* * * 24,620 participants from 49 countries and regions participated. Among them, there are 4,475 marathon runners, 4,887 half marathon runners,10km 7 149 runners and 5km 8 109 runners. The oldest is 90 years old and the youngest is 8 years old. The total number of participants, participating countries and regions, and the number of participants in the whole process have greatly exceeded those in previous years.
The overall champion of the women's team is Zhu Xiaolin from Liaoning, with a score of 2 hours, 26 minutes and 08 seconds. The second and third place are Zhang from Liaoning and Jilin.
In this competition, 14 world-class masters from Kenya and Ethiopia were invited to participate, and the best scores of marathon masters such as Ke Pup and Raymond were all within 2 hours and 7 minutes. However, China's Li Zhuhong struggled hard and stood out from the encirclement of African athletes at the last moment, rewriting the history of Xiamen University Marathon.
This marathon has been highly valued and cared by leaders at all levels. Under the guidance of State Councilor Chen Zhili, the International Olympic Committee presented Xiamen with a statue of Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Movement, and Mr. Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee, sent a congratulatory message. This is the highest praise for Xiamen Marathon.
Leaders and guests present at today's opening ceremony are: State Councilor Chen Zhili, Minister of Culture and Chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Sun, Director of the State Sports General Administration Liu Peng, Deputy Secretary-General of the State Council Xiang Zhaolun, Deputy Director of the State Sports General Administration Duan Shijie, Chairman of the International Marathon and Road Running Association Tie Zuo, member of the International Olympic Committee Wu, leaders of Fujian and Xiamen Huang Xiaojing, Wang Yifu, He, Hong Yongshi and Chen Xiumao, and old leaders. Liu Cigui, acting mayor of Xiamen, presided over today's opening ceremony.
This competition constitutes the basic pattern of "three competitions, two sessions and one section". These three events refer to Xiamen International Marathon, National Marathon Championship and the first China University Tennis Open. The two sessions refer to 16 International Marathon and Road Running Association World Congress, 2007 Cross-Strait Sports and Leisure Goods Expo, and the first China Xiamen International Fitness Equipment Exhibition. The first section is to highlight the theme of national fitness and Olympic counterparts, making it a national fitness festival.