ULAN BATOR, May 28 (Xinhua) -- After being canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022 Ulan Bator International Marathon kicked off here in the rain on Saturday.
"Ulan Bator will always be a city that supports runners and develops the sport of running. The international marathon not only inspires people to run, but it has also become one of the most anticipated events for domestic and foreign runners," Dolgorsuren Sumiyabazar, mayor of Ulan Bator, said at the opening ceremony.
Including professional athletes from Kenya and Kazakhstan and embassy staff of China, Russia, India and South Korea, around 30,000 runners from over 20 countries are competing in five categories, featuring the full marathon, half marathon, family marathon and wheelchair marathon.
The capital of Mongolia closed its main roads to cars and open them up to pedestrians and bikers to promote a low carbon lifestyle and physical activities on the marathon day.
