The first Sands China Macao International 10K (kilometre) run will be held on April 11, the Sports Bureau (ID) said in a statement yesterday.

According to the statement, Sands China Macao and the Sports Bureau have joined hands to host two races – a 10 kilometre run and a Fun Run, adding that there will be 10,000 spots available –6,000 places for the 10K race and 4,000 places for the Fun Run. The statement noted that registration starts on Saturday for the 10K race and on Sunday for the Fun Run.

The statement said that the Fun Run will start at 7 a.m. while the 10K race commences at 7:30 a.m. at Sai Van Lake Square, while the 10K course will be run along Avenida Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, Kun Iam Ecumenical Centre and Sai Van Bridge, with the finish inside the Olympic Stadium in Taipa.

The statement said that Sands China Ltd. is the official sponsor of the event. During yesterday’s press conference Sands China Ltd. President and Executive Director Wilfred Wong Ying-wai presented the sponsorship cheque for 8 million patacas to Sports Bureau President Pun Weng Kun.

Pun told reporters on the sidelines of yesterday’s press conference at the Venetian in Cotai that the 10K run will be the first big sports event of the year. He added that the bureau scheduled the 10K run and the Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG) Macau International Marathon at different times of the year to allow runners to experience the city in different seasons.

Pun said the race would be different from Macau’s traditional marathon because the starting point and the finishing line will be at two different locations, adding he hoped this would offer runners a “fresh element”.

Pun acknowledged that due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, it might not be possible to invite international runners to compete in the race. However, he pointed out that the bureau has contacted sports bureaus in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA), hoping that they will encourage their athletes to compete in Macau’s 10K race.

Pun stressed that local residents and non-locals can sign up for the race as there are two different prices for the former and the latter. Locals will have to pay 100 patacas and non-locals will have to fork out 200 patacas for the 10K race, while the Fun Run will be 50 patacas for locals and 70 patacas for non-locals. He also said that all runners will need to show a valid nucleic acid negative test (NAT) result prior to the competition.

According to the statement, participants can register for the event in person at Tap Seac Multisport Pavilion or on the event’s website www.macao10k.com, pointing out that online and on-site registration will commence on the same day and will be closed when all places have been taken.

The bureau urged participants to prepare and practise for the event based on their own physical condition, and all are encouraged to read the guidelines and regulations carefully.

Sports Bureau President Pun Weng Kun talks to reporters on the sidelines of yesterday’s 2021 Sands China Macao International 10K press conference at the Venetian Cotai. Photo: Prisca Tang