【社評雙語道】提升國際參與 渣馬跑向世界
【原文】下文摘錄自2023年2月13日香港《文匯報》︰
第二十五屆渣打馬拉松於本月12日順利舉行，清晰向世界傳達香港全面復甦信息。渣馬已成香港作為「盛事之都」的一項代表賽事，但其特色與國際影響力仍比不上紐約倫敦等城市的世界級馬拉松賽事。香港是時候立下雄心，將渣馬升級為世界級賽事。政府與主辦者要集思廣益，通過完善賽道、提升公眾參與、吸納世界優秀選手參賽等，讓渣馬既成港人嘉年華，也成功跑向世界。
渣打馬拉松是香港全面復常後舉辦的最大型體育賽事，分全馬、半馬及10公里賽事，近3.5萬名跑手無懼天氣潮濕參加比賽，比上屆的1.85萬人參賽規模更大，並吸引逾500名海外跑手參加，著名影星周潤發等也紛紛參賽，令賽事充滿嘉年華熱烈氣氛。今屆渣馬獲香港大型賽事體育活動事務委員會頒授「M」品牌認可，是在與內地全面復常通關後，香港首個有公眾參與的「M」品牌大型體育盛事。渣馬的成功舉辦，再次清晰向國際發出香港已全面復常復甦的信息。
對於馬拉松運動，市民參與度高，有助全民健康，減輕醫療系統壓力。舉辦馬拉松賽事亦能有力拉動經濟增長，因此世界各地紛紛舉辦馬拉松賽事。每年世界各地舉辦的馬拉松比賽超過800多場，其中最熱門的是6大年度城市世界馬拉松賽，其舉辦地分別為波士頓、紐約、芝加哥、柏林、東京、倫敦。這6大世界級馬拉松賽事，皆為當地帶來巨大經濟收入和重要國際影響力和美譽度，已成為國際大都市的城市形象名片。香港作為國際金融、貿易、航運三大中心，又是國家大力支持建設的中外文化藝術交流中心，是時候立下雄心，將渣馬提升為世界級賽事，穩固香港作為「盛事之都」的地位。
一是完善賽事路線，提升賽道吸引力。世界級馬拉松賽事路線，多經過具歷史意義建築或著名風景點，且多平直寬廣，如柏林馬拉松賽道無明顯急轉彎且平直，有利跑手創造成績，被稱為「全球最快馬拉松路線」。香港渣馬賽道自2016年起，已連續3年獲國際田聯組織認可為金級道路賽事，與世界6大馬拉松賽事同級，但賽事路線特色與吸引力仍有提升空間，如有意見建議可將青馬大橋、港珠澳大橋納入渣馬路線。
二是強化公眾參與度，增強嘉年華氣氛。香港馬拉松路線多在高速公路舉行，跑手親朋好友較難在途中為跑手加油打氣。而世界級馬拉松賽事多重視公眾參與、重視嘉年華氣氛營造。如日本東京馬拉松，市民會自發性地為跑手加油打氣、提供飲料給跑手；紐約馬拉松開幕式，現場各國跑手代表舉着各國國旗遊行、燃放煙火；柏林馬拉松賽事分為兩天，頭天會在賽道舉辦世界上最大的直排輪競賽，炒熱賽事氣氛等。這些城市將賽事增加嘉年華元素的做法，值得香港借鑒。
三是增強賽事特色、加強國際推廣。如波士頓馬拉松會依據跑手年齡和性別而設不同參賽門檻，跑速要達一定要求；芝加哥馬拉松成為女性參與度最高的馬拉松；倫敦馬拉松最大特色為「慈善捐款」等。有建議認為香港渣馬可增設團隊參賽項目，或增加獎金數目及範圍，或補貼海外跑手來港參賽的酒店住宿或機票等，增強賽事對國際優秀選手的吸引力。
如何將渣馬提升為世界級賽事，特區政府和主辦機構要多傾聽各界建言，集思廣益。下定決心、定下升級渣馬為世界級賽事的目標，應為當下可為的第一步。
Enhance international participation to upgrade SCHKM to a world-class event
【譯文】The 25th Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon (SCHKM) successfully concluded on 12 February 2023, sending a clear message to the world that Hong Kong has fully recovered. While the SCHKM has become an iconic event of Hong Kong reputed as an "events capital", it cannot compare to the world-class marathons such as the New York City Marathon or the London Marathon, in terms of features and influence. It is time for Hong Kong to set its ambition to upgrade SCHKM to a world-class event. The Government and the organiser need to put their heads together to improve the course, increase public participation and attract the best runners from around the world to participate in the race, so that it can become both a carnival for Hong Kong people and a successful run to the world.
