The crush of bodies at next month's Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon will reach epic proportions with organisers allowing an extra 2,000 runners to join the initial quota of 22,000 runners.
It all adds up to a record 24,000 runners - surpassing last year's number of 18,682 - taking part in the three categories: the marathon, the half-marathon and the 10km run on February 8. The large crowd ensures a mega pay day for the Hong Kong Amateur Athletic Association which will earn around $7 million on entry fees.
The vast field could meet congestion along the city streets starting from Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui to the finish line outside the Hong Kong Convention Centre in Wan Chai. But organisers have promised smooth sailing.
'When our entry deadline closed on January 8, we had close to 24,000 runners. Even though our original quota for this year was 22,000, we decided to accept all entries,'' said Malina Ngai, Hong Kong Amateur Athletic Association, public relations director. In terms of numbers, this will be the biggest athletic event staged in Hong Kong.
Ngai said a late rush of entries had pushed the figure well above the quota. Three days before the deadline, the number was 600 short of the 22,000 mark. But a last-minute flurry had seen the figure breached. 'It is always like that. In typical Hong Kong style, people always wait right until the end before making a move. There was also a lot of mailed entries which arrived after the deadline,' explained Ngai.
To accommodate the large crowd, organisers will bring in an extra start for this year's race. Instead of two starts like last year - the first for the 10km and the second for the marathon and half-marathon - there will be another start with the 10km race being split into two categories. 'By separating all three starts by 30 minutes we hope to reduce congestion at turning points in the race. We believe these measures will ensure the smooth running of the race,' said Ngai.
