The picture shows the 2019 Yichang International Marathon and National Marathon Championship (Yichang Station) is kicking off. (Photographer Fu Beibei, the Full Media Reporter of Three Gorges Daily)

　　On October 27th, GAC Chuanqi 2019 Yichang International Marathon and National Marathon Championship (Yichang Station) kicked off in the Peace Park. 22,016 marathon runners from home and abroad gathered in Yichang, enjoying the events and the unique charm of Yichang because "one river, two bridges and the Three Gorges". Zhou Ji, Secretary of the municipal Party committee, fired a shot for the start. Zhang Jiasheng, deputy secretary of the municipal Party committee and mayor, delivered a speech.

　　At 7 o'clock in the morning, the players followed the on-site guidance cards to check in. Before the competition, all players do the warming-up activities with the rhythm of the beat of the professional fitness instructor in the 1km long waiting area, Then, the starting ceremony officially began, with all players standing up and singing the national anthem.

　　“A city, a sport, a spirit.” Zhang Jiasheng said in his speech that the Yichang Marathon has been highly regarded by all walks of life since its successful hosting for four years in . It has embraced the enthusiasm of new and old runners and witnessed Yichang's great achievements in adhering to ecological priority green development. With increasingly better ecology, more compelling city and cheerful people, Yichang runs more firmly and confidently on the road of high-quality development with acceleration. Let’s step forward to measure the unique charm of the environment-friendly atmosphere, and to experience the simple enthusiasm of the Yichang people, and to achieve good results in good mood, enjoying the lucid waters and lush mountains.

　　Zhang Yuesai, the general manager of GAC Passenger Car Co., Ltd., said that it is honored for the company, together with 2,016 players on their way to great success, to compose a song of dream, responsibility and progress in Yichang. We are trying hard for the success of the event, together with Yichang people, stimulating the city's momentum, building China into a leading sporting nation, and jointly showing the new era style.

　　At 7:30, on hearing the starting shot fired by Zhou Jiming, 22,016 players begin to run in the natural scenery and urban living areas on both sides of the river, passing through Yichang’s landmarks such as zhenjiangge, Yiling Yangtze River Bridge, Natural Tower, Zhixi Yangtze River Bridge, Yichang Olympic Sports Center, etc, enjoying the physical and mental pleasure, stimulating the fighting spirit and feeling the charm of Yichang city.

　　With the theme of "pursuing dreams in Yichang marathon and being intoxicated by the Three Gorges", this competition invited Wang zhouyu, the world champion of Yichang women's weightlifting, as the leading guest. The event consists of four events: full marathon, half marathon, 10K energy run and 4.2km Mini marathon. Among them, 2,995 players in the whole marathon project, 7,006 players in the half marathon project, 5997 players in the 10K dynamic running project, and 6018 players in the mini marathon project. At the same time, the Organizing Committee of the event also held the online Yichang marathon by cooperating with the famous app Gudong, which attracted more than 200000 runners to "run together" all over the world.

　　Marathon is a high-intensity sport. In order to ensure the safety and order of the event, 2400 volunteers, 7000 security forces and 1000 medical workers are recruited in the event. There are 48 official pacers and 70 medical runners running with the competitors.

　　This year's Yichang International Marathon is not only a sub-event of the "national Marathon Championship" and the marathon series of "I want to go to the Olympics", but also successful application for the marathon series of "healthy China". The event is held in accordance with the standards of the international copper standard events, in order to provide better service for runners at home and abroad. In the previous three years, Yichang International Marathon has won many honors, such as "Gold Medal of Chinese Athletics Association", "Natural Ecological Characteristic Event of Chinese Athletics Association", “Gold Medal of Hubei Province Concept Marathon”, and "Excellent Organization Ward" of the whole marathon of “Advocating Everyone to Participate in Sports and Creating a Beautiful Life”.

　　In order to effectively promote the integration of sports and tourism, and accelerate the creation of a domestic first-class, world-renowned tourist destination, Yichang also has held an activity with the theme of “Passing the Flag in Three Gorges” to pass the Yichang Marathon Flag into the scenic spot. In the past two months, the flag of Yichang Marathon and the scenic spot have been brought to the 12 scenic spots of Yichang, such as the Hometown of Quyuan Cultural Tourism Zone, Three Gorges Dam Tourist Area, and Three Gorges Household Scenic Area. Through the flag-raising ceremony and relay running activities in the scenic area, the local running enthusiasm and the characteristics of the propaganda scenic spot have been promoted, and the purpose of “sports plus culture plus tourism” has been realized. At the starting ceremony, the Yichang Marathon flags in every scenic spot have been passed back to the starting point.

　　Relevant leaders attended the starting ceremony, including Luo Qiyi, deputy director of the Provincial Sports Bureau, Zhao Pu, director of the marathon event of the Athletics Management Center of the State Sports General Administration, municipal leaders Liu Xuefu, Song Wenbao, Wang Wei, Liu Jianxin, Kong Fusheng, Zhou Zhengying and Huang Huining (Reporters Lei Pengcheng, Bian Jianxin)