"We Are Hong Kong!"

It had been decades since we last heard such cheers at the Hong Kong Stadium. Not during festive friendly matches featuring world-class football clubs, nor international games with Hong Kong. But in the soccer final of the East Asian Games 2009, such cries were all over the city, from the Stadium to karaokes in Mongkok, from bars in Wanchai to living rooms in every corner of the city.

Who are the heroes who led to the gold medals?

From the reports, praise has been showered on key player Chan Siu Ki, who scored a tie just minutes after he landed on the pitch. He was in the middle of a training session with a United Kingdom Premier League club, but traded the chance and flew back to play in the final. It is definitely a heroic decision - giving up individual gain for a bigger, noble cause.

Other players of course should receive kudos too. The goal-keeper who saved the penalty kicks, defense players who dissolved potential threats, or mid-fields and strikers who orchestrated attack after attack. We have no doubt about how teamwork and perseverance played a significant part in the making of the legend.

But there are many unsung heroes.

Trainers and coaches? Yes, they are important. They made sure the players were giving their best and worked as a team.

Organizers and managers? Yes, they are important too. They took care of all the logistics and administration that put together every party, from sponsors, trainers, football clubs to the players themselves, so that the team would be in the best shape possible.

But there are still more as yet unnamed, unsung heroes.

It's the audience.

You can see for yourself from the media interview of the players, that they have thanked the audience for their support.

Having been a player on the field, and having taken part in contests and competitions myself, I know personally how audience support is indeed a big part. A very big part.

It's been my strength when I have been down.

It's our voice when I was speechless.

It's the expression of faith when even I was unsure.

And it's the hope to see what is possible within myself.

You just need to watch the video clips of how Hong Kong citizens, who formed the majority of the audience, supported their squads, and you will have figured out what I meant.

They are the unsung heroes that made the legend.

Was the team formation, playing tactics, player choice or even training styles the best being chosen? I don't know, neither do most of the audience, I guess. But it was the team they are supporting, and it was the desired outcome that they wanted to see.

The same actually applies beyond games, in business and governance.

If you choose to support your management team making major decisions for your company, ultimately you can benefit as a staff member. If you choose to support your government team making important decisions for your country or city, ultimately your well-being in the global village will be served.

Same as the football team, you may not have chosen the players or tactics, but choosing to be a supportive audience, you can make the legend.

Be the unsung hero.

Sean Lin MBA, MsC, CISA, CISSP, MHKIM is the Director of Corporate Communications Committee, Hong Kong Institute of Marketing. He is also the Division Governor, Hong Kong Toastmaster International and the Director of Information Systems Audit and Control Association (China Hong Kong Chapter).

(HK Edition 12/31/2009 page3)