Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon: plan for Kai Tak finish line at early stages only
The sports park could be chosen in future for the race, which will be run on Sunday in conditions likely to be conducive to breaking records
Changing the route of the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon so that it runs into Kai Tak was only at the very early stages of planning, the organisers said, with “initial communications” having been held.
Dennis Ng Yu-ho, executive director of the Hong Kong Association of Athletics Affiliates, said the soon-to-be-opened Kai Tak Sports Park could be chosen in future as a finish line to replace Victoria Park in Causeway Bay – which has been the finishing point since 2008 – only once issues about the route’s accessibility were tackled.
“There are many considerations when discussing replanning the route or making major changes,” he said. “There is the throughput of the route, the impact on traffic or even the atmosphere.
“Is [the route] suitable for allowing nearby residents to cheer along the way? All these are part of the considerations and we’re only at an initial stage.”
Putting the marathon’s finish line at Kai Tak – just as marathons at Olympic Games often finish at major stadiums – could be considered in the future, Ng said, arguing that it was ideal to have a “very pretty” start and finish line in the city.
“Apart from those two largest points, the connecting locations and some other details along the route are something we need to iron out,” Ng said.