Coronavirus: 2021 Hong Kong Marathon postponed – organisers looking at an April date
- The annual showpiece was set for January 24 but has been postponed because safety cannot be guaranteed
- Organisers say they are monitoring the pandemic situation closely and working with relevant authorities to fix another date
Next year’s Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon, scheduled to take place on January 24, has been postponed, organisers announced on Thursday.
The Hong Kong Amateur Athletic Association said public health has been their top consideration and with the pandemic situation still not yet stable, they have decided to push back the annual showpiece without giving a specific date.
“We are monitoring the pandemic situation closely and are now working with relevant departments to fix another date for the possibility of staging the event,” a statement said.
It is believed the organisers are trying to find a date between late March, on completion of the annual Flower Shower at Victoria Park, where the finish of the event takes place, to April. A meeting between the association and the Transport Department was held early this week for the road permit but no definite date had been sorted.
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Association chairman Kwan Kee said he was concerned the event’s gold label status might be at risk if they cannot stage the event for the second year in a row.
“We have been allowed to keep the gold label status for another year after the cancellation of the 2020 event due to the pandemic,” he said. “But if we are not going to stage it again in 2021, we are not sure what will happen.
“Singapore and Taiwan are also trying to get the gold label status and it will definitely tarnish the reputation of Hong Kong as an event capital if we lose the status.”
Kwan said they would need five to six months for registration of the runners and therefore have to find a new date for the 2021 event, with October being the last option. The 2019 event attracted 74,000 entrants for the three different disciplines – 10K, half marathon and marathon.
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Leading runner Chan Ka-ho said the weather in April would be difficult for participants but since most of the runners are out to enjoy the atmosphere of a mega running event and not trying to record their best time, it would still satisfy their needs of having the event.
