Once a niche pursuit, marathons now have a vast and enthusiastic following, uniting amateur and elite athletes in a celebration of endurance and community. In 2024, the Chinese marathon scene has been making headlines with record-breaking performances and a growing wave of participation. From the energetic streets of the nation's capital city Beijing to the scenic canals of Changzhou in East China's Jiangsu Province, these races are positioning China as a burgeoning hub for one of the world's most challenging yet fulfilling sports.

This year, He Jie completed the Wuxi Marathon with a time of 2 hours, 6 minutes, and 57 seconds, setting a new national record. Wu Xiangdong achieved a time of 2 hours, 12 minutes, and 34 seconds in the Paris Olympic marathon, marking the best performance by a Chinese male athlete in an Olympic marathon. 

In recent years, mass sports in China have developed rapidly, with fitness for all becoming a national strategy. Policies such as the "Healthy China 2030" blueprint have been introduced. As one of many popular fitness activities, marathons have garnered widespread enthusiasm from the public.

According to the 2023 Blue Book of China Road Running Events released by the Chinese Athletics Association on March 22, a total of 699 road running events were held nationwide in 2023, with over 6 million participants. Over 2.5 million people nationwide have now completed either a half or full marathon. 

Unlike many other sports, marathons hosted in different cities across China offer a unique experience where amateurs and professionals can compete side by side. The growing popularity of marathons provides exciting new opportunities for Chinese athletes and cities alike. Marathons breathe new life into cities by promoting tourism and boosting local economies. 

These events have become powerful tools for city branding and promotion, often integrating local landmarks and culture into their routes. For example, in a marathon held this year in Changzhou, the course incorporated ancient and modern attractions, as well as the history and culture of the Grand Canal. In addition to city marathons, some Chinese cities are actively bidding to host international marathon events. 

The future of Chinese marathons lies in fostering inclusivity, maintaining high standards for public events, and continuing to integrate the sport with the unique character of each city. 

With this momentum, China is poised to become a rising star in the marathon world, inspiring millions to lace up their shoes and run toward a healthier, more active future.

Chinese mainland Olympians who have accomplished historic sporting achievements at the Paris Olympic Games are set to visit Hong Kong and Macao Thursday through Monday, allowing local residents to share in the honor and joy while inspiring national pride and patriotism.

A total of 65 Chinese Olympians, including 59 gold medalists from the Paris Games, will take part in a series of exchange activities and demonstrate their skills to the public, according to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government. 

The Chinese national team finished second in the overall medal table with 40 golds, 27 silvers and 24 bronzes, achieving its best ever results at an overseas Olympics. Swimmer Pan Zhanle, who won two golds in Paris and broke the world record in the men's 100m freestyle, said that the visit is a great opportunity for exchanges. 

It's been a tradition for the mainland delegation to visit Hong Kong and ­Macao after an Olympic Games. The delegation's first visit to Hong Kong dates back to the Seoul 1988 Olympics.

The visits foster a sense of national pride and unity, reinforcing the bonds between the mainland and its special administrative regions, Liu Yu, a Beijing-based sports commentator, told the Global Times. 

It provides an opportunity for residents of Hong Kong and Macao to celebrate and share in the success of the athletes, enhancing local enthusiasm for sports and national pride. It also allows athletes to engage with the public directly, fostering a sense of connection and community, Liu noted. 

The delegation, which includes table tennis legend Ma Long and diving star Quan Hongchan, will attend a gala show, visit the Hong Kong Sports Institute and give sports demonstrations at Queen Elizabeth Stadium and the Victoria Park Swimming Pool. Over 5,000 tickets for the public events sold out in about half an hour last week. 

A survey revealed that over 80 percent of Hong Kong residents feel proud of the performance of both the mainland and the Hong Kong delegations in Paris.

US technology company International Business Machines Corp (IBM) reportedly cut off intranet access for Chinese employees in research and development (R&D) and testing positions without prior notice, news media outlet jiemian.com reported on Saturday citing sources. 

A lab technician confirmed that the employees were working regular hours with no warning or "signals" before the access was shut down, and at the time a number of technological staff workers were still working overtime.

The Chinese employees have been removed from product groups on communication software and cannot log into the company intranet via VPN, though email remains accessible, according to the jiemian.com report.

The Global Times sought a comment from IBM China, but received no reply as of press time.

