Trial runs for cross-border races at the coming National Games have revealed the need for greater support for trailing athletes and improved communication among escort personnel at boundary checkpoints, the head of Hong Kong’s coordination office has said.
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Hong Kong will co-host the 15th National Games in November with neighbouring Guangdong province and Macau for the first time, staging eight of the competition’s 34 sporting events – the men’s under-22 basketball, track cycling, fencing, golf, men’s handball, rugby sevens, triathlon and beach volleyball.
Commenting on test runs last month for two additional cross-border events – road cycling and the marathon – National Games Coordination Office head Yeung Tak-keung said on Sunday that some communication gaps between Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Shenzhen could be improved.
For example, he said, during the cycling race, some athletes lagged behind the leading group, creating a large gap.
“The main pack in front was monitored closely by cameras and drones, but for the trailing cyclists, how do we take care of them, or how do we assess their situation?” he told a radio programme.
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“There may be a need for more manpower or more technology to help.”
