The Hong Kong Marathon will take place on February 12, 2023, with a tentative quota of 25,000 participants. In a press release issued on Thursday, the Hong Kong Association of Athletics Affiliates confirmed the event will also feature three races: the marathon, the half-marathon, and the 10km race.
The marathon and half-marathon will follow traditional race routes that begin at Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui. However, the 10km run will begin at the Island Eastern Corridor. All three races will end at Victoria Park.
Earlier this year, the marathon — which was supposed to be held on November 20, 2022 — was cancelled as the organisers did not get the government’s approval to go ahead with the event by mid-September, leaving them “insufficient time for runners and relevant stakeholders to adequately prepare for the race”.
The marathon last took place in 2021 with 18,500 participants across three races, along with a virtual version that allowed runners from across the world to take part in the event. Runners who participated in the physical run had to be double-vaccinated and have a negative PCR test result obtained within 72 hours prior to the start of the marathon.
The confirmation of the marathon comes after two landmark sporting events — the Hong Kong Sevens and the Cross Harbour Race — were also given the green light by authorities as long as they adhere to anti-epidemic measures. These requirements include a closed-loop arrangement for the Sevens participants, and negative PCR and antigen test results for Cross Harbour Race swimmers, along with a valid vaccine pass.
Header image credits: Hong Kong Marathon
