A monthly digest of the top articles read by FP subscribers. Smaller-scale incidents are rarely reported by the media. Evening roundup with our editors favorite stories of the day. As a result, athletes in T-shirts and shorts froze to death when the apparent temperature, or what human bodies perceive, plummeted below zero. WebHuang Guanjun (Chinese: ; pinyin: Hung Gunjn; 1987 22 May 2021) was a Chinese marathon runner; he died in the Gansu ultramarathon disaster. The same year, President Xi Jinping made a bold pledge to end poverty in China in five years. Copyright 2011 Unipower Transmission Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved. WebOn 22 May 2021, twenty-one professional runners died from hypothermia out of the 172 competing in a government-run 100-kilometre (62 mi) trail running race held in the Yellow "name": "How to Reset the U.S.-China Relationship", On May 21, he posted a series of photos on WeChat: ancient jagged hills, a donkey in a valley, vistas of crinkled stone and yellow sand cascading into the distance. He stands in the cave where he sheltered with runners in distress. WebMr. Investors in ailing Thames Water are reluctant to put in more cash, but Britain's largest water supplier is still "a long way" from needing emergency intervention, regulator Ofwat said on Wednesday. Without necessary structural reforms, the systemic corruption will only migrate elsewhere, bringing more disasters with it. WebMany of those killed in the 100km Yellow River Stone Forest Park race in Gansu died from hypothermia after being caught in freezing rain and hail on a remote high-altitude section Marathon races are absolutely politically correct, Ning Leng, an expert on Chinese governance with Georgetown University, told VICE World News. WebLiang Jing (Chinese: ; pinyin: Ling Jng; March 1990 22 May 2021) was a Chinese ultramarathon runner; he died in the Gansu ultramarathon disaster. Around 13:0014:00, while his sheep insisted on grazing in cold, windy, rainy weather at the Mijiashan Hill, he spotted the stricken runners, some already collapsed unconsciously from hypothermia. { According to China News Weekly, organizers tried asking for help from helicopter rescue services but were told all pilots were deployed on missions elsewhere. Most of the time, poor regulation is business as usual. By then, it was much too late for the majority of stranded runners. The 172 runners including Zhang Xiaotao, who waved to Huang as he passed him in the storm were winding through canyons and mountains of sand and stone. Weekly update on whats driving U.S. national security policy. Beijings strategy isnt always black and whiteexcept when it is. Huang tried to save what little he earned, eating instant noodles while traveling to races, she said, adding that he was sunny but disciplined. Within hours, the temperature on the mountain in north-western China would drop far below zero. Huang was one of 21 runners who died when they were overcome by dropping temperatures, 32- to 46-mph gusts and battering hail. Twenty-one competitors died in the freezing Chinese mountains, raising major questions about safety in the sport. A total of 21 runners, or one in eight contestants, died in the May 22 marathon disaster that shocked the running world. Add to Calendar Many local governments have tied the races with rural tourism, poverty alleviation, and the healthy China policyall of them initiatives endorsed by Chinas president. }. "It's dry in northwestern China.". See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. Shivering in the cold, she turned back before the high-altitude section, due to previous bad experiences with hypothermia. ] More than 1,200 rescuers were deployed, assisted by thermal-imaging drones and radar detectors, according to state media. Zhang Xuchen, the Baiyin mayor, bowed and apologized at a press conference Sunday. The number of marathons held in China grew from 22 in 2011 to 1,828 eight years later. Add to Calendar An investigation into the incident found a startling lack of safety precautions and emergency response on the part of the organizers. Her voice in a video was barely audible over the gales. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Israel ends major military operation in West Bank but warns that more may come, Calmes: The Supreme Courts just-ended term contained some surprising gifts for Democrats, Sleepless in Kyiv: In wartime capital, the stress of long fight weighs on everyone. He hid in a cave and fell asleep but was awakened around 2 p.m. by someone shouting for help. Competitors have described being blindsided by the cold, losing feeling in their extremities, passing people who retired early and were descending the track, and coming across others who were foaming at the mouth or lying motionless. ", China storm victims blown into Yangtze River, Mourners fill Jenin streets for funerals as Israel ends assault, West Bank power vacuum dangerous and destabilising, 'For the politicians of France, we are nothing', Cuba turns to old ally Russia to tackle fuel crisis, The battalion of black women erased from history. Web21 runners have been confirmed dead after extreme weather hit an #ultra-marathon race in northwest #China's Gansu Province. 