The Hong Kong Association of Athletics Affiliates (HKAAA) has made a U-turn on its decision to cancel the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon, saying it will push it back to February 2023 instead.
The association announced on its Facebook page on Tuesday that it is planning to hold the marathon on Feb. 12, 2023 after having constructive discussions with the relevant parties over the last few days and receiving “the government’s full support”.
It was only Friday that the association announced it was axing the race, originally planned on Nov. 20, because the government did not grant approval in time.
The association added on Tuesday it will strictly adhere to and implement all necessary Covid-19 prevention measures.
It also said it will work closely with the relevant government departments to complete the appropriate preparations, allowing all runners, staff, and the general public to participate in this annual sports event in a healthy and safe manner.
It said it will announce the full event details soon.
The U-turn comes shortly after the organizers of the World Dragon Boat Racing Championships announced that it would be moving to Thailand in 2023 due to Hong Kong’s quarantine policy for arrivals being tighter than other countries.
Other sporting events that have been canceled this year include the Hong Kong Open organized by the Hong Kong Badminton Association and the Sun Hung Kai Properties Hong Kong 10k Championships.
