[Video provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
A press conference on the Zhangjiagang Dongdu Half Marathon, which is scheduled for Dec 3, was held on Nov 26 and unveiled more details about the event.
This year's half marathon is set to host 12,000 participants, with an average age of 36. Runners from 22 Chinese provinces, as well as 25 international participants from countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Kenya, will converge in Zhangjiagang, Suzhou for the sporting extravaganza.
The opening ceremony will feature various performances, and the marathon route will be adorned with exhibitions showcasing the local culture and tourist attractions.
Participants' T-shirts. [Photo/WeChat account: zhangjiagangfabu365]
Participants will be donning specially designed T-shirts, featuring the letters "Z", "J", and "G" arranged to resemble a running person. This design symbolizes the vibrancy and energy of the city.
Medal for the 2023 Zhangjiagang Dongdu Half Marathon. [Photo/WeChat account: zhangjiagangfabu365]
The medals will feature waves and sailboats. Each sailboat also features the distance covered in the marathon. The design was inspired by Jianzhen, a Chinese monk in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), who set out from Zhangjiagang on a journey to spread Buddhism in Japan.
In a bid to encourage runners, male runners completing the half marathon within 1 hour and 30 minutes and female runners within 1 hour and 50 minutes will receive free entry to any marathon event in the Yangtze River Delta region organized by Suao Sports within the following year.