Shanghai Marathon brings together 9,000 runners despite pandemic

The Shanghai marathon was able to go almost normally, despite the pandemic, this Sunday, November 29, 2020. STR AFP

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From New York to Boston, via Paris, the majority of marathons organized in 2020 have been canceled due to the coronavirus epidemic.

But not that of Shanghai which brought together 9,000 participants in a China which continues to live normally.

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With our correspondent in China

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As a symbol, the sun had returned to the sky over Shanghai after days of rain.

This Sunday morning, November 29, no less than 9,000 runners in shorts and t-shirts set off from the Bund, the large pedestrian boulevard that runs along the river in the Chinese economic capital. 

This is certainly less than the 38,000 participants who had gathered at this event in previous years, but it remains a feat in a world hit by a pandemic. 

Special sanitary conditions 

If the health situation is under control in China, the race took place under special conditions.

Wearing a mask was compulsory before and after the marathon and some even kept it on their mouths throughout the 42 km course.

But the public had been encouraged not to move in the arteries of Shanghai and no runner from abroad was able to participate in the race.

Chinese borders are still closed. 

New sources of contamination are still appearing sporadically throughout the country.

Last weekend, all employees at Pudong International Airport in Shanghai were forced to take a drug test, due to

detected in their ranks.

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