The organizers of the 2007 Beijing International Marathon have
decided to change the starting point and route of the race in order
to leave room for a national event to be held at Tiananmen Square
on October 21.
In a recently circulated document, the Chinese Athletic
Association said the starting point will be shifted to the National
Olympic Sports Center, which also happens to be the finishing
point.
The revised route will pass by major venues for the 2008 Olympic
Games, including the National Stadium and the National Swimming
Center, which are known as the "Bird's Nest" and "Water Cube"
respectively.
As one of the most popular international sporting events, the
Beijing marathon attracts over 20,000 athletes from around the
world every year. Tiananmen Square used to be the starting point of
the event.
(CRI October 10, 2007)