Left Field: Splitting Hong Kong Marathon in two is not Solomonic wisdom
Switching shorter races to a separate Sunday would surely create more problems than it would solve
Organisers of the Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Marathon have for years raked in the dollars by linking the race with the 10-kilometre run which has greater mass appeal. Now they want to stage the "Marathon" over two Sundays to "make it a better event" according to William Ko Wai-lam, chairman of the organising committee.
Hong Kong's largest participatory sporting event has reached maximum capacity with 73,000 runners entering the January 25 showpiece.
More than half will take part in the 10-kilometre race, with the marathon and half-marathon claiming the rest.
With an average entry fee of around HK$300, this is a bumper payday for the Hong Kong Amateur Athletic Association. Of course it wants to keep the popular shorter distance race going, even if it is on another day.
Staging the races on separate Sundays might be one way to go, but then organisers will have to stop calling the shorter distances the Hong Kong Marathon. For years they have held the other two categories under that umbrella and reaped the financial benefits.
But having run out of roads and time, and with the field bursting at the seams like a stuffed Billy Bunter, organisers are trying to squeeze their way out of a tight situation by attempting to manipulate the marathon name.
It is time to come to grips with reality. Firstly, our marathon can never be world class if we don't change the route. Running through enclosed tunnels and lonely, soul-destroying highways is not exactly an enjoyable exercise.
Secondly, stop trying to portray the image that the marathon attracts more than 70,000 when most are running - or walking - the 10k. And finally, if the marathon is really to grow, then it must be given room to do so.
Moving the 10k races might be one way to go. Why not also drop the half-marathon? It would certainly allow organisers to pour all their resources into the smooth running of the marathon.
If we let the other two categories share a Sunday, then perhaps we can have the marathon on the following Sunday and turn it into a real show-stopper by providing it with a runner-friendly route entirely on the streets of Hong Kong island.
But splitting the races could result in a loss of revenue for the organisers. Many people join the fun just so they can say they took part in the Hong Kong Marathon - even if they only run the shorter distance.
If the races are separated, it could be a less attractive proposition. Not being involved on the main day will be a no-no for those people who just want to be seen. It seems likely to lead to a reduction in entries.
Would the HKAAA be willing to lose money, even if it were for the greater benefit of upgrading the marathon? I don't think so. If the organisers are serious about raising the standards of the marathon, then they should be willing to make sacrifices. Yet the biggest sacrifice must be made by the public. One thing the Occupy movement taught us is to make do with what we have - for months main thoroughfares of Hong Kong island were blocked and we went about our lives.
Why cannot we then, for one Sunday, be inconvenienced for the sake of staging an international event which will raise the profile of our city?
It is time the government and its various public departments, from police to transport, joined hands with the Hong Kong Marathon to give it one full day to stage a race of which we can all be proud. For years, organisers have moaned about the lack of time to run the various races. Just imagine if we had one whole day on Hong Kong island, a vehicle-free Sunday, to run the event.
A separation might look the best option now but in the long run it would be better for the organisers to persuade the government to relax its stringent time limits and stage all the races on one day.
If we are to match the illustrious marathons held in cities like London, New York, Boston etc, we must create an environment which will lead to international runners knocking on our door rather than us sending them invitations. We must create a demand for the Hong Kong Marathon and the government should supply all the support it can.