The Hong Kong Jockey Club 2026 Guangzhou “Flying Man Cup” Track and Field Relay was officially announced at a press conference on May 9 in Guangzhou.
Originally launched in 2009, the “Flying Man Cup” was redefined as a dedicated relay event in 2015, making it one of China’s earliest mass-participation track and field relay competitions. This year, organizers are reviving the classic brand to further promote fitness and athletics development.
Supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club as title sponsor, the event is scheduled for May 16–17, 2026, at Guangzhou Tianhe Sports Center. The competition will feature two core disciplines – 4×100m and 4×400m – divided into 33 categories spanning primary school, junior high, senior high, youth, middle-aged, and elite groups. Participants can include track and field enthusiasts, school teams, social clubs, and community sports organizations from across the Greater Bay Area.
The tournament boasts three key highlights:
1. **Innovative and inclusive format** – For the first time, a revival round (repechage) will be introduced, giving all teams a second chance to compete. Even if a team falters in the preliminary round due to errors or fouls, they can return for another run, significantly enhancing the experience for amateur athletes and encouraging broad participation.
2. **Professional and standardized organization** – The event will strictly follow the latest World Athletics and Chinese Athletics Association competition rules, covering relay zones, pre-run lines, and baton exchange judging. An international-grade refereeing team will ensure fairness and professionalism. Tianhe Sports Center, which successfully hosted the 2025 World Athletics Relays, will again serve as the main venue, with its supporting facilities meeting top-tier international standards.
3. **Sustainable brand building** – Starting this year, a “City Flying Man Challenge Record” will be established. The best times set by city teams in preliminaries, revival rounds, and finals will be officially recorded as city records. Future editions will allow teams to keep challenging and breaking these marks, fostering long-term development of the event and steady improvement of urban athletics levels.
Key figures attending the launch included Jia Junfeng, deputy director of Guangzhou Sports Bureau and vice chairman of the Guangzhou Sports Federation; Zhang Jinsong, chairman of Guangzhou Athletics Association; Zhang Peng, vice chairman of the Guangzhou Sports Federation and director of the Mass Sports Guidance Center; Fan Qiming, mainland affairs general manager of the Hong Kong Jockey Club; and Mo Jiadie, the event’s ambassador.
