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Coronavirus Hong Kong
SportHong Kong

Hong Kong’s ‘short notice’ Covid-19 rules jeopardise sporting events, athletics boss says

  • ‘I understand the government’s concern about pandemics spreading, but they must also put themselves in our shoes,’ HKAAA chairman Kwan Kee tells the Post
  • Sun Hung Kai Properties Hong Kong 10K Championships, due to include 1,500 runners, cancelled on Wednesday after being told of 500 cap

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The 2021 Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon had a field of thousands, all of whom underwent Covid-19 testing before the race. Photo: May Tse
Shirley Chui
Hong Kong’s athletics chief called for transparency and voiced concerns of a precedent being set for sporting events in the city, after a 10km race was cancelled following government insistence that it slash participant numbers.
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The Sun Hung Kai Properties Hong Kong 10K Championships was on Wednesday called off four days before it was due to take place, with organisers having been told only the previous day that numbers would be capped at 500. Sunday’s race had 1,500 runners registered.

Swimming’s Cross Harbour Race, whose organisers have been in talks with government departments to increase its headcount, is also under threat after Hong Kong health authorities warned of a “worrying” rise in Covid-19 cases and a need to limit the scope of approvals for mask-off events.

Kwan Kee, chairman of the Hong Kong Association of Athletics Affiliates (HKAAA), told the Post that the 10K race’s cancellation put in doubt the viability of events including the Hong Kong Trail Championships on September 4 and the Hong Kong Half Marathon Challenge on October 2.

If there were to be a shift in policy regarding mass-participation events, it could place question marks over rugby’s Hong Kong Sevens and the Hong Kong Marathon, both due to take place in November.

The Cross Harbour Race has been established in Hong Kong for more than a century. Photo: Sam Tsang
The Cross Harbour Race has been established in Hong Kong for more than a century. Photo: Sam Tsang

“The government said that epidemic prevention is its top priority. We intend to meet the Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-ki to explain our predicament,” Kwan said.

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