Chongqing - The GWM 2021 Yongchuan Marathon will be held in west Chongqing's Yongchuan District on March 3 as part of the 6th municipal sports meeting campaign, and will be this year's first marathon competition to be broadcast live on the national sports channel of China Central Television (CCTV-5), according to a press conference of the municipal government on Monday.

"The 2021 Yongchuan Marathon has been listed in the schedule of CCTV-5's airing program, and will be the first marathon competition to the broadcast live nationwide this year, which enables global audiences a three-dimensional, multi-perspective, and all-round gaming watching experience," Zhang Guo, mayor of Yongchuan District People's Government, told reporters at the press conference.

Themed "New Journey, Brave Leap," the competition has seen a total of 18,000 professional and amateur runners signed up for three categories, including a full marathon group (42.195 km), a half marathon group (21.0975 km), and a mini-marathon group (5 km), with 1,400 contestants, 2,600 contestants, and 14,000 contestants respectively.

For epidemic control and prevention concerns, the marathon only allows for Chongqing residents and non-locals living in the city for more than six months, and the guest runners specifically invited by the organizing committee to sign up. All contestants are eligible for a free dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, which is not mandatory but encouraged and will need a green health code to enter the runner's track.

The total prize pool is said to worth up to 285,000 yuan, with the first-place winners of the full and half marathon groups eligible for 10,000 yuan and 6,000-yuan cash awards, respectively. Both groups rank and award the top 50 female runners and top 50 male runners.

In order to attract more marathon enthusiasts and local people to participate in the event, there is also a special cash award for 200 runners from a total of 10 age groups of the full and half marathon groups, and a Yongchuan special award for the top 30 female local contestants and top 30 male local contestants.

The marathon will be co-hosted by China Athletics Association, Chongqing Municipal Sports Bureau, and Yongchuan District People's Government; organized by Chongqing Athletics Association, Yongchuan District Culture and Tourism Development Commission, and Chongqing Tea Mountain Bamboo Forest Tourism Development Co., Ltd.; and sponsored by the Great Wall Motor Company Limited (GWM).

Labeled as an A1 level competition by China Athletics Association, the 2021 Yongchuan Marathon allows contestants' results to be calculated into the global rankings of most domestic and international marathon competitions. Runners of the Yongchuan marathon will also be eligible for applying for the "Chinese Marathon Mass Contestants" designation.