Guests attend a forum during the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) Global Running Conference China 2019 in Lanzhou, northwest China's Gansu Province, May 31, 2019. (Xinhua/Fan Peishen)
LANZHOU, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The 2019 IAAF Global Running Conference opened today in Lanzhou, marking the first time the annual conference has been held in Asia.
With a theme of "Road running promotes urban civilization", the economic, social and environmental benefits brought about by road running will be discussed during the course of the conference.
"In addition to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, road running also boosts the economy, promotes the construction of urban civilization, and makes cities more passionate, orderly and energetic," said Jon Ridgeon, CEO of the IAAF.
Chinese Athletic Association vice president Wang Nan noted that 1,581 events each comprising over 800 runners were held in China in 2018, representing a 44 percent year-on-year increase.
