Organizers for the 2017 Ordos International Marathon announced on Tuesday at a press conference in Beijing that the race will begin at 17:00 on Aug 19, allowing participants to experience running while viewing the scenery from sunset to nightfall and the starry sky above the grasslands.

The marathon is being organized by the Chinese Athletic Association, the Sports Bureau of Inner Mongolia autonomous region, and Ordos municipal government.

The conference was attended by Li Guojian, vice-mayor of Ordos; Yan Yongsheng, deputy secretary-general of Ordos municipal government; Qu Ming, director of Ordos sports bureau; Liu Hongxing, deputy director of Ordos tourism bureau; and over 30 journalists from media organizations in Beijing.

Participants can currently sign up to four different categories of races including full marathon (42km), half marathon (21km), mini race (5km), and family race (5km) on the official website. Participants must register by the deadline of July 20.

To draw more public attention, the marathon committee has made special effort in medal design, route design, and race logistics. Part of the application fee will be donated to plant trees to tackle desertification, according to the race organizers.

In 2016, Ordos succeeded in holding the first international marathon, attracting 12,585 participants. Among the runners, 6,088 were from places outside Ordos. As Inner Mongolia’s biggest race, Ordos International Marathon was recognized as one of China’s bronze-level races by the Chinese Athletic Association.

Officials attend the launch ceremony of the 2017 Ordos International Marathon during the press conference held in Beijing on June 6. [Photo/Xinhua]

Li Guojian, vice-mayor of Ordos, addresses the press conference of the 2017 Ordos International Marathon in Beijing on June 6. [Photo/Xinhua]