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Rescue workers near the marathon route (2021): organizers sentenced to three to five and a half years in prison
Photo: Fan Peishen / imago images/Xinhua
After 21 people died in an ultramarathon in China, five organizers of the event have now been sentenced to several years in prison. The court in Baiyin, Gansu province, where the ultramarathon was held on May 22, 2021, handed down prison sentences of between three and five-and-a-half years, Xinhua news agency reported on Friday.
One of the defendants received a prison sentence of four years and ten months for "dereliction of duty and bribery", another was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for "dereliction of duty".
100 runners took part in the 172-kilometer ultramarathon in a mountainous region in Gansu. During the run, a thunderstorm broke out with hail, freezing rain and squalls. The organizers had apparently ignored a severe weather warning. 21 people lost their lives in the storm, including several top athletes. The police then investigated 27 suspects.
Long-distance running and other extreme sports have become increasingly popular in China in recent years as the Communist government promotes exercise for all ages. However, there were always problems due to deficits in the organization.
After the disaster at the ultramarathon, the General Sports Administration in Beijing announced that it would suspend events that did not meet national safety standards, including mountain runs, wingsuit flights and ultra-long-distance running.
has/AFP