UCI Track Nations Cup: organisers were under ‘no pressure’, government set no targets for ‘M’ Mark event
- Attendances at three-day event were poor, with even the sessions featuring the best riders failing to fill more than half the 1,500 available seats
- Organisers said the government had not stipulated any attendance figure; an ‘M’ mark qualifies for up to HK$15 million in financial support
Hong Kong UCI Track Nations Cup organisers were given no attendance or revenue targets by the government after the event in Tseung Kwan O was awarded ‘M’ Mark status.
Attendances were poor across all three days of the event, with even the plum night sessions, featuring the best riders racing for medals, failing to fill more than 50 per cent of the 1,500 available seats.
On Friday and Saturday, the 400-plus riders and officials outnumbered fans in the stands.
Simon Leung Chi-wa, chairman of the Nations Cup Hong Kong organising committee, said low spectator numbers were anticipated, after previous elite-level events in the city “did not have full houses”, despite boasting the draw of world-class home rider Sarah Lee Wai-sze.
Nevertheless, Leung acknowledged that ticket sales suffered because of a delay in promoting the event, which was announced in January.
He also revealed sponsors who backed the city’s 2021 Nations Cup, and previous Hong Kong-staged World Cup and World Championship meetings, “did not respond in a positive manner” when approached about partnering for the 2024 event.
