Editorial | Marathon guarantees winning time for Hong Kong
- With 74,000 runners set for next year’s event, which will also double as the Asian Marathon Championships, the post-pandemic city can show it is still ahead of the rest
The Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon earlier this year saw 37,000 runners, including athletes from overseas, pound the streets, sending a clear message that the city was bouncing back from the pandemic. It was a welcome return to something approaching normality for the flagship event, which had suffered a cancellation and two postponements during the Covid-19 years. The one race that took place during the pandemic was the subject of tight restrictions and there were only 18,500 participants.
The news that the next event, in January, will feature 74,000 runners, just short of the 2019 record, is therefore welcome. Athletes train hard for their race. But thousands suffered the disappointment of missing out on a place for the February event because the size was half that of pre-pandemic levels. This time, those who were due to run in the cancelled 2020 event, are guaranteed a spot if they have not used up their allotted quota in the more recent races. The status of the marathon has been given a boost, with next year’s race doubling as the Asian Marathon Championships for the first time in eight years.
Hong Kong has been keen to reassert itself as a venue for elite international sporting events after the near absence of such competitions due to prolonged Covid-19 restrictions. The city has welcomed the return of the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens and Oxfam Trailwalker events, among others. The Hong Kong Open golf tournament will be staged in November, as will the Gay Games.
But the high participation level of the marathon, which also features half-marathon and 10km races, gives it a special place in the sporting calendar. Athletes with varying levels of ability can take part. They are advised to train well and to ensure they are properly prepared. The cool weather in January should ensure many personal best times.
The marathon is also the perfect spectacle for showcasing Hong Kong as it takes place against the backdrop of the city’s impressive skyline. During the pandemic, the absence of a fully fledged marathon was keenly felt. It will be good to see the event back to its best. Now that the starting gun has been sounded, it can go from strength to strength.
