‘Frustrating, but understandable’: runners react to Hong Kong Marathon cancellation due to coronavirus
- Local and international racers offer their thoughts as some 70,000 people deal with the fallout and lost training time
- Olympians and Hongkongers alike show support for government’s decision to cancel the event amid the ongoing China coronavirus outbreak
Reaction to the cancellation of the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon continues to pour in as the fallout hits home for approximately 70,000 racers who were planning on running on February 9.
China’s coronavirus has claimed its first major sporting event outside the mainland as the city’s biggest race was cancelled because of public health and safety concerns. Hong Kong’s chief executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor made the announcement in a 90-minute press conference Saturday as she declared the highest level of emergency.
The outbreak, which has now claimed 56 lives with more than 2,000 cases confirmed, originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan and now has reported cases in multiple countries including six in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong’s Hanniel Chow Hon-nip, who had the top time for any local at 2:25:57 last year (16th overall), said it is going to be tough for runners for awhile as they process the emotional letdown.
“I believe that every runner has worked hard to prepare for it and it really sad not to be able to see the fruits of the toil,” said the 22-year-old. “But then we also have to realise that the HKAAA made a wise choice in cancelling the race.”
