The Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2027, one of the city's biggest annual sporting events, will take place on Jan. 17 next year. The event will add 4,000 places to the half marathon, bringing the total number of places to a record 78,000. Parts of the race routes may also be adjusted to offer runners a fresh experience.
Beyond setting a new participation record, organizers are seeking to maximise the impact of the "race bib economy" by inviting restaurants to offer exclusive promotions and launching HK cultural experience activities for non-local runners. The initiatives aim to encourage visitors to experience HK's unique cultural appeal and turn a "one-day event" into "multiple-day stays and spending by more people", leveraging the combined effects of "sports+tourism+mega events" to drive local retail, catering and tourism.
The Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon has long been oversubscribed, with the number of applicants reaching 120,000 last year. To give more people the opportunity to experience HK's running culture, organizers will increase the number of half-marathon places by 16% to 29,000 this year, bringing the total number of places across the event to a record 78,000.
Full and half marathon routes may be adjusted
Kwan Kee, chairman of the Hong Kong, China Association of Athletics Affiliates and chairman of the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2027 Organizing Committee, said at a press conference on Friday (Sept. 4) that the half marathon has consistently been the most popular event.
With government support, organizers will have more time this year to hold an additional race, bringing the total to five half-marathon races and providing runners with a better experience. The increase in places will also help raise the overall standard of the event and further strengthen HK's position as an international marathon destination, fully leveraging the dual benefits of "sports+mega events".
There will also be new arrangements for this year's marathon routes. Kwan said the 10km, full-marathon and half-marathon routes would remain largely the same as in previous years, although some sections in the middle portions of the full- and half-marathon courses may be adjusted. Details are still under discussion, and the changes are expected to bring a fresh experience to runners.
As the number of long-distance running enthusiasts worldwide continues to grow, the London Marathon, one of the world's seven major marathons, has also announced that next year's event will be held over two days for the first time.
Kwan said the athletics association had communicated with government departments on multiple occasions, during which several traffic assessments were conducted. After reviewing traffic capacity, the association considered it most appropriate to keep the Hong Kong Marathon as a one-day event. However, organizers will continue to study road arrangements and public support before considering whether to make changes.
"The government has always fully supported the Hong Kong Marathon's move towards becoming a platinum-level event, but there is still a great deal of work to be done, as well as the need for public support," Kwan said.
Marathon tourism to boost retail and dining
In recent years, combining sport with tourism has become increasingly popular, with many runners treating marathons as travel opportunities and bringing their families along. This creates the effect of "one-day event, multiple-day stay; one participant, multiple consumers". Statistics show that international runners typically stay for an average of four to five days because of marathon events, generating considerable tourism benefits together with their families.
The organizers of this year's Hong Kong Marathon are also seizing the opportunity to launch a number of "sports+tourism" initiatives. These include the marathon expo, which will be held at the Kai Tak Arena for the second consecutive year and is expected to attract more than 100,000 visitors.
In response to the "ticket-tail economy" at Kai Tak Sports Park, organizers will also continue to invite restaurants to offer exclusive discounts from the marathon expo through to the race period.
More than 700 restaurants took part in last year's event. Ten featured small shops also adopted Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon-themed storefronts and offered exclusive "cheering meals", helping spread the marathon atmosphere across the city.
Organizers will also launch HK cultural experience activities to allow non-local runners to experience the city's unique cultural appeal and activate and amplify the "race bib economy".
The impact of the "marathon economy" extends beyond race day. Running classes, coaches, various support services and event staff can all benefit from the event. At the same time, marathons naturally serve as a showcase for a city's image, making them an effective platform for enhancing its international profile.
It is expected that following changes to this year's routes, more of HK's famous landmarks will be visible to runners. Through television broadcasts and social media, the event will also showcase the city's scenery to a wider audience.
New 5km waterfront run added
The organizers will also introduce a new entry-level event, the 5km waterfront run, this year, with 3,000 places available.
The event will take place on Jan. 16, starting at Kai Tak Sports Park and finishing at Shing Kai Road Garden. The route will pass along the Kai Tak Promenade and will also be open to wheelchair users, reflecting the principle of inclusion between people with and without disabilities.
Also taking place on the same day, the "Youth Run", designed specifically for young people aged 10 to 15, will increase its quota from 2,500 to 3,000 places.
(Source: Wen Wei Po; Reporter: Zhang Faer, English Editor: Zoey SUN)
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