Hong Kong’s popular annual sporting event, the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2026, kicked off on Sunday with over 70,000 runners participating. 

READ MORE: HK Marathon 2026 set for Sunday draws global field

According to the event organizer, a quarter of the runners were nonlocal entrants from 110 countries and regions, which underscores the race’s status as a major event with great global appeal. 

In a social media post, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the marathon strengthens Hong Kong’s position as an international sports events hub.  

Bizuneh Belachew of Ethiopia won the men's full marathon while Shitaye Eshete of Bahrain was the first to cross the finish line in the women’s category. 

This year’s event included a 42.195-kilometer full marathon, a half-marathon, a 10-kilometer race, and 10km wheelchair races. 

Earlier in the week, the premier road race was awarded the "M" Mark status—an official recognition system to highlight sports events with global influence—by the city’s Major Sports Events Committee (MSEC) for its role in elevating the city’s profile as a sports capital and generating considerable socioeconomic benefits.

China Daily's Adam Lam and DJ Clark took the photos and the video on Sunday.