21 runners died in a mountain race in China last month. Many runners reportedly lost their way on the route as the weather affected visibility. Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the worlds largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. [3], The night before the race, when the weather was pleasant, the organizer offered to collect runners' night supplies and to place them at the sixth checkpoint (62km[39mi]), to be picked up by the runners mid-race the next evening. What does it mean for critical minerals and mining? The first sign is shivering, followed by mental disorientation, fatigue, blurred vision and stiff limbs. He was in fourth place at the time. Among those who died during the Huanghe Shilin Mountain Marathon in Gansus Yellow River Stone Forest was record-holder Liang Jing, last photographed leading the pack, wearing shorts and a thin jacket. A probe by the provincial Gansu By 10:44 a.m., Liang had passed the second checkpoint, said Guo Jian, one of the race photographers, in a video report by Sanlian Lifeweek, a Chinese business magazine. The weather deteriorated between the second and third checkpoints: a five-mile stretch of trail, 15 miles into the route. Guo asked whether the organizers intended to stop the race. Not only did this mean a struggle for those manning checkpoints to accurately relay the developing situation to those in base camp, but many runners in trouble were also unable to ask for help. ct a primary geopolitical concern. At some point he lost consciousness and woke up in hospital. "MicrosoftTeams", FP subscribers are encouraged to send in questions in advance. But for those familiar with the extreme sports industry, an accident of this scale was a matter of when, not how, driven by the pursuit of profit over safety. And as an initial team of 10 rescuers who tried to reach the trail by foot found out, the only access was from the fourth checkpoint and involved a long trek, not to mention needing a local guide. "options": [ The anonymous runner said it was unheard of that most of the runners had dropped out of the race before organisers finally suspended it, and urged future competitors to be prepared to look after themselves in an emergency. WebChinese authorities have launched an investigation into the death of 21 people in an ultramarathon over the weekend, as family and friends of the competitors who died in At 9 a.m., the mayor of Baiyin fired the races starting shot. For the time being, China announced it would ban all high-risk sporting events for the time being, including marathons, ultramarathons, and other extreme sports. \nBut how can such a plan work when domestic politics on both sides seem in favor of tougher rhetoric and policy? A windbreaker or thermal top were only recommended, and the mandatory emergency blankets were ripped to shreds by the winds. The Beijing News reported that over 97 percent of sport event organizers do not have to carry certificates to run such events. He was experienced, having won among others a 250-mile (400km) race through the Gobi desert in 2018. button.addEventListener( 'mouseover', () => { "timeZone": "America/New_York", Hiking preceded running as popular outdoor sport, but in more recent years, growing enthusiasm for higher-intensity exercise and more disposable income have driven a surge in gyms and fitness studios. Web21 Runners Dead After Extreme Weather Hits Chinese Ultramarathon. He was good at it, regularly picking up trophies and prize money in races across China and abroad. "iCal", China bank shares slump in Hong Kong after Goldman downgrades, Thames Water investors reluctant to stump up cash, regulator says, Moscow says civilians hit in Makiivka attack that Kyiv says destroyed Russian unit, Putin says Russian economy faring better than expected, Top Zelenskiy adviser: China's position on Russian nuclear threat 'important', Iran must stop executions of protesters, says UN fact-finding mission. WebThe Chinese Athletics Association has cancelled this weekends marathon qualification race in Lanzhou in the wake of the Gansu ultramarathon tragedy that claimed the lives of 21 When the cold front arrived, the lead pack were near the summit at the third checkpoint and faced the wind in wide open;[14] while the much slower runners, mostly female, missed the cold front. Explore the benefits of your FP subscription. WebOn Saturday, 21 athletes died during the fourth annual Yellow River Stone Forest Park 100K, a race held in Gansu, China. Liang won several ultramarathons, including the Ultra Gobia 400 km (250 Second, it does involve economic benefits. He