2-day Hong Kong Marathon could boost mega-event economy: lawmakers

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by Leopold ChenJanuary 19, 2026 at 05:06 AM

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Hong Kong lawmakers are suggesting expanding the annual Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon into a two-day event with more diverse routes to attract more participants and boost the city's economy. The call comes after a record 74,000 runners, 25% from outside Hong Kong, participated in the recent race, leaving nearly 50,000 others unable to secure a spot. Lawmakers suggest routes through less urbanized areas like Kai Tak and the Northern Metropolis to minimize traffic disruptions. Vincent Cheng Wing-shun, a lawmaker and vice-chairman of the Major Sports Events Committee, believes a two-day format could increase overall participation and address the limited spots available for local runners. Organizers have pledged to form a task force to study the event's future development and address the oversubscription issue.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Major Sports Events Committee 40% Kai Tak 50% Northern Metropolis 50% Vincent Cheng Wing-shun 60% Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 75% Hong Kong Marathon ×385% Hong Kong ×590%

Keywords

hong kong marathon 100% mega-event economy 80% two-day race 70% traffic disruptions 60% overseas participants 60% event capacity 50% sports promotion 50% route design 50% local runners 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Positive

Score: 0.30

Source Transparency

Source

South China Morning Post

Political Lean

Center-Right (0.50)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

Hong Kong

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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hong kong marathon mega-event economy two-day race traffic disruptions overseas participants event capacity sports promotion route design local runners

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