Time trial instead of mass start for triathlon selection competition as pandemic bites hard in Hong Kong
- A mass start will be avoided to maintain social distancing and avoid group gatherings as revamped competition goes ahead in Plover Cove on Friday
- Three fastest finishers in the men’s and women’s events will be selected for the 2020 Asian Beach Games in Sanya
Instead of a mass start that would break social distancing rules, triathlon participants hoping to get selected for the 2020 Asian Beach Games will take part in a time trial to meet health requirements at Plover Cove in Tai Mei Tuk on Friday morning.
With the pandemic striking again in Hong Kong, leaving the government worried of more outbreak cases (there were 61 positive cases on Tuesday), organisers are playing it safe by running a time trial for the 19 entrants instead of a mass start, where runners would congregate at the start.
The race will go ahead as planned to select Hong Kong representatives for the sixth edition of the Games, which will be held in Sanya, China from November 28 to December 5.
“We have prepared the event for a long time and some athletes have even returned from overseas to compete in the competition,” said Triathlon Association vice-president Wan Shu-wah. “The pandemic is our primary concern and therefore we won’t hold a race [per se] any more. But instead we will run a time trial for the athletes to meet the government’s health requirements and pick the best times for the Beach Games.”
The number of persons allowed in group gatherings in public places has been limited to four as mandated by the government. That was put in effect on July 15.