Huangpu Marathon honored

The Guangzhou Huangpu Marathon was honored as a silver medal event by the Chinese Athletics Association (CAA) at a press conference in Xiamen, East China’s Fujian province on March 11.

The award represents progress for the Huangpu Marathon after it was identified as a bronze medal event in 2017.

At the conference, the Huangpu marathon was also awarded for its beautiful track.

The press conference releases new policies and data on Chinese marathon events and the shortlist of award-winning events in 2018.

According to a report unveiled at the press conference 1,581 marathon events were held across the country last year, with about 5.83 million people taking part.

Data also show that in 2018, 14 Chinese events were identified by the International Association of Athletics Federations, accounting for 12.28 percent of IAAF’s total and placing China in first place in the world.

The CAA divides domestic marathon events into three grades -- gold, silver and bronze -- by assessing factors such as temperature, route planning, timing, services for runners, medical support and publicity.
There were 68 gold medal events, 61 silver medal events and 96 bronze ones in 2018.

More than 15,000 runners from 12 countries and regions participate in the 2018 Guangzhou Huangpu Marathon. [Photo/WeChat account of Huangpu]

Last year’s event attracted runners from governmental departments and local enterprises, including companies involved in the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. [Photo/WeChat account of Huangpu]

The 42.195-km track of last year’s Huangpu marathon stretches through half the district. [Photo/WeChat account of Huangpu]

The landscape along the track is full of marathon elements. [Photo/WeChat account of Huangpu]

New technologies such as facial recognition and chips are used to make the event more efficient, standardized and orderly. [Photo/WeChat account of Huangpu]

A fleet of 14 hydrogen fuel cell logistics vehicles made their debut in Guangzhou to deliver sporting goods without carbon emissions for the event. [Photo/WeChat account of Huangpu]

Security guards stand by to offer services to runners. [Photo/WeChat account of Huangpu]

Cheerleaders pose at the event. [Photo/WeChat account of Huangpu]