On November 26, the 16th Asian Marathon Championships & Dongguan International Marathon 2017 under the theme "Beautiful Dongguan, Thrilling Marathon" will kick off in Dongguan, China. The coming feast draws nearly 30,000 runners, including 49 professional athletes from 22 Asian countries and regions such as Japan, Republic of Korea, DPRK and India.
As Asia's only intercontinental competition, the Asian Marathon Championships for this year will be held along with the Dongguan International Marathon. The competition consists of 4 events, namely the full marathon, half-marathon, mini-marathon and Carnival Fun Run, open to professional or amateur contestants, spreading joy and passion. While the city has been enhancing its soft power over the past three years, the organizing committee has also shaped a better environment along the tracks. The move is designed to showcase the charm of Dongguan as an international city famed for intelligent manufacturing and ecological balance. "The tracks were officially approved for use by the International Association of Athletics Federations and the Asian Athletics Association. This also shows Dongguan's abilities to press ahead with ecological development and city management," said Fu Weibo, deputy director of competition department of Athletics Administrative Center, General Administration of Sport of China.
Dongguan is traditionally well-known as "City of Sports", specifically a homeland of swimming, weight-lifting and dragon boat. With its highly professional strength, the city has fostered an enabling atmosphere for the public to get exercise over years and saw various international sporting events, including FIBA Basketball World Cup, World Cup of Golf and BWF Sudirman Cup. While putting its economy on a fast track, Dongguan has long focused on ecological construction and environmental protection, said Yang Xiaotang, publicity chief of the CPC Dongguan Municipal Committee. Holding marathon championships and other large-scale sport events, he added, will take its sport-for-all program to a higher level. On top of that, it will help citizens appreciate the city's natural landscapes, cultural heritage and achievements in development when they engage in sports in a scientific way. This is how Dongguan emerges as a magnet of global talents.
By hosting the 16th Asian Marathon Championships, Dongguan will boost its sporting and cultural programs as a more confident and vibrant city. This will attract more attention from all communities on running races and excite further interest in exercise and health. It's self-evident that the running public will make the city stand confident while promoting fitness and vitality that Dongguan has always enjoyed.
Source: The Organizing Committee of the 16th Asian Marathon Championships
AsiaNet 71176
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