Marathon drives new wave of consumption in Chinese sports industry
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E-mail Xinhua, May 29, 2019
It used to be that Mahjong playing was the only sport for Wang Jining as a Changchun citizen. When marathon was held at home for the first time two years ago, he felt "absent" when he was surrounded by the circle of friends with crazy amounts of information on it.
He decided to wear running shoes, and his life was changed accordingly. By May 26 this year, he has run 2,542 kilometers, participated in 10 Level A marathons and bought 11 pairs of running shoes. It makes him quite happy with the life style to wander and eat around the world with running shoes.
Wander about Harbin to eat modern frozen sucker, Xiamen to eat fried oyster, Yangzhou to eat boiled dried bean curd... Over the past two years, in all the cities he has traveled, he have been with the happy experience of "wandering and eating". In order to have roast lamb legs and spicy hot pot, take "time travelling photos" and watch "the Yellow River flows into the sea", he has also targeted destinations in the future in Hulun Buir, Chongqing, Heng Dien Town, Dongying... "Reading thousands of books, running thousands of miles, marathon help me make harvest of health and scenery all the way, this is happiness." Wang Jining said.
At 8am on last Sunday, 30,000 runners from 25 countries and regions started from the starting line of the third Changchun International Marathon (hereinafter referred to as "Changchun Marathon "). Through aerial photographs, it could be seen that the runners dressed in red suits like injected fresh blood into the city's body, which further activating the festive atmosphere. This is the grand occasion of marathon in another city in China in 2019. It is also the origin for runners to "punch in" another city in China.
From the first international marathon that all citizens could participated held in Beijing in 1981, to the beginning year of the games "blowout" in 2015, and then to 1,581 standard marathon games (more than 800 participants) held in 2018 around China, the relationship between Chinese people's life and the marathon is getting closer and closer. The Annual Master Report 2018 on Marathon in China shows that in 2018, the urban marathon races totaled 5.83 million participants in China, with annual consumption of 17.8 billion yuan (US$2.58 billion), and the total consumption of 28.8 billion yuan in the whole year, which records a new high.
This is the first time that we have come to the city in northeast China, and we have arranged a four-day trip. Apart from enjoyment in Changchun while running Changchun Marathon, I also want to visit Jingyuetan, Pseudo palace and Guilin Road to taste stewed blood sausage with sauerkraut and double cooked pork slices," Zhang Huibin, a runner from Nanjing, said.
People are now found everywhere in China like Zhang Huibin, running companions who attach marathon with short-distance visits. In recent years, driven by government organizations, business operations and public participation, Marathon-derived consuming fields are expanding and extending - running shoes, elastic pants, waistbands, sports watches, empty caps, sweat strips, sunglasses, nude bra, salt pills, energy glue and other diversified products, of which the online and offline sales are rising. People are no longer satisfied with the simple running practice at home, but also want to run in distance, faster and more professional.
Zhao Xiaolu, Secretary-General of the Organizing Committee of Changchun Marathon, said that although Changchun Marathon was only the third time, due to its promotion to bronze medal race and the award of "the most beautiful track" by China Athletic Association, the number of people assigned or allowed has been exhausted the first day of registration of Changchun Marathon this year. "The premium ability has been improved, which has increased the number of competitors from other places to more than 8,000 this year. Many competitors will bring their families and friends who do not participate to Changchun to travel together, which will play a very obvious role in stimulating urban consumption," Zhao Xiaolu said.
Daba Alemu MULETA, a 25-year-old athlete from Ethiopia, told the journalists that it was like a wonderful trip to compete in every city in China. "The dumplings in Changchun are very delicious, the scenery of the sculpture park is beautiful, and the people in this city are very friendly. I love it here!" He said.
Liu Haiyu, Director-General of Changchun Sports Bureau, introduced that although Changchun Marathon started late, it has been competing against the level of "International Gold Standard + Chinese Gold Brand". In addition, as one of the only two cities in China with both winter and summer Olympic championships, Changchun continuously held the "Snow Marathon" Vasa Cross Skiing Festival for 17 consecutive years, which has made the "Changchun Marathon" in the position of "Both Shining in Summer and Winter" among more than 1,000 urban marathons throughout China. This attracts runners from all over the world.
"We are not only to build an activity platform for Marathon, but also to have athletes feel the enthusiasm and temperament of a city, so that everyone can run here with happiness, visit and eat here happily," Liu Haiyu said.
Wang Jining crossed the finishing tape in sweat-soaked racing clothes in the midst of the uproar, gladly looked over the app on his mobile phone and watched his sectional pace, then took a bus home after getting his racing bag.
As for "home field battle", he does not need to "eat" in Changchun after the race. At this moment, he is immersed in the beautiful hope to run in the next city, and more looking forward to one day he could run along the route where the soldier Pheidippides ran, to visit and eat at the birthplace of marathon in Greece.
