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Extreme fitness
OutdoorTrail Running

How long can trail race organisers survive if there is no Hong Kong-wide Covid-19 vaccine until 2022 and sports are still restricted?

  • The government has warned there may be no vaccine until 2022 and it may be the death of trailrunnning companies
  • Is there a storm brewing as more trail users could mean more clashes between runners and hikers when racing returns?

Reading Time:5 minutes
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Runners take on the Lantau 2 Peak trail race, 2019, organised by Micheal Maddess. Photo: Action Asia Events
Mark Agnew
Trail races have been cancelled for most of 2020 because of Covid-19 Social distancing restrictions. The lack of income is taking a toll on trail race organisers’ bottom line, and as the Hong Kong government has said it will be “lucky” to get a citywide vaccination by 2022, there is a long road ahead.
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“Many organisers and those supporting the sport are really struggling,” said Janet Ng, a founder of Trail Runners Association of Hong Kong (TRAHK) and organiser of the Vibram Hong Kong 100.

“Some organisers have now seen two years of their events being cancelled – last year because of the political unrest then followed by Covid-19. No organiser can afford to keep their staff and pay rent for this long without the ability to hold any events, big or small.

“There has been no indication from the government as to when events might be able to restart, adding to the financial uncertainty. I don’t think many events can survive another year of cancellations.”

Janet Ng thinks the solution is obvious, as trail running is non-contact and outdoors. Photo: SCMP
Janet Ng thinks the solution is obvious, as trail running is non-contact and outdoors. Photo: SCMP
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She added that charities and NGOs that depend on an annual trail race to raise funds will also suffer.

There is the Employee Support Scheme (ESS) available for Hong Kong companies to cover salaries, but other than that there is no specific support for trail race organisers. Ng said TRAHK has proposed safety guidelines to the Home Affairs Bureau and the Food and Health Bureau but the responses have been negative. They include Social-distancing, masks and hand-sanitising.

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