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SCMP Reporter

This weekend’s Oxfam Trailwalker, the annual Cyclothon and a full slate of domestic rugby matches have all been called off as Hong Kong reels from its deadliest fire in nearly 30 years.
With the official death toll at 65 and scores still missing on Thursday, organisers of some of the city’s biggest sporting events of the year opted to cancel, postpone or delay in light of the events in Tai Po.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club, meanwhile, said it would hold Sunday’s meeting at Sha Tin behind closed doors, adding that an estimated HK$70 million in gross income from the day would be “donated to support those affected by the tragedy”.
Officials involved in the city’s largest trail race, which was scheduled to start on Friday, were the first to confirm they had opted not to go ahead, and others followed soon after.
Domestic rugby had been expected to resume on Thursday, with a Nan Fung Group|Airside Men’s Premiership clash between USRC Tigers and Valley. But that match, plus all men’s and women’s games scheduled for this weekend, were called off.
Sunday’s Cyclothon race, which was due to involve Tour de France legend Mark Cavendish and Hong Kong’s triple National Games gold medallist Ceci Lee Sze-wing, was cancelled hours later.












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A post shared by 樂施毅行者 Oxfam Trailwalker HK (@oxfamtrailwalkerhongkong)



In an official statement on Thursday, Oxfam said it was “deeply saddened by the Tai Po fire and extends its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and the injured”.
The race was being delayed “to allow the government and rescue workers to concentrate their resources on rescue efforts”.
The charity said it was activating its “emergency support mechanism” and all supplies and donations raised through the 100km event would be donated to residents affected by the fire.
Nearly 4,000 runners had signed up to take part, with some travelling from overseas to do so, and Oxfam said it “sincerely apologised to all participants, volunteers, partners and supporters, and thank you for your understanding”.
Four-time winner Jeffrey Campbell, who had been aiming to make it five this year, said the decision was “completely understandable”, while elite runner Jacky Leung Chun-keung thanked Oxfam for “recognising and respecting Hong Kong’s grief”.
“Tomorrow is not the right time for a big race,” Campbell said. “Trailwalker is a huge event, and those resources need to go to the people in need. Everyone I know in the trail running community is trying to find out how they can help the recovery efforts right now.”
Hong Kong Tourism Board said the cyclothon, or the Sun Hung Kai Properties Hong Kong Bike Festival to give it its official title, had been cancelled “to allow relevant government departments to concentrate resources on rescue and recovery efforts”.
“The HKTB expresses its deepest condolences to the victims of the Tai Po Wang Fuk Court fire and those who lost their lives in the line of duty,” it said in a statement.
The city’s rugby bosses said they joined the city in “mourning the devastating loss of life”, adding their thoughts remained “with the loved ones of those involved”.
While Hong Kong China Rugby’s statement said matches were cancelled, a spokesman clarified that a decision on whether points between teams would be shared or games rearranged to another date had yet to be made.
“As an organisation and a rugby community, we are also in discussions around how we can meaningfully contribute and offer support to the relief efforts,” HKCR said in a statement.
Separately, World Table Tennis and the Hong Kong, China Table Tennis Association have opted not to hold a community outreach event scheduled for Friday at Christian and Missionary Alliance Sun Kei Primary School in Tseung Kwan O.
And the Bank of Communications Hong Kong Sports Institute Open Day that was planned for Sunday has also been postponed.


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The Oxfam Trailwalker is the largest annual hiking fundraising event in Hong Kong. Photo: Dickson Lee

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Fires have been raging for hours in several buildings at Wang Fuk Court. Photo: Karma Lo

Sport

Hong Kong

Outdoor

A host of weekend sporting events postponed or cancelled, while Hong Kong Jockey Club says Sunday’s racing will take place without a crowd


A host of weekend sporting events postponed or cancelled, while Hong Kong Jockey Club says Sunday’s racing will take place without a crowd.


Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Cyclothon cancelled, Oxfam Trailwalker, rugby matches in Hong Kong called off

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}A host of weekend sporting events postponed or cancelled, while Hong Kong Jockey Club says Sunday’s racing will take place without a crowd

A host of weekend sporting events postponed or cancelled, while Hong Kong Jockey Club says Sunday’s racing will take place without a crowd