Overseas runner participates the
Beijing International Long-distance Running
Festival. |
With the 500-day countdown for the
2008 Olympics coming in two days, thousands of amateur athletes convened at
Tian'anmen Square of Beijing on Sunday to compete in the Beijing Spring
International Long-distance Running Festival.
Runners dashed from the starting line at 9:00am after Beijing's mayor Wang
Qishan fired the starter's pistol.
About 12,000 people from China and abroad took part in the race. They were
divided into eight groups according to age, gender and nationality.
Also among the day's activities was a march at Chaoyang Park. Many locals
joined in the event and arrived at the finish line after walking a distance of
18 kilometers
