City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) held the opening ceremony for the "CityUHK Delegation – Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2025: CityUHK Inclusive Run" (“Inclusive Run”) at the Joint Sports Centre in Kowloon Tong on 30 October. A delegation from CityUHK, composed of faculty, students and alumni, will team up with students from Mary Rose School and TWGHs Chi-Li Pao School to tackle the 10-kilometre race in the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon in February 2025. CityUHK sports ambassadors will also organise running training sessions to prepare alongside the students.

Organised by the Student Development Services, the "Inclusive Run" is part of CityUHK's Sports Ambassadors Programme, whose aim is to promote inclusivity through sports, demonstrate CityUHK's connection with the community, and bring about positive changes, fostering care for the community and promoting diverse development.

"In this busy, fast-paced society, we may overlook the connections and care we should have for each other. The 'Inclusive Run' reminds us that by respecting and accepting everyone's unique abilities and values, our community can make positive changes," said Professor Chan Chi-hou, Vice-President (Community Engagement) at CityUHK.

 

Gianna Lee, a Year Two student in the Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, and Qimat Poon, a Year One student in the Department of Public and International Affairs, will participate in the "Inclusive Run" for the first time. Members of the CityUHK Sports Team, they explained that running alongside students from special schools this time feels very different from previous competitions. Gianna pointed out, "Encouragement and perseverance are crucial when competing alongside students from special schools." Qimat added, "Through this 'Inclusive Run', I hope to ignite a passion for running in students from special schools, encouraging them to never give up in the face of challenges and aiming to complete the race together."

CityUHK is dedicated to fostering an inclusive, harmonious and respectful learning environment for all students. By organising various activities that allow students to interact with individuals from the community directly, CityUHK enriches students' learning experiences, promotes their holistic development, deepens their understanding of society, and extends the concepts of inclusivity, care and mutual love from the campus to the community in practice.