Hong Kong Marathon to go ahead, as confident organisers look forward to full quota of 74,000 runners
- Organisers have so far kept a low profile amid ongoing anti-government protests that have battered the city since June
- The half-marathon and marathon will start on Nathan Road and finish at Victoria Park, with runners taking the Eastern Harbour crossing
“We are making good progress on all our preparation work for the 2020 event,” said Hong Kong Amateur Athletic Association chairman Kwan Kee. “We want to stage a race for Hong Kong people to enjoy on a Sunday morning and are working towards that objective. We don’t have too much worries about things that may affect the race.”
The 2020 Hong Kong Marathon, to be held on February 9, has already attracted a full quota of 74,000 participants who will be running in Kowloon and Hong Kong Island in three different events – 10K, half marathon and the full marathon.
The half and full marathons will start on Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui and finish at Victoria Park on the island side while the 10K route is along the Island Eastern Corridor – starting near Fortress Hill and finishing also at Victoria Park.
Despite being the biggest participation sporting event in Hong Kong, organisers have been keeping a low profile ahead of the 2020 race because of the anti-government protests. So far, they have only sent out one media release, last August, simply announcing the event.
Dennis Ng Yu-ho, executive director of the HKAAA, said the body experienced a similar situation before the 2015 event, several months after the Occupy Central campaign.