500 rowers to compete in ‘one of the safest big cities in the world’ at 2019 World Rowing Coastal Championships
- The rowing showpiece is one of the few Hong Kong sporting events to survive the social unrest the city has been experiencing since June
- This is the first time the competition is being held in Asia since it was launched in 2007
More than 500 rowers from 29 countries and territories have put their faith in Hong Kong as “one of the safest big cities in the world” as they look forward to competing in November’s 2019 World Rowing Coastal Championships presented by Dah Sing Bank.
Organisers are delighted by the response from the world’s best rowers – including Peru’s men’s world champion Eduardo Linares Ruiz – who will compete in singles and doubles in the first world championships to be held in Asia since the event was launched in 2007.
The strong entry field for the November 1-3 competition on Victoria Harbour defies expectations as Hong Kong reels from five months of social unrest stemming from the government’s now-abandoned extradition bill.
“We have given the overseas teams regular updates, not assurances but updates on the actual situation,” said Mike Tanner, chairman of the organising committee. “Hong Kong remains one of the safest big cities in the world, all you got to do is avoid the flashpoints.
“We have been very careful, obviously, we have had a lot of contingency plans and have tried to look at all the possible situations but we are confident we can keep all the relevant parties well-informed through WeChat and WhatsApp groups so we can direct them towards or away from the best places or the worst places.