Occupied in Causeway Bay, but this time with Hong Kong Marathon runners
Race route will pass through a recent protest site; organisers hope any political activism won't affect competitors
Yee Wo Street in Causeway Bay will be reoccupied next Sunday, this time by thousands of runners - but organisers admit they will be powerless to prevent possible protests along the route.
After organisers had long pushed for a wider, more spectator friendly route leading to the finish at Victoria Park, the end of the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon will now take runners along Hennessy Road and Yee Wo Street, one of the sites of the recent Occupy protests.
"There will be more room for the runners along that part of the route and the change will also allow more people to come out to cheer for the runners," said William Ko Wai-lam, chairman of the organising committee.
If people want to use the opportunity to display their political demands, we cannot stop them as long as they don't block runners
"I am sure the change will be welcome as we have been trying to get permission to use the new route [for the half-marathon and marathon events] for the last couple of years but were only given the green light by the authorities recently."
Previously, runners had to go through the smaller Lockhart, East Point and Great George roads.
With more people able to watch, it is possible that some spectators - and even participants - will take the opportunity to try to gain attention with political signs or yellow umbrellas. Ko admitted they could do little to stop people from doing so.
