Hong Kong protests unlikely to affect World Rowing Coastal Championships at Victoria Harbour, say organisers
- Organising committee tells overseas teams that Hong Kong is a safe city but there are contingency plans just in case
- The competition is being held in Asia for the first time with more than 30 teams expected to compete at Victoria Harbour
Protests are unlikely to disrupt November’s World Rowing Coastal Championships in Hong Kong, with local organisers confident of a safe and successful event at Victoria Harbour.
Mike Tanner, chairman of the Hong Kong, China Rowing Association, said organisers are in touch with relevant government departments and overseas teams and are ready to enact contingency plans if needed for the November 1-3 competition.
However, Tanner said it was unlikely to come to that given the nature of the venue at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club at Kellett Island in Causeway Bay.
“We realise there are issues,” said Tanner. “We are in close touch with many of the overseas teams, we have contingency plans and we are ready for any particular issues.
“We have the venue here, which is a little bit isolated from the main open areas of the city and the competition area is on the water. We are confident we can run the event in a safe and successful way.”
Hong Kong has experience violent protests every weekend for the past three months, with little sign of it abating.
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Last week, organisers of Hong Kong’s only professional tennis tournament, the Prudential Hong Kong Open women’s event, said they would postpone their event because of the unrest in the city.
Tanner said overseas teams have expressed concern and organisers are doing their best to reassure them that Hong Kong remains a safe city.
“We are saying to teams that Hong Kong remains one of the safest big cities in the world, and it truthfully is,” he said. “Of course we will keep in touch with teams when they are here, we will advise them if there are areas they shouldn’t go, if there are protests in the middle of central we will let them know that.
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“Hong Kong remains a safe city and that is the message we are giving the overseas teams.
“We cannot predict what will happen between now and the event. We will just keep in touch with the authorities and overseas teams and answer any questions. We are confident we can run a successful event, and a safe event, for everyone.”
The competition is being held in Asia for the first time and attracts top open-water rowers from around the world. More than 30 teams are expected to be in Hong Kong to compete in various classes.
The boats used in open-water rowing are bigger than the ones used in flat racing and are more conducive to rougher ocean waters.
The Hong Kong course starts at Kellett Island, with rowers making their way to the Central Harbourfront area before turning and rowing back to the start line.
Hong Kong last year hosted the Asian Rowing Coastal Championships at the same venue, allowing organisers to gain experience ahead of the world event.
Hong Kong has been the venue for a number of other major rowing events, including the 1st Asian Rowing Championships in 1985, the 2003 and 2008 Asian Rowing Junior Championships and the 2009 East Asian Games Regatta and 2013 Asian Rowing Cup II.
Top Hong Kong rower Lee Ka-man said: “I am inspired to take part in this event because I want to compete in front of the skyscrapers and in the harbour.”
