Thousands of volunteers and 300 referees on duty at Sunday's marathon
A total of 3,800 volunteers and 300 referees will be on duty at this year’s Shanghai International Marathon.
The 2017 Shanghai International Marathon, which starts at the Bund at 7am on Sunday, will feature a total of 38,000 runners in the 42.2-kilometer full marathon, 10km and 5km races.
Unlike previous years, there is no 21km half marathon this year.
The 8,000 places for the half marathon were instead allotted to the full marathon, which now has 28,000 runners — 8,000 more than last year.
The 10km and 5km races will continue to feature 5,000 runners each.
A total of 3,800 volunteers and 300 referees will be helping at this year’s event, as well as medical and security staff.
A mobilization meeting for volunteers and referees was held over the weekend, which was followed by training to help the volunteers to get familiar with their work routine on the race day.
Some volunteers have also received emergency training, including how to handle heart scares using an automated external defibrillator.
In the 2015 Shanghai International Marathon, a 26-year-old runner suffered cardiac problems and was attended by volunteers and doctors who happened to be running in the race.
The runner recovered consciousness after receiving cardiac defibrillation and intravenous infusion. He was then rushed to the hospital by ambulance equipped to the event.
A mobilization meeting for volunteers and referees
