The 2021 Galaxy Entertainment Macao International Marathon, jointly organized by the Sports Bureau and the General Association of Athletics of Macau, will be held on 5 December 2021.  In celebration of the 40^th anniversary, a number of activities will be held to engage residents, tourists and runners in the 2021 Galaxy Entertainment Macao International Marathon in various ways and immerse everyone in the joyful and lively atmosphere of the event.

Macao International Marathon celebrates 40^th edition

The Macao International Marathon is embracing its 40^th year, and will be title-sponsored by the Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG) for the 18^th consecutive year.  A press conference was held today (13 September) by the Organizing Committee to introduce the race details and registration arrangements.  The press conference was attended by the Acting President of the Sports Bureau, Lam Lin Kio; President of the General Association of Athletics of Macau, Ma Iao Hang; Senior Vice President of Public Relations of the Galaxy Entertainment Group, Buddy Lam; and Vice-President of the Sports Bureau, Lau Cho Un.

A total of 12,000 places are available, including 1,400 for the marathon, 4,800 for the half-marathon and 5,800 for the mini-marathon.  The marathon and half-marathon races will start at 6 a.m. and the mini-marathon race at 6:15 a.m. at the Olympic Sports Centre Stadium; the marathon and half-marathon courses will once again pass by the Governor Nobre de Carvalho Bridge and the World Heritage attraction A-Ma Temple and run along the Sai Van Bridge.

New milestone of the event to be celebrated with online and hands-on activities

In celebration of the 40^th anniversary, a number of online and hands-on activities will be held to engage residents, tourists and runners in the 2021 Galaxy Entertainment Macao International Marathon in various ways and immerse everyone in the joyful and lively atmosphere of the event. This year, the popular activity ‘Most Creative Costume Award’ will return once again, and many other activities will also be held, including an online special activity series themed ‘Fab 40’ and a marathon carnival. Moreover, the organizers will join hands with the local cultural and creative sector to launch creative products, and the Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau will issue a set of commemorative philatelic products for the 40^th Macao International Marathon.

To encourage local athletes to achieve good results, the top Macau male and female athlete in the marathon and half-marathon will be awarded the “GEG Macau Cup” plus prizes awarded by the title sponsor.

Easy and convenient all-online registration

In line with e-governance development as launched by the Macao SAR Government, an all-online registration system will be implemented this year for the convenience of the general public, and particularly for race participants. Registration will be open from 9:00 a.m. on 25 September (Saturday) for the marathon and half-marathon categories, and from 9:00 a.m. on 26 September (Sunday) for the mini-marathon category. Interested participants may register online via the event’s official website www.macaomarathon.com  or by scanning the event’s QR code starting from the aforementioned dates.

All would-be participants must have a personal online registration account with the Macao International Marathon. Participants without an online account may create one via the Macao International Marathon’s official website from today. Upon successfully opening an account, participants may log in to the system for online registration during the registration period. Participants with an existing account should prepare their personal information, as well as an electronic copy of their identification document and their General Association of Athletics of Macau membership card for the current year (if applicable) for registration. Participants who have already opened their personal account online but have forgotten their username and password may reset their password on the official website. Visa, MasterCard, UnionPay cards, MPay, BOC Mobile Banking, UnionPay Online Pay, WeChat Pay China and Alipay China are accepted for registration fee payment. Registrants who are paying with WeChat Pay China are required to access the registration system via WeChat app.

In addition, this year, the Active Group Trophies will once again be awarded to the school, sports association, government-registered organization, public and private entities with the highest number of participants who complete the mini-marathon. Interested parties that wish to compete for the trophies are required to download a separate registration form from the event’s website, complete the form with the names and identification document numbers of all the successfully registered participants and submit the form to the Sports Bureau via email at macaomarathon@sport.gov.mo or in person by 22 October.

Participants required to complete COVID-19 vaccination and present proof of negative test result

In compliance with anti-pandemic measures, all participants are required to have completed two doses of COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days in advance (i.e. 21 November or before) prior to the race.  Participants are also required to make their own arrangement for COVID-19 test and to present proof of a valid negative COVID-19 test result (inclusive of race day) before being permitted to take part in the race. 

Participants who have successfully registered may collect the number bib, timing chip, identification wristband (for anti-pandemic purposes) and information document at M/F of Broadway Macau, between 29 November and 4 December, upon presentation of their registration receipt, identification document and proof of vaccination.

In addition, all participants must comply with Law No. 2/2004 of the Macao SAR – ‘Law on the Prevention, Control and Treatment of Infectious Diseases’, and pay attention to and cooperate with the government’s anti-pandemic measures and quarantine requirements upon entry into Macao.

For details and regulations of the event, please visit the official website www.macaomarathon.com, the ‘Macao Major Sporting Events’ Facebook page, or the ‘Macao Major Sporting Events’ WeChat official account.