Q Should marathon entrants over 45 be required to have a medical check-up?
It is always tragic to see the sudden death of a person. However, there appears to be a developing culture of wanting to shift responsibility to someone else. Participation in many activities is voluntary and never absolutely without risks.
It will be a sad day for Hong Kong if everything requires some kind of prior certification or vetting. Surely, it is time individuals took responsibility for their own actions. Should Hong Kong as a society cocoon everything and everyone? Can we afford to?
This may appear heartless, but it cannot be right that the government, or some organisation, must be responsible for everything that happens to us in our daily activities such as sport and travel.
Philip Beh, Pokfulam
I am 47 and have run the past three Standard Chartered half-marathons. I think the event is very professionally organised and firmly believe the responsibility is on the individuals to make sure they are prepared for the race, health-wise, fitness level etc.
A medical check could confirm if a person was fit to run the marathon, but hidden illness could still remain. Runners have to take responsibility for themselves.