The SCHKM, with races of Marathon, Half Marathon and 10km, is the largest sports event held in Hong Kong since the city's return to normal: nearly 35,000 runners braved the challenging humid weather, much more than the 18,500 participants of last race. The event has attracted more than 500 overseas runners and famous movie stars such as Chow Yun Fat, thus filled with a carnival atmosphere. The SCHKM was awarded the M Mark by the Hong Kong Major Sports Events Committee, the first major sports event in Hong Kong with public participation after the full resumption of normal travel with Chinese mainland. The success of SCHKM once again sends a clear message to the international community that Hong Kong has fully recovered.
A marathon attracts a high level of public participation, which can contribute to the health of the entire population and reduce the pressure on the healthcare system. It can also drive the economic growth, which is why marathons are organised all over the world. Among over 800 marathons held around the world each year, the most popular are 6 city marathons held annually in Boston, New York City, Chicago, Berlin, Tokyo and London, which all bring in huge economic revenue and significant international influence and prestige, and have become the name cards of those international metropolises. As an international financial, trading and shipping centre and an exchange centre for arts and culture, strongly supported by the State, between China and the world, Hong Kong should set its ambition to upgrade SCHKM to a world-class event, so as to consolidate Hong Kong's position as the "events capital".
Firstly, the race route should be improved to enhance the course attractiveness. World-class marathon races usually route through historic buildings or famous scenic spots, and their courses are mostly flat, straight and wide. For example, the Berlin Marathon course is flat and straight, without any sharp turns, which is conducive to runners' performance; therefore, it is crowned the "world's fastest marathon course". The SCHKM has been recognised by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) as an IAAF Gold Label Road Race for 3 consecutive years since 2016, which is on par with the top six city marathons in the world, but its route characteristics and attractiveness still have room to enhance, and some suggest including Tsing Ma Bridge and Hong Kong - Zhuhai - Macao Bridge as part of its race route.
Secondly, public participation should be strengthened to enhance the carnival atmosphere. The SCHKM is mainly routed on highways, making it difficult for runners' friends and relatives to cheer them on along the way. World-class marathons, on the other hand, attach great importance to public participation and the carnival atmosphere. For example, at the Tokyo Marathon in Japan, the public spontaneously cheer on the runners and provide them with drinks; at the opening ceremony of the New York City Marathon, representatives of runners from various countries parade with their national flags and set off fireworks; the Berlin Marathon is divided into two days, with the world's largest inline-skating race held on the first day to heat up the atmosphere. These cities have added carnival elements to their events, from which Hong Kong should learn.
Thirdly, we should enhance the characteristics of the event and strengthen international promotion. For example, the Boston Marathon sets different entry thresholds according to the age and gender of the runners and certain speed requirements; the Chicago Marathon has become the race with the highest level of female participation; and the London Marathon features "charitable donations". Some suggest that the SCHKM should have team entries, or increase the number and scope of prizes, or subsidise hotel accommodation or air tickets for overseas runners to participate in the race, so as to enhance the attractiveness of the race to outstanding international athletes.
The Government and the organiser should listen to the views of all sectors and draw on their collective wisdom on how to upgrade the SCHKM to a world-class event. The first step that can be taken now is to summon up the determination and set the goal of upgrading the race to a world-class event. ◆ Kevin Cheung (CUSCS Lecturer)
