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The 2020 Shanghai International Marathon kicked off early Sunday morning as the only Platinum Label Road Races worldwide to run as usual this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, only around 9,000 – less than one-third of the event's usual number of participants – are participating this year and the organizers had not invited elite international runners to reduce the risks imposed by the coronavirus.
This is the first Shanghai International Marathon since it was given the Road Race Platinum Label by World Athletics, the sport's world governing body. And, downsized though, organizers tried to ensure participants of a safe and unforgettable experience.
"We initiated the whole pandemic control and prevention work as far back as May this year," said Zhou Jin, one of the event's organizers.
According to Zhou, the organizers have been working with the local COVID-19 specialists to set up a screening system to ensure that all the registered runners had tested negative for COVID-19, and that they had not traveled to high-risk regions in the past two weeks.
"We assigned a huge number of staffs for the event and only those who had been received COVID-19 nucleic acid tests can work for the event," said Zhou. More than 6,000 people had been tested to work for the race, adding that many more were assigned to posts outside the race routes, including security personnel and community volunteers.
Part of the pre-race work for the organizers was to identify qualified runners from those who have traveled through or live in medium to high-risk regions.
Runners at the 2020 Shanghai International Marathon as the only Platinum Label Road Races worldwide to run as usual this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, in Shanghai, China, November 29, 2020. /CFP
"We have been persuading some risk-related participants to quit. And we hope runners can understand as we have to prioritize safety and play safe," said Zhou.
The COVID-19 restrictions and a smaller participating field in the Shanghai race is seen a reflection of the sporting world amid the pandemic.
The event organizers also marked different starting points for each runner, allowing them to maintain social distancing from the beginning of the race, instead of the usual crowded mass start.
Volunteers will be ready at the finish line to offer hand sanitizer and remind them of social distancing.
Runners who finish their race and have rested for at least three minutes to bring their heart rates back to normal, will be offered face masks, which they need to wear as required by COVID-19 prevention and control codes.
This year's Shanghai International Marathon marks the first time it was run after being categorized as a Platinum Label Road Race. For runners, organizers and audiences alike, it serves a positive signal of China's continuous efforts in overcoming the pandemic.
