Hong Kong’s Nations Cup cycling event may be called off if government fails to make quick decision on quarantine exemptions
- The inaugural UCI sanctioned track cycling event could be one of the first major international sporting events in Hong Kong since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic
- Organisers hope to set up a safety bubble with designated transport and want the government to ease quarantine restrictions for overseas participants
The Hong Kong Cycling Association is in a race against time to decide if May’s Nations Cup will become one of the first major international sporting events to take place in Hong Kong since the Covid-19 outbreak last year.
The track cycling extravaganza is scheduled to take place at Tseung Kwan O velodrome from May 13-16 and has attracted 440 cyclists and officials after Sunday’s entry deadline.
Organisers had planned a safety bubble for all participants, allowing overseas visitors to be exempt from quarantine measures but they are still awaiting approval from the government. Discussions have been ongoing since Lunar New Year.
Government requires overseas contingent details for safety measures before cycling Nations Cup can get green light
“We must make a decision this week, to go ahead with the event or to call it off,” said association chairman Leung Hung-tak. “Some of the preparation work has to start, including many purchase orders because there is only one month left. If there is still no green light from the government, we have to say no to the world governing body.
“Of course, this is not what we want to see. We still want to host the event to give something for the fans to cheer and most important, the opportunity for our riders to rub shoulders against the world’s best.”
According to Leung, cycling heavyweights such as Germany, France, Italy, Great Britain and the United States have all entered the event while in Asia, regional powers Japan and Malaysia will take part. Hong Kong will be led by Tokyo Olympics medal hopeful Sarah Lee Wai-sze. China and South Korea, two of Hong Kong’s major rivals in Asia, did not enter.
With a budget of HK$6 million – including an additional HK$1 million for special precautionary health measures – the organisers planned to use two hotels in Tseung Kwan O to set up the safety bubble. All riders and officials will be shuttled to and from the nearby venue by designated vehicles to ensure minimal contact with the public. Participants will be required to undergo Covid-19 tests before and upon their arrival in Hong Kong.
At the moment, all arrivals in Hong Kong must go through a 21-day or 14-day quarantine, depending on their place of origin while arrivals from Brazil, Ireland, South Africa and Great Britain are not be allowed to board aircraft bound for Hong Kong. Organisers have asked the government for an exemption of quarantine requirements as part of the safety bubble.
Organisers of May’s track cycling Nations Cup hopeful showpiece can still go ahead with ‘bubble’
“We cannot ask these overseas participants to come to Hong Kong for a long isolation period before starting the event. If there is no quarantine exemption granted, it won’t be possible for them to come for the competition,” said Leung.
Commissioner of Sports, Yeung Tak-keung, said they had given the organisers their views on the safety and health precautionary measures for the event and were still in discussion on detailed arrangements.
The Covid-19 pandemic caused all major international sporting events in Hong Kong last year to be called off amid quarantine requirements and travel limitations. These include the table tennis Hong Kong Open, badminton Hong Kong Open, Squash Hong Kong Open and volleyball Nations League.
