Hong Kong athletics bosses dismiss trail runners' complaints over ‘crazy, dangerous' race
Athletics bosses have defended their handling of a trail race that runners called 'crazy and dangerous', adding if competitors had concerns they should not have taken part.
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Nearly a week after complaints first surfaced on social media over the Hong Kong Trail Championships in Tai Mei Tuk, organisers issued a statement on Friday dismissing any criticism and pointing to a host of other races that had also been held in late May.
However, the Hong Kong Association of Athletics Affiliates (HKAAA) did apologise for 'inconvenience caused to local residents' after rubbish left behind following the event resulted in one of the city's oldest and best-preserved rural settlements being littered with plastic waste.
Officials had come under fire for opting to stage the 62.4km (38.8 mile) championships – which served as the selection race for the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in September – on May 25, when temperatures reached 26 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) and humidity was high.
In its statement, the HKAAA said while 'an earlier month with an average lower temperature would be preferable, holding trail running races in May in Hong Kong is not unusual'.
Lai Chi Wo is one of Hong Kong's oldest rural settlements. Photo: University of Hong Kong
It then referenced 10 other privately organised races that have taken place in May, including two 50km events staged by Action Asia Events. Of the rest, the longest was 27km, and several were below 10km.
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