The 2014 C&D Xiamen International Marathon kicked off in Xiamen, China onJanuary 2, with 77,151 participants from 46 countries and regions running oneof the worlds most picturesque marathon routes. Mare Dibaba Hurssa fromEthiopia clocked in at 2 hours, 21 minutes and 36 seconds, breaking the femalecourse record held for 6 years and winning the championship. The mens winner,Mariko Kiplagat Kipchumba, a 39-year-old Kenyan veteran, became the oldestchampion of international marathons ever held in China.
Lamine Diack, President of the International Association of AthleticsFederations (IAAF), attended the opening ceremony and granted IAAF Gold LabelRoad Race status to the event. It was the first time that Mr. Diack attended aroad race event held in China. He said that as the stature of the marathon hascontinued to grow in this beautiful city, the Xiamen Marathon has set a modeland an example for marathon races in other Chinese cities and taken itsrightful position in the global track and field community.
The most environment-friendly marathon in ChinaVolunteers wearing green head-scarves, white T-shirts and carrying trash bagsalong the marathon route were especially eye-catching, as they labored tocollect bottles, plastic bags and other rubbish discarded by spectators,leaving not a trace behind. The Xiamen Marathon is committed to putting on agreen event.
100 children hand paint their vision of the marathonThe Kinglong Hundred Meter Picture Roll competition was held during themarathon, where 100 children expressed their interpretation of the city ofXiamen and of the marathon event by hand painting on a hundred-meter pictureroll. Mr. Diack handed out an award to the winning child and said, "Childrenare the future of our world and carry our hope. It is very meaningful to holdsuch a competition at the marathon event so as to allow the whole of society toshow their concern for their healthy growth of its children."
In the aftermath of the successful event the spirit lives on in the hearts andminds of the people of Xiamen and of every person who attended. Next year, aneven more environmentally-friendly and mature Xiamen Marathon will welcomerunners from all around the world.