Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge to host sports event for first time in National Games test

Hong Kong will be part of the National Games road cycling race test event when the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge hosts cross-border sports competitions for the first time later this month.

More than 70 cyclists, including three from the city’s national men’s team, will depart from the Zhuhai Museum on November 24, before riding through Macau, the HZMB, Hong Kong and Hengqin Island, before returning to the museum to complete the 230-kilometre ride.

Olympian and Hangzhou Asian Games bronze medallist Vincent Lau Wan-yau; former Asian champion Mow Ching-yin; and Chu Tsun-wai, who competed at the 14th National Games in 2021, are among the 70-plus riders from 23 teams taking part in the test event.

Speaking after the press conference in Zhuhai on Thursday, Yeung Tak-keung, the head of the National Games Coordination Office, highlighted the importance of working together with Zhuhai and Macau officials in terms of custom clearances.

All athletes, officials and vehicles involved will be checked and screened beforehand and the organisers will adopt “closed-loop management” after the race starts, meaning all the relevant parties can cross borders without stopping.

“It’s not only the first time for Hong Kong to be a part of the National Games, it’s also a first for us to host cross-border sports competitions on the HZMB,” he said. “So in terms of route planning, deployment of supporting facilities and staff, as well as custom clearances for people, vehicles and goods, many tests are to be done.

“There is also medical support and we have spent the past few months communicating with various departments and the relevant public sectors; there were also a lot of field trips and we rehearsed just two days ago, hoping for a smooth and successful test event on that day.”