Timing is key when it comes to the possibility for the Greater Bay Area to host the Olympics one day, according to an official from the Hong Kong delegation to the National Games, after the region received a boost from an international sports authority.

The International Olympic Committee's honorary president, Thomas Bach, had said the region possesses all the ingredients for a successful bid as he made a visit during the National Games, which is being co-hosted by Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong.

Cheng King-leung, who chairs the delegation's executive committee, on Monday said Hong Kong's capabilities in event organisation were on an international level, and that the region has the resources needed to hold the global multi-sport event.

"Guangzhou has already hosted the Asian Games, which is a very large-scale event. With sports facilities in Guangzhou, Hong Kong, or even the whole Greater Bay Area, I believe there's no problem to go for a bid to stage the Olympic Games in terms of facilities and manpower," Cheng told an RTHK programme.

"The real issue is timing – whether the country considers it an appropriate time and if it allows further cooperation among the three places."

So far, the SAR has won seven gold medals in this year's Games and Cheng attributed the success to the athletes themselves as well as the home crowd cheering them on.

Patrick Lau, a professor from Baptist University's department of sports and health sciences, said there were pleasant surprises for Hong Kong at the Games, such as the fairy tale journey of the men's handball team.

He said it underscored the need to not only focus on a few star athletes, but to find "more compelling stories" and pour in support to other promising sports in Hong Kong.