and revel in the fun-filled atmosphere. The annual event is predicted to pump more than HK$200 Million (US$25 million) into Hong Kong's hospitality and retail sectors as rugby fans from around the world drink and splurge in a Sevens-inspired spending frenzy.

Concert promoters said 2005 is going to be one of the most exciting for the city in terms of international music events as more artistes are eager to perform on the Chinese mainland, and Hong Kong proved an ideal entry point. 

R.E.M, Norah Jones, Sting, k.d. lang and jazz superstar Diana Krall are scheduled to perform in the city in early 2005.

It is hoped that U2 and Sir Paul McCartney will also be coming this way. Blanche Cheng, event manager of Music Nation which will stage February's k.d.lang concert, said many promoters try putting on concerts on the mainland as well when negotiating for a deal for a Hong Kong show.

At the moment, the market for international music artistes are divided into America, Europe and Asia. International artistes are looking more and more at Asia as a whole, including Japan and Australia. The mainland is an emerging market and many artistes want to see what it is like.

Popular acts such as Elton John, David Bowie and the Eagles performed in Hong Kong in 2004.

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Rugby Sevens