SCO Kunming marathon to kick off Dec.31

The 2017 SCO Kunming International Marathon will be held December 31 on the shore of Kunming’s Dianchi Lake.

As of now, the lot-drawing phase and the final review of the participating name-list have finished, with volunteers, medical workers, security guards and other supporting services well-prepared.

According to the executive committee, more than 20,000 running enthusiasts have signed for the event, far exceeding the expected number of 16,000.

This year the event has two slogans, “Becoming dearer, closer, and more harmonious in the City of Eternal Spring” and “Chasing dreams to new heights in Colourful Yunnan.”

Varied races based on distance are arranged in the event, including full marathon, half marathon, five-kilometre and two-kilometre races.

All races start at the Yunnan Conference Center, and the full marathon and half marathon end the dame place. But the five-kilometre and two-kilometre races end at the Guangfu Rd. and the Dianchi Rd. crossings.

The marathon executive committee also reminded the public of possible traffic jams during the event, with diversion tips offered to local drivers.

The SCO Marathon is a mass-scale cultural and sports event organised by the SCO Secretariat in cooperation with the administrations of the Yunnan Province and the city of Kunming and with support from partner companies and volunteers.

The event is aimed at popularising sports and healthy lifestyles as well as the principles of equitable and mutually respectful sports competition.

It was lauded by SCO member states and was recognized by the Chinese Athletic Association (CAA) as both a “bronze medal event” and a “natural ecological event.”

The 2016 SCO Kunming International Marathon attracted more than 16,000 runners from from 23 countries.

Source: Yunnan Daily (Feng Yongsheng), the independent, eng.sectsco.org