During an AI-themed forum held by IBM on Thursday in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province, Hans Dekkers, general manager of IBM Asia Pacific region, said that the company has been operating in the Chinese market for four decades, where it has built up valuable experience, talent, and trust. An article on IBM's official website stated the company's commitment to further exploring opportunities in China as it moves into the AI era.

Chen Xudong, chairman and general manager of IBM Great China Group, said at the forum that they would continue to focus on tapping into key major clients, breaking into new markets, and expanding channels in China to help Chinese firms bridge the generative AI process from experimentation to large-scale application.

According to IBM's earnings report for the second quarter 2024, its business revenue hit $15.8 billion during the period with a year-on-year increase of 2 percent. Software revenue rose by 7 percent, while consulting revenue fell by 1 percent. 

China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) on Friday disclosed a case involving overseas intelligence agencies attempting to recruit Chinese youths, and the authorities reminded the public to be vigilant of individuals who may be disguised as “kind-hearted” persons around teenagers.

These individuals from overseas intelligence agencies often disguise themselves as "enthusiastic,” or "considerate” around teenagers, subtly influencing teenager targets, attempting to achieve their own purposes and steal state secrets, endangering national security, said the MSS.

In the case disclosed by the MSS, Xiaowei was an orphan from the mountains in the south of China, who performed well in both academics and character. “Teacher L” appeared after Xiaowei achieved the highest score in the county and entered the best high school in the area, offering to sponsor him.

The so-called teacher promised to provide Xiaowei with financial support until he graduates from university. 

Despite moving abroad, the so-called teacher would occasionally call Xiaowei and ask him to take part in the public servant exams and assign him tasks such as field surveys and social information gathering for extra pay. Xiaowei saw it as an opportunity to earn money while studying and continued to complete the tasks as requested, according to the ministry.

After graduating from university, Xiaowei passed the public servant exams and got his job. He shared the good news with “Teacher L,” who started asking for sensitive information under the guise of research and report writing. 

Xiaowei initially provided some public data out of gratitude. But “Teacher L” requested more sensitive information, including classified documents, Xiaowei became suspicious and refused the request. Eventually Xiaowei decided to report “Teacher L” to the national security authorities.

After investigation, "Teacher L" was found to be an overseas spy who targeted talented individuals from poor backgrounds like Xiaowei, encouraging them to pursue careers in government agencies, research institutes, or the military to gather sensitive information and engage in espionage activities detrimental to national security, according to the ministry.

China’s Counter-Espionage Law stipulates that all citizens and organizations discovering acts of espionage shall promptly report them to the state security organs. 

While Chinese couriers rush to deliver the packages after the June 18 mid-year shopping festival, one from Beijing has also set his sights on the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Luan Yushuai is one of the Chinese runners who have qualified for the Mass Participation Marathon, a first in Olympic history, which allows the public to run in two races on the same course as the Olympic marathon.

"For an ordinary person to participate in the Olympics, it is something unimaginable. I feel that this might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me, so I will definitely prepare well and strive to achieve my best in Paris," Luan told the Global Times during a recent interview.

A total of 40,048 runners from around the world will participate in the two historic races.

The first covers the marathon distance of 42.195 kilometers while the other is a 10-kilometer run.

Each will feature 20,024 participants. Both will be gender-equal races, with the same number of berths allocated to women as to men.

The lucky draw

With over 800,000 people worldwide reportedly eyeing a spot for the race, winning a berth is no easy task.

According to the scoring system released by the organizing committee, eligible applicants needed to accumulate 100,000 points by the end of 2023 to be able to participate in a draw that would award berths to the lucky few. Entrants are required to take part in running, walking, or cycling to earn the points.

Although the 39-year-old felt the odds were slim, he still wanted to give it his all. After registering, he trained hard while amassing the requisite points.

The Mass Participation event, which will take place on August 10, will depart from the Hôtel de Ville in central Paris, taking runners through the city's iconic landmarks and monuments to Versailles, before returning to the capital and crossing the finish line on the Esplanade des Invalides. The route alternates between urban landscapes, parks, and woodland.

Recalling the moment when he was selected, Luan said that it was on New Year's Eve 2023 when he had brought his parents from their hometown to Beijing for a family reunion dinner.

"Suddenly, I received an English message on my phone. I quickly translated it online and found my name on it, saying 'Congratulations, you have won the lucky draw.' I was so excited that I shouted out loud," he said.
A fast runner

Being a versatile young man, marathon amateur Luan had tried several different professions like a waitering and a construction worker before finally landing on his current career as a deliveryman. This profession became a deciding factor in Luan's marathon career.

