Editorial | Bridge half marathon worth a longer run
- First race on Hong Kong leg of structure linking city with Zhuhai and Macau not only a success but also another sign of recovery
Another big stride towards post-pandemic normality was made at the weekend with the success of the inaugural Bank of China Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Half Marathon.
It was a unique event on normally forbidden territory – the Hong Kong leg of the world’s longest bridge and sea tunnel crossing. The 55km (34 mile) span that crosses the Pearl River Estuary opened in 2018.
Organising an event that required the approvals of three different jurisdictions was never going to be easy. The first proposed foot race was announced last August while most sporting schedules were still in Covid-19 hibernation.
The Hong Kong Association of Athletics Affiliates initially worked with Manulife but could not get necessary approvals, before the current sponsor Bank of China (Hong Kong) changed the route to keep it within the city’s jurisdiction to get the event up and running.
Thousands of runners including elite athletes from eight countries hit the road early on Sunday. Kenya’s Geoffrey Toroitich won the 21km men’s race and Sarah Chelangat of Uganda took the women’s crown.
The city’s fastest male runner was 39-year-old Gi Ka-man and Christy Yiu Kit-ching was the fastest local female runner. Crowds cheered as 67-year-old Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-fat finished his first half marathon.
