Hainan launches beach half-marathons

There are 10 km and 2.5 km beach marathons for amateurs to choose from. Volunteers will be recruited from across the country for the event, said Jackie Wang, CEO of Shanghai Xing Bo Sports Consultation Co Ltd, one of the event organizers.

He said a total of about 20,000 people are expected to visit Lingshui and join the beach marathon events. Many of them will come from overseas, including countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Celebrities from China and other countries will be invited to participate in public welfare activities to be held during the beach races, according to organizers.

Through international beach marathons, organizers expect to establish a global platform to conduct international sports exchanges and better promote the Hainan li brocade culture, now protected as a world intangible cultural heritage, said officials with the Hainan Culture, TV, Publishing and Sports Bureau, which has co-organized the event.