He told the Global Times that at the very beginning of his career in 2015, he was given tasks to deliver parcels for people who live in old residential areas. In Beijing, old communities are often not equipped with ­elevators, so, climbing stairs has become Luan's daily routine.

"I run fast and I am hardworking. I was one of the swiftest kids when I was at school, and now I am one of the swiftest deliverymen," Luan remarked. He also said that he can deliver 10 more parcels than other staffers daily, and once he delivered a record 600 parcels per day.

The young man's diligence and talent were soon discovered by his company, which later selected him as a representative to participate in the 2017 Beijing Marathon.

Although he finished the whole competition repertoire with an average record of over 4 hours, his running ­experience was like a seed ­being planted in his heart. He said that despite the failure, the marathon itself has given him the confidence.

"I have never run a marathon before, so my first experience was extremely exhausting and ­uncomfortable. But I gritted my teeth and ­persevered to the finish line," Luan noted.

A shared inspiration

Luan's 2017 experience ignited his aspiration for marathon running. He said that to date, he has participated in many marathons. His personal best was accomplished at the 2020 ­Nanjing Marathon, where he finished the race in 2 hours, 25 minutes, and 55 seconds. It has never been an easy journey for Luan to improve his best time from 4 hours to 2 hours.

His self-­training schedule has been strict. In the daytime, he discharges his duties as a deliveryman and he can only pursue his marathon passion after work. He usually runs about 400 kilometers per month and normally takes one day off every week. Maintaining such a training course was "difficult," he said.

Some of his colleagues even said he was "foolish," yet those words never dampened Luan's passion for the sport. In order to boost the strength of his muscles, Luan tied sandbags to both of his legs for two years.

His marathon story is now a source of inspiration to the public. He said that the marathon has made him feel powerful, especially after his stories were shared with school children.

"I was quite shocked, because I never imagined my stories could bring such positive energy to others. The fact that many people were motivated by me has touched me too. I will keep running to inspire more people," Luan said.

"In fact, it's not so much about how fast I can run, but rather that I stand on the Olympic marathon track as a Chinese courier," he said.

Chinese table tennis stars Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha captured the mixed doubles gold medal on Tuesday, defeating North Korea's Ri Jong-sik and Kim Kum-yong 4-2 in a thrilling final.

This victory marks the sixth gold medal for China at the Paris 2024 Olympics and restores the pride of the Chinese table tennis team, known as the Dream Team.

The Chinese team was one mixed doubles gold medal short of a clean sweep at the Tokyo Olympics. Wang and Sun's win sets the stage for a possible golden sweep in Paris.

The much-anticipated event attracted several dignitaries, including International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach.

Ahead of the Paris Olympics, Sun emphasized the importance of the mixed doubles gold, stating it was even more significant than the singles events.

To prepare, Sun sought help from Ni Xialian, a 61-year-old former Chinese player now representing Luxembourg. Ni's playing style is similar to Kim's, making her an ideal training partner.

The North Korean pair had rarely competed in international tournaments until the Paris Olympics.

As the lowest-ranked 16th seed among the mixed doubles pairs, Ri and Kim's journey to the final was remarkable.

They earned their Paris spot through the Olympic qualifiers and were dubbed the "mysterious team" due to their limited exposure in international competitions.

The North Korean pair's surprise elimination of Japan's second-seeded duo, Tomokazu Harimoto and Hina Hayata, in the first round exemplified their unpredictable nature.

An unexpected incident after the final means Wang has to pick up a new paddle in the singles matches, after overenthusiastic photographers broke his winning racket when capturing the duo's celebrations.

"The photographer broke the racket... such behavior probably shouldn't have happened," Wang told reporters.

"I felt a bit out of control in that situation and couldn't understand why it happened. But it did, and there's nothing we can do about it... and I can still play with my spare racket."

Among the five table tennis disciplines, the mixed doubles has been the most unpredictable for Team China in terms of results.

At the Tokyo Olympics, China missed out on the mixed doubles gold when Xu Xin and Liu Shiwen were defeated by Japan's Jun Mizutani and Mima Ito, leaving the Chinese team one gold short of a complete sweep.

"Securing the mixed doubles gold has not only started the table tennis team's Olympic campaign on a high note, but also relieved the immense pressure on the athletes and coaches," Mao Jiale, a Chengdu-based sports commentator, told the Global Times.

