Wan Chai Sports Ground

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Running track in the Wan Chai Sports Ground

Wan Chai Sports Ground (Chinese: 灣仔運動場) is located in Wan Chai North, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, with the capacity 2,000. It is a government-run sports ground primarily used by local schools for sports day and other athletic activities. Situated by the Victoria Harbour, it is at a convenient location next to Hong Kong's Central business district, Wan Chai, and the shopping district of Causeway Bay.

The Sports Ground is 38 km away from the Hong Kong International Airport and the trip is a 45-minute ride by public transit.

The Sports Ground has an 8-lane, 400 m, all-weather synthetic track with a natural turf infield catering for all track and field events. The measurements and markings of the track are of IAAF standards. The running track and jumping track use Conipur M full polyurethane synthetic material and are 13 mm and 20 mm thick respectively. Landing mattresses of 71cm and 81cm thick are provided for high jump and pole vault. Also, floodlighting of 450 lux is available.

[edit] Wan Chai Sports Ground as a protest area during MC6

A preliminary agreement has been reached to designate the Wan Chai Sports Ground and the nearby Wan Chai Cargo Handling Basin as protest zones for the more than 10,000 protesters expected to gather in Hong Kong for the Sixth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization. The conference, abbreviated as MC6, will be held in Hong Kong from 13th to 18th December 2005.

Officials have expressed concerns that the protesters might destroy the sports ground, which could force a large number of schools to abandon their plans for sporting activities. However, the protest organizer, the Hong Kong People’s Alliance on WTO, was unhappy with a previous proposed location for demonstrations, Southorn Playground, which is blocked by highrisers from the venue of the conference, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.