MichaelNg

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

The government and the Hong Kong Amateur Athletic Association will hold an emergency meeting today to review future arrangements for the Hong Kong Marathon, which has suffered its first fatality after a crowded race run in bad air pollution Sunday.

Tsang Kam-yin, who had a history of respiratory illness, died early Tuesday morning at Princess Margaret Hospital , after collapsing unconscious Sunday at Ting Kau Bridge, Tsing Yi, during his third marathon, having completed about 13 kilometers of the 42.195km race.

The air quality index Sunday rose to the very high level of 149 in some parts of the course that snaked through the territory.

That sparked criticism of the organizers for running the race during one of the most polluted days in five months and discontinuing runners' water supplies well before many completed the course. About 5,000 runners needed medical attention - nearly twice as many as last year. Twenty-two were taken to hospital.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the race featured about 40,000 competitors, a record, and some racers said overcrowding led to injuries.

Secretary for Home Affairs Patrick Ho expressed his condolences to Tsang's family and said he had been in contact Tuesday with the Hong Kong Amateur Athletic Association - the marathon's organizer.

"We have also requested the association and other government departments conduct a cross-department review [today] to see how we can improve the race and related matters next year," Ho said.

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