Vien Tsang: The Champion Behind Hong Kong's Floorball Rise
As a young girl, wide-eyed and restless, Vien Tsang would sneak out of bed during the World Cup, donning handmade props to join her parents in front of the television—only to be gently tucked back in when sleep inevitably won. Since then, Vien has become a creator, media practitioner, program host, lecturer, and floorball athlete representing Hong Kong. What began as a childhood spark has transformed into a story persistence, reinvention, and a relentless pursuit to fill a missing piece of her youth with a sport she's helped put on the map.
Roots of a Dreamer: Where It All Began
Vien's path began with an academic foundation in Spanish and a Master's in Media, Culture, and Creative Cities. Yet it was her childhood love for sports that set the stage. "I have always been a sports enthusiast. I still remember vividly when I was a kid…I would crawl out from bed again and again, putting on the props I made, to watch the games with [my parents]," she recalls. Despite early achievements, she felt a void from not engaging in long-term sports training. This longing gave way to a career shift. After graduation, a friend's tip led to a sports reporter role. "There, I gave it a try and started my career," she says, marking the beginning of her venture into journalism and beyond.
Her foray into floorball came later, born from that same desire to experience athletics firsthand. After dabbling in field hockey, a friend introduced her to floorball during a podcast appearance. "From there, I got to know about the sport, and I went on to try—I decided to dedicate more time and effort into the sport," Vien explains. She would go on to found Hong Kong Kiddos Floorball in 2019. The landmark Hong Kong Kiddos Floorball Cup, held in 2022 at Southorn Stadium, became a milestone. "That tournament was the first-ever floorball tournament happening in one of the most iconic sports landmarks in HK, with my intention of 'letting sport be seen'," she notes.
On and Off the Court: Shaping a Journalist's Lens
Balancing her diverse roles—commentator, host, writer, lecturer, and athlete—has been a lifelong journey. Vien sees herself not just as a journalist, but as a creator, producing videos, online content, exhibitions, and events through her Dawn Kiddos Creative Studio. "I get to be in different positions experiencing and shaping the industry, working on my dreams and goals—being an active practitioner in the sports industry," she says. Yet, the challenge lies in avoiding perfectionism. "There are times I'd have to remind myself to find the balance between reaching 'perfection' at an 'ideal' time and taking a step back and being patient to observe and let things develop," she admits, a lesson honed through her athletic and leadership roles.
Her floorball experience informs her media perspective. Starting as a sports journalist, she absorbed lessons from top athletes before becoming one herself. "After being an athlete myself, despite no longer being a sports journalist, I am still in the industry working on different projects involving athletes," Vien says. A proud milestone came in May 2025, when she joined Hong Kong's senior team at the 3v3 World Championships in Switzerland. "I cherish this identity a lot and I would try my best, as I always do, to play for HK," she shares, bridging her dual identities.
Building a Sport: Challenges and Triumphs in Floorball
Promoting floorball in Hong Kong has not been without hurdles. Limited indoor facilities and participant turnover test her resolve, yet progress is evident. "After around a decade of early efforts, I think we have seen more concrete progress, no matter on international or local levels, with the Federation or teams and clubs," Vien observes. Her team's third place at the SG Open with Hong Kong Kiddos x Ling Fung stands out. "I think the first time when I went with my Hong Kong Kiddos fellows probably was absolutely a realisation of the pure passion at the very beginning," she reflects, highlighting a journey of grit and growth across tournaments in Singapore, the Netherlands, Korea, and beyond.
Vien's storytelling transcends traditional sports coverage. Having covered on the 2009 East Asian Games and Tokyo Olympics, she now blends journalism with cultural and social lenses. "I have started to develop and still am adopting a style and angle of telling sports stories in a journalistic yet also possibly cultural, societal or lifestyle way," she explains, citing projects on cycling culture and gender in sports. A forthcoming series will explore athletes and Hong Kong's identity, a sneak peek she teases on Instagram.
An earlier project, Chasing the Chase: An Account of Hong Kong Sports Journalists' Stories, reflects her desire to diversify narratives. "I am keen to tell stories and present sport in different perspectives; we have quite some solid journalistic platforms and channels, and I want to create discussion and angles from the others," she says. Her upcoming #AthleteToo hub for amateur athletes, launching late 2025, aims to empower dual-career athletes. "We believe this will be a one-of-a-kind and likely the first concept and project of such initiatives in the city," she notes.
Inspiring the Future: Advice for Young Dreamers
As a lecturer at HKU, Vien imparts more than technical skills. "I'd like to offer perspectives of seeing sport as a whole for the students, such as the global and local trends and new developments," she says. She advises young women: "Recognise your passion and aspiration, hold on to it and try to persist, be FLEXIBLE along the way… Be creative, be flexible, dare to imagine."
Reflecting on Hong Kong's sports culture, Vien sees potential amid challenge. "Hong Kong is a 'magical' place…we may not be the most mature model in some areas, including sport, but at least we have the chance to 'create something' with our identity and positioning," she muses. Her career, from newspaper journalist to TV host and now a Hong Kong athlete, embodies this. "I am quite thankful for how I have gradually walked my own path and achieved my goals, aspirations and dreams one by one," she says, a journey of passion and perseverance that continues to unfold.
Currently, Vien is working on a TV segment with HOY TV for the National Games prelude, interviewing legends, a project that highlights her ever-evolving narrative. As she balances these roles, she continues to inspire: "Everyone can be an 'athlete'. It's not only in sport but the whole mentality; you can have a good fight and find your way in life." For Vien, that fight is far from over, and her story invites others to join the chase.