"With the mixed doubles title in hand, the national team can now approach the upcoming singles and doubles events with solid confidence and focus on achieving their goal of winning five gold medals in Paris."

Vinesh Phogat, the first Indian female wrestler to qualify for the Olympic final, unfortunately had to leave Paris because she did not meet the weight requirements for the competition. Many Chinese netizens have expressed sympathy for her situation.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Wednesday filed a strong protest with United World Wrestling (UWW) regarding the disqualification of Phogat from the 50kg final at the Paris Olympics due to being "overweight," Xinhua News Agency reported.

Vinesh Phogat is the niece of Mahavir Singh Phogat, the real-life figure portrayed in the popular Indian film Dangal, which was widely acclaimed in China.

Dangal is based on the true story of Mahavir Phogat, a renowned wrestler who trained his two daughters to become wrestling champions. The film moved countless audiences in China.

Mahavir Phogat, known as the "Father of Indian Women's Wrestling," is the father of famous wrestlers Babita and Geeta Phogat.

Vinesh Phogat, also trained by Mahavir, has achieved remarkable success in international wrestling, including winning medals at the Commonwealth Games.

However, Vinesh faced issues with the weight check before Wednesday's match. Despite the efforts of her coach, who worked through the night to help her shed weight - including cutting her hair - she still weighed 110 grams over the limit and was disqualified from the final.

If Vinesh had claimed an injury before the morning weigh-in, she might have been awarded a silver medal without having to weigh in. Her failure to make weight meant she ended up with nothing.

Her coach stated on social media that she usually weighs 57 kg, but before the semifinals yesterday, she weighed only 49.9 kg. After eating, her weight increased to 52.7 kg. Despite their best efforts - skipping sleep, not drinking water, and even cutting her hair - they were unable to make the required weight.

Upon hearing the news, Chinese netizens left comments on various social media platforms.

A netizen with the username SportsDreamer said, "Vinesh put in tremendous effort for this competition, and the weight issue is truly unfortunate. Regardless, her spirit and perseverance are admirable."

A netizen named Zhang Jiawei commented, "Dangal is my favorite movie, and it has always inspired me. Vinesh's story is equally uplifting. I hope she can make it back to the Olympic stage."

Xie Yu, the Chinese gold medalist in the men's 10m air pistol event at the Paris Olympics, has recently refuted several rumors circulating since his victory. In response to claims that his win had "broken his family's poverty" and online harassment toward his sick mother, Xie said that his success did not bring any additional benefit to his family and he urged the public to respect their privacy, reported thepaper.cn.

After Xie, 24, won the championship, some fans began calling for sponsors to help Xie's family overcome poverty. In response, Xie said that he did not wish for his achievements to create further complications for his family.

Xie also revealed in the interview that his mother had recently faced online harassment for unknown reasons. Previous reports indicate that some marketing accounts had depicted Xie's mother as an irresponsible person exploiting Xie's success to earn money, however the rumors have not been confirmed. Reportedly, his mother has recently been discharged from the hospital after battling cancer, and Xie asked for kindness, hoping people will refrain from making negative comments about her.

Xie said that his father has a small business specializing in the delivery of water barrels,which, though still in its early stages, is enough to make ends meet.

The rumor that Xie's victory "breaks his family's poverty cycle" sparked controversy. Many residents from Heitang village in Guizhou Province, Xie's hometown, expressed dissatisfaction with the portrayal. "We were hurt when we heard it. Heitang is not as poor as people think, and Xie's family is not in dire straits."

Wang Mingjiang, the Party secretary of the village, noted that Xie's father earned 3,000-5,000 (about $400 to $700) per month. The family lives in a two-story building, so while they aren't wealthy, they aren't struggling with life either. Wang added that the village had helped Xie's aged grandparents apply for subsidies before his rise to fame, the Red Star News reported.

According to Xie's aunt Tang Shiqiao, Xie's mother has been working in the Qianxinan autonomous region in Guizhou for years as a real estate agent to support the family. Even after being diagnosed with cancer a few years ago, she did not stop her job. 

Tang showed a screenshot of Xie's mother's post on WeChat after Xie won the championship, saying: "Son, your dream has come true." Aside from this, she made no further public display of pride in her son, as reported by the Red Star News.

A colleague of Xie's mother noted that many people have been trying to contact her since the win, but she is a modest person who prefers to avoid the spotlight and does not wish to exploit her son's achievement.

Xie also refuted the rumor that he has been "withdrawn by the national team twice," saying that he simply did not pass the selection process at the time. His equipment for the competition was provided by the provincial team, and the national team's selection process was fair and impartial.

