Hong Kong in race against time to host leg of World Cup track cycling series
Sponsorship issues hinder local body's efforts to stage the prestigious event
Hong Kong are racing against time to win the right to stage a leg of the track cycling World Cup series, with two of three host cities believed to be confirmed.
National coach Shen Jinkang, one of the officials pushing hard to host the International Cycling Union (UCI) showpiece, said authorities needed to take immediate action or the opportunity would be lost.
"The UCI was still very keen to see Hong Kong host the track World Cup when I spoke to them during the world championships in Paris last month," said Shen.
They are still waiting for Hong Kong to fit into the time slot in January 2016, but they have to make their decision soon
"But time is against us as we have yet to submit a formal application. The world governing body has already offered the first leg of the 2015-16 season in November to an as-yet undisclosed city in Colombia, to be followed by the second leg in New Zealand the next month.
"They are still waiting for Hong Kong to fit into the time slot in January 2016, but they have to make their decision soon."
The coach said 2016 would be a crucial year for Hong Kong riders as they mount another challenge at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, hoping to build on Sarah Lee Wai-sze's bronze medal in London in 2012.
"The World Cup series is the highest level of competition and will be a crucial build-up for the Games, especially the January event which will be the last one before Rio. It will certainly give us an advantage if we can stage the event," said Shen.
The Hong Kong Cycling Association has set aside HK$10 million for the three-day event, which would attract top riders from all over the world to the HK$600 million velodrome in Tseung Kwan O.
Although the government is willing to offer considerable financial support for the showpiece, the association has encountered difficulty in securing the required funding because the World Cup series cannot have a title sponsor.
It is believed the association was still short of HK$3 million in sponsorship.
"We are working hard to find the sponsorship and hopefully there will be some good news early next month," said association chairman Leung Hung-tak.
Shen, meanwhile, remains upbeat about Lee's Olympic qualification campaign despite disappointing results at the recent world championships.
"She will qualify in the sprint and keirin as there are still five more rounds of qualification," he said. "We are now working hard on improving Lee's ability."
