The cancellations cover both major city marathons and smaller “fun runs,” marking the sharpest nationwide pullback in the sport since the pandemic. Officials and organizers say the pullback follows months of concern over weak race management and safety lapses. Rapid growth left many local events short on medical support and crowd control. Several races drew criticism for rule violations, including underage runners, unqualified pacers, and the use of unsuitable refreshments.
In response to the concerns, the Chinese Athletics Association (CAA) on Friday released new marathon regulations, stating that it will improve event organization systems, specify the responsibilities of parties involved, and strengthen risk prevention and safety assurance mechanisms to ensure safe, orderly, and high-quality marathons.
