HONG KONG (Reuters) – A half marathon in northeast China’s Jilin province introduced an uncommon collection of prizes, with the primary to cross the road profitable a cow and the opposite runners receiving wild fish, geese or roosters, in a try to draw extra individuals and promote native merchandise.
Organizers of the Nong’an Taipingchi Ice and Snow Half Marathon on December 29 stated in a WeChat publish that the female and male half marathon champions would obtain a cow. The farm animal may be exchanged for six,000 yuan ($827.81).
Second place went to wild fish from Lake Taiping, whereas the opposite prizes had been geese, geese and roosters from the identical lake. Ten kilograms (22 kilos) of rice and wheat could be distributed to the opposite finalists.
“Huge prizes are coming and the champions are very proud. The organizing committee is stuffed with sincerity,” the publish learn.
The warning was extensively circulated on Chinese language social media and ranked as one of many hottest matters on the Weibo platform on Tuesday.
“If the particular person in first place lives overseas, do you might want to purchase a high-speed prepare ticket for the cattle?” requested a consumer.
The occasion will happen at Wetland Park in Nong’an County, Jilin, which is a serious agricultural producer.
Marathon operating has grown quickly in China in recent times, with a complete of 622 marathons and half-marathons held throughout the nation in 2023, with occasions going down at a charge of almost two per day on common, in line with the China Affiliation of Athletics.
Smaller cities and counties with populations of some hundred thousand folks have additionally begun to prepare various kinds of operating occasions.
Chinese language social media is stuffed with commentary about marathon occasions, sportswear, tools, coaching and weight loss program ideas.
Greater than 30 marathons and different operating occasions had been held throughout China between November 2 and three, attracting roughly 400,000 individuals, the Xinhua official information company stated final week.