Xie disclosed that he had briefly given up shooting due to stagnation and chose to work instead. He said that his persistence over the past 10 years was driven by the unwavering support of his coach and the challenging economic situation of his family, which motivated him to change his circumstances and become self-sufficient.

Xie won the third gold medal for the Chinese sports delegation in the men's 10m air pistol final on July 28 at the Paris Olympics. 

While Xie's inspirational story has garnered widespread admiration, it has also brought a wave of controversy. Various viral statements such as "one shot breaks family's poverty," "twice withdrawn by the national team" and "self-funded equipment for competition" have put Xie and his family under intense scrutiny.

"I just hope that people don't get too caught up in viral online content," Xie said.

Northwest China's Xinjiang regional Party chief Ma Xingrui and Erkin Tuniyaz, chairman of the regional government met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni in Urumqi on Thursday and expressed willingness to further strengthen exchanges at all levels, and deepen cooperation in industries, trade, investment, and other areas, Xinjiang Daily reported on Friday.

During their meeting, Ma welcomed Sihamoni and introduced the economic and social development of Xinjiang. Ma noted that the friendship between China and Cambodia has a long history, with the traditional friendship meticulously cultivated by the older generations of leaders from both countries remaining strong. Under the joint leadership of the two heads of state, China-Cambodia relations have entered a new era of building a high-quality, high-level, and high-standard community with a shared future.

In recent years, exchanges and cooperation between the Xinjiang region and Cambodia have developed steadily, with strong growth in trade between the two sides, Ma said.

We will earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of both countries, further strengthen exchanges at all levels, deepen cooperation in industries, trade, investment, and other areas, said Ma.

Ma also noted that the two sides will use the Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year 2024 as an opportunity to promote mutual understanding and exchanges in culture and tourism, enhance friendly interactions and mutually beneficial cooperation, and make new contributions to building a new era community with a shared future for China and Cambodia.

Sihamoni said that the friendship between Cambodia and China is profound, with the peoples of the two countries sharing a brotherly bond established by the older generations of leaders and continuing to this day.

Sihamoni noted that during his first visit to the Xinjiang region, he observed that the region has achieved remarkable successes.

Sihamoni said he hopes that this visit will serve as a new starting point to promote deeper exchanges and cooperation between Cambodia and the Xinjiang region, strengthen the close ties between the peoples of both sides, and advance the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between Cambodia and China.

China and Thailand will hold a joint air force exercise in Thailand this month, with the Chinese side sending multiple types of warplanes and special operations forces. Experts said on Wednesday that the drill could feature practice relating to aircraft combat, airborne tasks as well as attack and defense of airports and anti-aircraft positions.

Based on an annual drill schedule between the Chinese and Thai militaries, the China-Thailand Falcon Strike-2024 air force joint exercise will be held at a Thai air force base in August, Chinese Defense Ministry said in a press release on Wednesday.

The Chinese side will send multiple types of planes in addition to its special operations forces to Thailand for the drill, which is aimed at enhancing the tactical levels and skills of both sides' participating forces, as well as strengthening pragmatic exchanges and cooperation between the two countries' militaries, the Chinese Defense Ministry said.

According to a press release by the Thai air force, the exercise is scheduled from Sunday to August 29, as the drill will boost capabilities in air combat operations, air tactics, and joint air operations, promote mutual understanding between the air forces of both countries, as well as enhancing regional security.

China and Thailand hold the Falcon Strike joint air force exercise generally on an annual basis, and in previous editions, the drills have mainly focused on air combat, but this year's exercise also features Chinese special operations forces, possibly airborne troops, Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military aviation expert, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Special operations missions could include reconnaissance and assault on positions behind hostile defense lines, including air fields, surface-to-air missile positions and ports, Fu said.

As for the traditional air combat part, Fu said that the two countries' warplanes will likely hold confrontational exercises, which will enhance technical and tactical exchanges and boost mutual trust.

During last year's Falcon Strike-2023, the Chinese side sent warplanes including the J-10C fighter jet, the JH-7A fighter bomber, the J-11B fighter jet and the KJ-500 early warning aircraft, while the Thai side sent the Saab JAS 39 Gripen, the Alpha Jet and the Saab 340 early warning aircraft, according to media reports.

Thailand typically uses Western built aircraft and adopts combat tactics based on a Western model, and they could be good additions to China's domestic training programs, observers said.