Hong Kong Marathon organisers remain hopeful after positive talks with government officials during emergency meeting

Organisers say time is running out to prepare for the race, slated for October 24, after setting an initial deadline for a decision of early August

Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of runners will be cut by 75 per cent to 18,500, with all participants required to be fully vaccinated

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Thousands of runners pass through Nathan Road in Mong Kok during the 2019 Standard Chartered Marathon. Photo: Dickson Lee

Published: 2:17pm, 13 Aug 2021Updated: 2:25pm, 13 Aug 2021

Organisers of the delayed 2021 Standard Chartered Marathon are hopeful of staging the event in October after attending an emergency meeting with government officials on Thursday in an attempt to salvage the showpiece race.

Hopes remain high the October 24 event will go ahead after positive discussions between the two parties, with the government keen to push the development of sport after the landmark success of Hong Kong athletes at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

“They [government officials] were very proactive in the meeting and trying to help us sort out the problems involved in running the annual showpiece under safe conditions,” said Association of Athletics Affiliates chairman Kwan Kee. “They will now take back the plan for further discussion among senior government officials and we are expecting a final decision some time early next week.”

The marathon, which regularly attracts tens of thousands of runners from Hong Kong and overseas, was postponed from earlier this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Hong Kong athletes returned from the Tokyo Games last week with a record haul of one gold, two silver and three bronze medals.

HKAAA chairman Kwan Kee (left) with fellow organisers William Ko Wai-lam (centre) and Dennis Ng Yu-ho. Photo: Chan Kin-wa

Representatives from the Home Affairs Bureau and Department of Health’s Centre for Health Protection attended the meeting but the approval for staging sporting events under the pandemic will come from the Chief Secretary.

The athletics official, however, was hesitant to predict the outcome, only stressing they are running out of time because the race is less than 10 weeks away and plenty of preparation work is required to stage three events – the 10km race, half marathon and full marathon.