Hosted by the Beijing Olympic City Development Association (BODA) and co-organised by the Beijing Olympic City Development Centre and the Changping District People’s Government of Beijing Municipality, the Run Girls women’s race of the 15th Beijing Olympic City Sports Culture Festival took place in Qikong Bridge Flower Sea and Ming Tombs Reservoir, Changping District on 1 September. High-ranking officials present at the event included Han Zirong, member of the Party Leadership Group of the Beijing Municipal Political Consultative Conference and Executive Vice President of BODA; Fu Xiaohui, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Beijing Olympic City Development Centre; Zhang Ningyu, Vice Chairperson of the Beijing Women’s Federation; Gao Yunchao, Deputy Director of the Beijing Olympic City Development Centre; Ji Chuanpai, member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the Beijing Olympic City Development Centre; Chen Xiang, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Changping District Committee and Director of the Publicity Department; Tang Bin, Director of the Mass Sports Department of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports; Li Jian, Chairman of Radio Beijing Corporation; and Wang Chao, head of Shisanling Town of Changping District.

(Firing of starting gun)

Following the arrangements of its previous edition, this year’s Run Girls covered a total distance of 10 miles (approximately 16 kilometres), starting from Qikong Bridge Flower Sea, a popular tourist attraction in Changping District. The route passed through the triathlon venue of the Beijing Olympic Games Beijing 2008, Shuiku East Road and No. 2 Dam of Ming Tombs Reservoir before finishing in Qikong Bridge Flower Sea Theme Park. The route took runners past the national forest parks and UNESCO World Heritage listed Changling Tomb and Dingling, Along the way, runners were treated to lush mountains, clear waters, undulating hills and shaded paths lined with trees. Competing in this picturesque setting, they also got a taste of the rich historical and cultural heritage and appreciated the natural beauty.

The minute the starting gun was fired at 8 a.m., 3,000 female runners charged forward in a fierce race, demonstrating the power of women and embodying the Olympic motto of “Higher, Faster, Stronger – Together”.

(Pre-run warmup)

(Participants get ready to run)

(Runners compete in the race)

After fierce competition, An Yaping, Shi Yonghong and Wang Zhen were among the top eight finishers. Han Zirong awarded trophies to the winners, and Fu Xiaohui, Chen Xiang and Zhang Ningyu presented victory wreaths.

(The organising committee presents awards to the top three finishers)

(Sponsor representatives present awards to the fourth to eighth finishers)

This year’s Run Girls had a special group of participants – He Yajun Running Guide Group for visually impaired runners made its debut in the history of the women’s race, with 20 of its members joining the event. Noting that Run Girls coincided with the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, one of the members said after competition that participating in the women’s race not only demonstrates the passion for the Olympic Movement and spirit of self-improvement of visually impaired people in Beijing, but also pays tribute to the Chinese athletes who participated in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, wishing them to perform at their best for the honour of the motherland and the people.

(Members of He Yajun Running Guide Group during the race)

Run Girls was a women-only race which came after the Little Triathlete of the 15th Beijing Olympic City Sports Culture Festival. The event attracted a total of 3,000 participants, with the oldest runner being 71 years old and the youngest being 14 years old. There were also female runners from the United States, Russia and other countries, demonstrating the influence and appeal of the Beijing Olympic City Sports Culture Festival. To ensure the smooth progress of the women’s race, the organisers upgraded the route, the course environment and essential services, among other aspects. The safety and visual appeal of the course was enhanced, and 200 volunteers from local universities provided high-quality services such as guidance and distribution of supplies. To ensure the safety and well-being of the participants, fixed medical stations, mobiles medical support teams, fixed medical service points and mobiles AEDs were deployed throughout the course. All these measures were designed to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for all runners.

Since it was launched by BODA in 2010, the Beijing Olympic City Sports Culture Festival has been successfully held for 14 consecutive years, attracting a total of more than 15 million participants. It is an IOC-certified flagship Olympic legacy programme. The successful staging of Run Girls this time not only strengthened the influence of the women’s race but also enhanced the brand image of the Beijing Olympic City Sports Culture Festival and showcased the charm of Beijing as the first and the only city that has hosted both the Summer and Winter Olympics.

It is learned that the Five-Ring Medal Challenge, the last mass sports event of the 15th Beijing Olympic City Sports Culture Festival, will be held at the China Administration of Sports for Persons with Disabilities in Shunyi District on 8 September.