Race administrators of a 2021 extremely in northwest China that claimed the lives of 21 runners have been given jail sentences. 5 organizers of the occasion got jail phrases starting from three to 5 and a half years by a court docket in Baiyin, a metropolis in Gansu, the province the place the deaths occurred. One race organizer has been sentenced to 4 years and 10 months for “dereliction of obligation and bribery,” whereas one other official acquired a three-and-a-half-year sentence for “dereliction of obligation” alone, the Guardian reported.
The ill-fated 100K occasion, held in Might 2021 at China’s Huanghe Shilin Mountain, had runners setting out in excellent situations that grew to become excessive because the day progressed. By the afternoon, the course was hit with freezing rain, hail and heavy winds. Of the 172 contributors, 151 have been saved (eight of whom have been taken to hospital), however 21 handed away. Officers known as off the race when the climate grew to become harmful, and despatched a rescue workforce of 700 onto the course to save lots of the runners. Whereas ready for the search occasion, many runners grew to become hypothermic, because the temperature within the mountains dipped near freezing.
Shepherd saves 6 runners at ill-fated Chinese language ultramarathon
The booming reputation of long-distance working and excessive sports activities in China has been met with elevated authorities assist, selling train for individuals of all ages. Nonetheless, incidents just like the 2021 ultramarathon deaths have prompted issues and requires extra stringent rules.
The failure of organizers to heed incoming excessive climate situations through the ultrama raised crucial questions on occasion preparedness and security protocols. In response, Beijing’s sports activities ministry introduced the suspension of occasions missing nationwide security requirements, encompassing mountain path working, wingsuit flying, and extremely working. This decisive motion aimed to handle the gaps in security rules and stop future tragedies in excessive sports activities occasions.
One of many 21 runners who died on the course was Liang Jing, a well known Chinese language ultrarunner. Jing raced UTMB on two events, and he additionally completed second on the Extremely-Path Mount Fuji in Japan in 2019. His final race earlier than the Huanghe Shilin Mountain Marathon got here on the 2020 Hong Kong Extremely, a 100K run through which he completed second general.
