Hong Kong Marathon organisers cut short tense press conference after questions about barred participants

Reporters grill race chief after runners are turned away from Sunday’s showpiece for wearing apparel adorned with the words ‘Hong Kong’

‘Standard Chartered Marathon is a sporting event, it should not have any political element,’ says organising committee chairman William Ko Wai-lam

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Runners of the 2021 Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon pass Western Harbour Tunnel. Photos: Xiaomei Chen

Published: 3:03pm, 24 Oct 2021Updated: 3:21pm, 24 Oct 2021

Organisers of the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon cut short a tense post-race press conference on Sunday in Victoria Park, after media members repeatedly asked questions about runners being refused entry for wearing clothing adorned with the words “Hong Kong”, and being asked to change or cover up the words with tape.

Local media reported multiple instances of registered participants being turned away for such contraventions, with one runner telling HKC News she was kicked out during security checks in the starting area. A photo of her shorts showed the words “Hong Kong” printed in a font similar to that used by the pro-democracy movement.

Some runners displaying Hong Kong flags were not asked to change clothes or cover them up.

The issue was a hot topic among gathered reporters when Hong Kong Marathon organising committee chairman William Ko Wai-lam addressed them at midday following the conclusion of the event.

Ko opened by reading a brief statement, saying, “the Standard Chartered Marathon is a sporting event, it should not have any political element”.

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