Int'l forum for marathon hosts held in Xiamen
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The 3rd International Forum for Mayors of the Marathon on Host Cities was held on Sunday in Xiamen, Southeast China's port city.
About 20 marathon host cities' mayors from all around the world took part in the forum to discuss the significance of publicity in the marathon events.
Duan Shijie, Chairman of Chinese Athletic Association, said on the forum that as the fortune of the city, the value and significance of marathon event can not be interpreted in just one competition day. It is very necessary to let people know more about the event before and after. The joy, happiness, encouragement and various social value brought by marathon should be shared by all citizens.
Sean Wallace Jones, senior official of IAAF, said a well-planned marathon event can be the greatest way possible to promote a city. The value of televised marathon, which is seen internationally, is millions of dollars of advertising value for the city.
"Your marathon route should be planned to showcase the most visual important scenery, monuments and landscapes in the city whilst minimizing the disruption to traffic. You do not want your city to come to a total standstill because there is a marathon,"said Jones.
Mayors gave speeches in the forum, with the theme "Marathon and Publicity". They also introduced their experience of the marathon publicity, and explained the interaction between marathon and publicity.
The Xiamen International Marathon committee held the first forum for mayors of marathon host cities in 2009. The 2011 edition of the tournament kicked off on Jan. 2, with a new record of 64,276 runners.
