Hong Kong marathon fast running out of time

The organizer of the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon has issued an ultimatum to authorities to green light the November 20 race by next week or it will have to be canceled.

The Hong Kong Association of Athletics Affiliates spoke yesterday of being in active communication with government departments since last year and in June it handed in a proposal to cut the number of runners to 25,000 from 37,000.

The hope is that authorities will approve that proposal by next week.

Association chairman Kwan Kee said the Covid-caused quota cut was also in line with the 25th handover anniversary and the Standard Chartered Marathon.

Marathon chairman William Ko Wai-lam said 25,000 was the number proposed and though "there would be a backup plan cancellation of the event would not be ruled out according to the development of the pandemic."

Kwan cited health experts' belief that Covid will peak this month, so by the time of the races on November 20 outbreaks could have eased.

But to comply with social distancing measures the association is willing to split runners into groups of 500 with staggered starts and using Island Eastern Corridor for the course.

Association executive director Dennis Ng Yu-ho said runners would be required to provide a "blue code" vaccination pass to show at least three shots of vaccine and to present a 48-hour negative PCR result. A rapid test would be needed on race day.

Undersecretary for Health Libby Lee Ha-yun said whether big events can be held depends on many factors, such as the number of positive cases and Covid variants.

Singapore's Standard Chartered Marathon series is set for December 3 to 4 with 50,000 runners with distance categories of five kilometers, 10km, half-marathon and full marathon.

stacy.shi@singtaonewscorp.com