2014 C&D Xiamen International Marathon Set for 2 January, 2014 in Xiamen, China

XIAMEN, China, Dec. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2014 C&D Xiamen International Marathon will be held in Xiamen, China on 2 January, 2014. The Xiamen International Marathon, going into its seventh year as an IAAF Gold Label Road Race event, has become the largest of its kind in China in terms of the professionalism of its organization and the recognition of its brand.

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The 2014 C&D Xiamen International Marathon will host a multitude of competitions including the Marathon, the Half Marathon, the Wheelchair Half Marathon, the Roller Skating 10KM Race, the National College Students Invitational Marathon Tournament, the Cross-Strait Invitational Marathon Tournament and the New Year Yachting Race.

The popularity of the event has already drawn in 77,080 participants from 45 countries and regions worldwide who are planning to make the trek to Xiamen and compete for the winning spots. The winner of the 2013 men's group clocked in at 2 hours, 7 minutes and 32 seconds, breaking the course record and setting the record for all marathon races ever held in China. Athletes invited to the 2014 event feature even stronger competitors than at any of the prior races. In the men's group, Ethiopia's Endeshaw Negesse Shumi is this year's entrant with the fastest record among all participants, having clocked in at 2 hours, 4 minutes and 52 seconds during the 2013 Dubai marathon, 2 minutes faster than the male winner of the 2013 C&D Xiamen International Marathon. In the women's group, Ethiopia's Mare Dibaba Hurrsa, whose best record is 2 minutes faster than the 2013 female winner's result of 2 hours 22 minutes 38 seconds, is sure to give last year's champion a run for the money.

Focus on the race: upgrade of the rules and guidelines result in several "firsts"

The tagline "Keep Moving, Run for Love" demonstrates the human element behind the competitions. The organizers of the 2014 event have created several "firsts" via an upgrade of the rules and guidelines of the marathon in addition to releasing a new version of the marathon song "Marathon: Brilliance of Life."

The 2014 adjustment of the marathon route includes the addition of Zhongshan Road, the main and particularly beautiful thoroughfare through Xiamen's renowned historical district. By the time the runners reach this stretch, both sides of the racing venue are expected to be lined with the best of southern Fujian province's artists staging performances replete with traditional characteristics of the local area. The first national college student invitational tournament in China plans to convene in Xiamen at the time of the event to raise awareness among college students of the advantages of participation in marathon events.

Focus on contributing to the betterment of society: the competition embraces community service, going green and protecting the environment

The major highlight of the 2014 C&D Xiamen International Marathon is roll out of the Love-Xiamen International Marathon-Charity Platform , the exclusive and the largest platform combining a racing competition with the performance of community service. Many events with a philanthropic and charitable purpose will take place through the platform, including C&D's Running for a Greener World, Kinglong's Hundred Meter Picture Roll, CCB Cup Photography Competition, the Cheerleading Competition and X.M.B. Mini-Marathon.

Running for a Greener World is jointly organized by C&D and The Organization Committee of Xiamen International Marathon, encouraging volunteers to collect rubbish along the race route during the marathon, in a demonstration of the putting in practice of the concept of environmental protection and with the intended result of creating a world-class marathon race route worthy of its title.

The Hundred Meter Picture Roll competition will invite a hundred children to draw what in their humble opinion is the most green and beautiful event of the Xiamen Marathon and to use their young imaginations to express their vision of the future marathon.International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Chairman Lamine Diack will be present at the event to hand out the award to the winning child.

Xiamen enjoys the reputation as the world's most well-known Garden City. The city is not only graced by its natural location next to both the sea and the mountains, but is also known for the excellent development track of its economy, diversity of its culture, uniqueness of its regional characteristics and its social harmony. Xiamen's beauty can be further observed through the public interest and environmental protection events that are scheduled to take place during the 2014 C&D Xiamen International Marathon, which, in effect, are, themselves, a miniature of this great city.

SOURCE The Organization Committee of Xiamen International Marathon