Instead of a mass start that would break social distancing rules, triathlon participants hoping to get selected for the 2020 Asian Beach Games will take part in a time trial to meet health requirements at Plover Cove in Tai Mei Tuk on Friday morning.
With the pandemic striking again in Hong Kong, leaving the government worried of more outbreak cases (there were 61 positive cases on Tuesday), organisers are playing it safe by running a time trial for the 19 entrants instead of a mass start, where runners would congregate at the start.
The race will go ahead as planned to select Hong Kong representatives for the sixth edition of the Games, which will be held in Sanya, China from November 28 to December 5.
“We have prepared the event for a long time and some athletes have even returned from overseas to compete in the competition,” said Triathlon Association vice-president Wan Shu-wah. “The pandemic is our primary concern and therefore we won’t hold a race [per se] any more. But instead we will run a time trial for the athletes to meet the government’s health requirements and pick the best times for the Beach Games.”
The number of persons allowed in group gatherings in public places has been limited to four as mandated by the government. That was put in effect on July 15.
According to the new format, athletes will be divided into small groups for the 1-kilometre swim and 5-km run competition. Athletes in the same group will start individually at two-minute intervals while each group will be set apart by 20 minutes.
The Beach Games feature only aquathlon – a swim and run competition rather than a full triathlon race which also includes cycling.
There are 19 athletes on the entry list – seven women headed by Hilda Choi Yan-yin and 12 in the men’s category headed by Asian champion Oscar Coggins. The three fastest athletes from each category will be selected for the Games.
Coggins, a strong favourite to qualify for Tokyo, said he understood the selection race had been cancelled and would be replaced by a safer time trial.
“The event is more of a fitness test that will contribute towards selection,” he said. “But it seems to be following government guidelines strictly. There will be a lot of distance between the athletes and therefore I won’t be too worried about the conditions based on the plan that has been put forward to us.”
Wan said they would use minimal staff manpower for the competition to avoid any potential health risks and athletes who are based at the Sports Institute will be transported to the competition site by designated vehicles.
However, even if the association select the Hong Kong team, it is still not known if the Games will go head as scheduled. Reports in the mainland said Chinese authorities are reviewing the pandemic situation and may postpone the Beach Games.
Meanwhile, the Triathlon Association has cancelled this year’s Hong Kong Life ASTC sprint triathlon Asian Cup and the Asian Aquathlon Championships due to the pandemic outbreak. Both events were scheduled for October. Last year, both events were also called off because of the social unrest in Hong Kong.
