Hong Kong leg of track cycling world cup leg to go ahead amid unrest

Hong Kong hosts the last leg of the UCI Track Cycling World Cup series

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Sarah Lee Wai-sze races at the Hong Kong Velodrome in Tseung Kwan O in March this year. Photo: Winson Wong

Published: 11:44am, 14 Nov 2019Updated: 12:17pm, 14 Nov 2019

The UCI Track Cycling World Cup Hong Kong leg at Tseung Kwan O velodrome will go ahead as scheduled despite nearby areas being among the worst affected by anti-government protests.

The 2,000-seat venue, which will stage leg three of the six-round series and also acts as Olympic qualifiers, is located next to Sheung Tak car park where a university student reportedly fell during a police dispersal operation last week and later died of his injuries.

“We have no plan to change the schedule,” said Alex Wong Chi-yu, executive director of Hong Kong Cycling Association, which is organising the event. “The international federation has expressed their concern about the situation in Hong Kong as all the world’s top riders will feature in the three-day event, but we have assured them the riders are unlikely to be exposed to too much danger caused by trouble in the area, if any.

Hong Kong Velodrome has been a landmark on some march routes during the civil unrest, which has engulfed the city. Photo: Handout

“The riders will stay in nearby hotels and the velodrome is accessible through footbridges,” said Wong.

“We can also prepare shuttle buses if they don’t want to walk and the distance is not too far away. The riders’ and workers’ safety always comes first.”

The Hong Kong leg, to be held from November 29 to December 1, is the third round of the season after Minsk and Glasgow.

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