Around 9,000
runners took part in the Shanghai International Marathon on Sunday, AFP quoted
Chinese media as saying.

In a rare sighting in
the midst of the pandemic-stricken year, officials before the race proclaimed
the event as an opportunity to show the world how China was moving ahead despite
the health crisis.

Most the world’s most
prestigious marathons – including New York, Boston, and Chicago marathon – was
not held this year. London and Tokyo marathons, on the other hand, were open to
only the elite runners.

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The Shanghai
marathon, on the other hand, operating throughout several days, had in place
all virus prevention measures.

Shanghai has been on
edge recently, courtesy to local spurt in cases. China at large however has
been able to move over the virus-fears due to lockdowns and mass-testings.

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Participants were
required to wear a mask both before and after the race, while some kept it on throughout
the entirety of the contest.

In a stark
difference from Shanghai marathons of previous years, the number of
participants came down from 38,000 to 9,000 this year. Foreign athletes were
not allowed to race and spectators were asked to keep distance.