Hong Kong’s Nations Cup cycling event may be called off if government fails to make quick decision on quarantine exemptions

The inaugural UCI sanctioned track cycling event could be one of the first major international sporting events in Hong Kong since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic

Organisers hope to set up a safety bubble with designated transport and want the government to ease quarantine restrictions for overseas participants

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Chief Executive Carrie Lam celebrates Sarah Lee’s win against South Korea’s Lee Hye-jin in the sprint final at the 2019 track cycling World Cup at Hong Kong Velodrome in Tseung Kwan O. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 7:11pm, 12 Apr 2021Updated: 7:11pm, 12 Apr 2021

The Hong Kong Cycling Association is in a race against time to decide if May’s Nations Cup will become one of the first major international sporting events to take place in Hong Kong since the Covid-19 outbreak last year.

The track cycling extravaganza is scheduled to take place at Tseung Kwan O velodrome from May 13-16 and has attracted 440 cyclists and officials after Sunday’s entry deadline.

Organisers had planned a safety bubble for all participants, allowing overseas visitors to be exempt from quarantine measures but they are still awaiting approval from the government. Discussions have been ongoing since Lunar New Year.

“We must make a decision this week, to go ahead with the event or to call it off,” said association chairman Leung Hung-tak. “Some of the preparation work has to start, including many purchase orders because there is only one month left. If there is still no green light from the government, we have to say no to the world governing body.

Sarah Lee in the sprint semi-final against Olena Starikova, of Ukraine, at the 2019 Hong Kong Track Cycling World Cup. Photo: Winson Wong

“Of course, this is not what we want to see. We still want to host the event to give something for the fans to cheer and most important, the opportunity for our riders to rub shoulders against the world’s best.”

According to Leung, cycling heavyweights such as Germany, France, Italy, Great Britain and the United States have all entered the event while in Asia, regional powers Japan and Malaysia will take part. Hong Kong will be led by Tokyo Olympics medal hopeful Sarah Lee Wai-sze. China and South Korea, two of Hong Kong’s major rivals in Asia, did not enter.

With a budget of HK$6 million – including an additional HK$1 million for special precautionary health measures – the organisers planned to use two hotels in Tseung Kwan O to set up the safety bubble. All riders and officials will be shuttled to and from the nearby venue by designated vehicles to ensure minimal contact with the public. Participants will be required to undergo Covid-19 tests before and upon their arrival in Hong Kong.

German sprinters Emma Hinze (left) and Pauline Grabosch pose the biggest threats to Hong Kong’s Sarah Lee. Photo: Chan Kin-wa

At the moment, all arrivals in Hong Kong must go through a 21-day or 14-day quarantine, depending on their place of origin while arrivals from Brazil, Ireland, South Africa and Great Britain are not be allowed to board aircraft bound for Hong Kong. Organisers have asked the government for an exemption of quarantine requirements as part of the safety bubble.