Beijing: The 2020 Beijing Marathon has been cancelled, Beijing Marathon Organizing Committee announced on Thursday morning.
The previous Beijing marathons were held during September to November, but this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 40th Beijing Marathon cannot take place.
The Beijing Marathon is an annual marathon race of 42.195 km held in October in Beijing. The race was first held in 1981 and has been held every year since. Beijing Marathon is the first international sport event ever to be held in China. The race is also the first marathon race to use lottery system to allocate entries and the first full marathon race only in China.
The race begins at Tiananmen Square and finishes at the National Olympic Sports Centre stadium. Beijing Marathon is now a full marathon only marathon race. At the 2009 edition of the race, 4897 runners finished the marathon course, which included 556 women. The race holds an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, one of three marathons in the People’s Republic of China to receive the distinction (along with the Xiamen International Marathon and Shanghai Marathon). It is AIMS-certified course, making it eligible for world record performances. It hosted the Asian Marathon Championship races in 2006. The 2014 edition of Beijing International Marathon was held on October 19 under intense smog. Many marathoners used face masks and sponges to help their performance.
–The Daily Mail-CGTN News exchange item
