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The Hong Kong Marathon, sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank, is an annual marathon race held in February or March in Hong Kong. In addition to the full marathon, a 10 km run and a half marathon are also held. Around 70,000 runners take part each year across all events. High levels of humidity and a difficult course make finishing times for the Hong Kong Marathon comparatively slower than other large marathons. The course records were both set in 2012 by Ethiopians: Dejere Abera has the men's record of 2:11:27 hours while Misiker Demissie holds the women's record of 2:30:12 hours.〔Butcher, Pat (2012-02-05). (Course records tumble in Hong Kong ). IAAF. Retrieved on 2012-02-05.〕 Hong Kong Marathon was first granted as IAAF Bronze Label Road Races by International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in Year 2012 race, and it was upgraded as IAAF Silver Label Road Races in Year 2013 race,〔(IAAF Silver Label Road Races ), IAAF Official Website, Retrieved on 2013-02-21〕 and continued to keep this rating in Year 2014 and Year 2015 race. The Hong Kong Marathon has hosted the Asian Marathon Championship race on three occasions (2002, 2008 and 2013),〔〔(14th Asian Marathon Championships ), IAAF Official Website, Retrieved on 2013-02-21〕 The 15th Asian Marathon Championship race was held in 2015 Hong Kong Marathon. The next (20th) Hong Kong Marathon (2016) will have the first Official Theme Song of the race - Life And Marathon sung by Hong Kong singer Eason Chan, being recorded on his newest album Getting Ready（《準備中》） released on July 10, 2015, and Eason was formally invited to participate on this race with being granted Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon VIP Pass by Standard Chartered Bank and Hong Kong Amateur Athletic Association.〔(The 2015 Cantonese Album of Eason Chan "Getting Ready" Release Party ), PlayMusic, 2015-07-08〕 ==History== The race traces its history back to 1997, when it was launched as the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Marathon by the Hong Kong Amateur Athletic Association. The route was between Sheung Shui and Shenzhen.〔Exhibition on marathon in Victoria Park, February 2008, by the organizer of the Marathon〕 The race endured organisational difficulties due to a lack of funding and was not held from 1989 to 1991. After two further editions, the race was again suspended from 1994 to 1996.〔Civai, Franco (2011-03-11). (Hong Kong Marathon ). Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved on 2012-02-05.〕 Standard Chartered Bank stepped in as a title sponsor for the 1997 race and it garnered a field of 1,000 runners.〔 The relaunch of the race saw increased participation from top-level East African runners – the men's race has been won by either a Kenyan or Ethiopian runner for all but two years from 1997 to 2012.〔 The 1998 marathon established a new course, starting at Tsing Ma Bridge and ending at the newly finished Hong Kong International Airport on Chek Lap Kok. The total entrants increased to 6,000 participants. For 1999, the race was moved to urban areas for the first time, starting in Central, ending at Sham Shui Po Sports Ground, with 7,000 participants. The route was altered again in 2000, as it started from Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui, and ended at the Sham Shui Po Sports Ground. The half-marathon was added, alongside the already-existing full marathon and 10 km race.〔 In 2001 the number of participants exceeded 10,000. The race course started from Nathan Road, then out to West Kowloon, onto West Kowloon Highway, followed by Cheung Tsing Tunnel, Tsing Ma Bridge, Ting Kau Bridge, then going all the way back into Western Harbour Crossing, ending at Golden Bauhina Plaza in Wan Chai North.〔 The race was incorporated as one of the four legs of the Standard Chartered-sponsored The Greatest Race on Earth in 2005. In 2006 the marathon was held on 12 February, with a prize fund of US$100,000. Almost 40,000 joined the Marathon. Two fainted during the race and one died on 14 February, resulting in the competition's first fatality. Reflecting this, first-aid services were introduced for the 2007 edition, but weather conditions seriously affected the runners. A record-breaking number of 6249 participants took part, 16.7% of whom experienced injury. Hot weather sent 35 participants to hospital, including one young runner who died. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Hong Kong Marathon」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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