later spotted three more runners dead not far from his cave. It is time for the industry to cool down.. Washington keeps trying to play catch-up in the rare-earth game with China. While some then decided to give up at the third checkpoint, others continued to their deaths. [25][22] Only four of the 172 runners made it to the fourth checkpoint. WebThe in-depth story of the Gansu Ultramarathon Disaster 2021. He treated himself to lamb in Lanzhou, visited a historical fortress and practiced running the race trail. Delivered Wednesday. "A few are unconscious and are foaming at the mouth," another runner wrote. He struggled to find stable work, moving among jobs at factories, as a delivery driver and, most recently, chopping vegetables in a restaurant for about $400 a month, according to Wei Jing, a friend whod helped Huang get running sponsorships and wrote about him online after his death. [3][17][18][19], At 14:30, the Yellow River Stone Forest Administration phoned the mayor of Zhongquan town with a brief instruction, "we need to bring winter supplies to the athletes". The 172 On 22 May 2021, twenty-one professional runners died from hypothermia out of the 172 competing in a government-run 100-kilometre (62 mi) trail running race [note 2] held in the Yellow River Stone Forest in Jingtai County, Gansu, China. In 2006, he moved to the Baiyin city government to work in its education and then housing department. To attract consumers and investors, it also started to brand itself as an ancient Silk Road town where visitors could sightsee and learn about Communist history. A Debate. Li praised the race for bringing tourists, fame, and money to the county on the southern edge of Gobi Desert. There were several hours between the first messages for help and the full deployment of rescue teams. Rescuers at the site in northwestern China where 21 ultramarathon competitors died Saturday after hail, freezing rain and gale-force winds hit the high-altitude race. Ten years after Egypts coup, Washington has yet to learn that authoritarian stability is an illusion. Then another. "listStyle": "modal", Numerous scheduled races have been cancelled in the fallout, and families of some of the victims have demanded accountability for the deaths. By this year, he had changed it to Love Running. At the starting line of the Gansu ultramarathon, it was cold but the sun was shining. Liang Jing, an ultramarathon champion, and Huang Guanjun, who won the men's hearing-impaired marathon at China's 2019 National Paralympic Games, were among the victims, state-run media reported. What happens when the world is no longer unipolar, bipolar, or even multipolar? He couldnt even call for help.. A report published in Esquire, piecing together a timeline of events, revealed shambolic coordination of the rescue effort, with small teams and cars trying to reach checkpoints 2 and 4, while others including local villagers went on foot. High winds and freezing rain hit participants in the 100km (60-mile) ultramarathon in the Yellow River Stone Forest, a tourist site in Gansu province, on Saturday. }. Following the recent marathon tragedy, Chinas sports watchdog ordered all ultramarathon and off-road races to be suspended, as authorities work on enforcing safety protocols. Download the FP mobile app to read anytime, anywhere. Toggle The accident and the weather subsection, Toggle Errors in search and rescue subsection. (modern). On 22 May 2021, twenty-one professional runners died from hypothermia out of the 172 competing in a government-run 100-kilometre (62mi) trail running race[note 2] held in the Yellow River Stone Forest in Jingtai County, Gansu, China. The Baiyin municipal government was accused of hanging its name on the race banner without being adequately involved in planning and organizing. He left school after seventh grade, unable to keep up with the class. [2], The race was jointly organized by the sports department of Baiyin prefecture-level city and the Communist Party Committee[zh] of Jingtai County annually from 2018. "listStyle": "modal", "options": [ The rescue work, which lasted some 20 hours, was also poorly organized, according to a Peoples Daily report about the briefing. With more than a decade of experience and expertise in the field of power transmission, we have been successfully rendering our services to meet the various needs of our customers. Weibo commenters attacked the daughter online, questioning if she was real and accusing her of spreading rumors and being driven by foreign forces out to disparage China. Li was hardly a pioneer in tapping the countrys growing interest in recreational and competitive running. Customer Delight has always been our top priority and driving force. Many professional athletes would go from race to race in order to win more award money, without taking enough rest in between, she said. Once the contract is secured, all ties are then severed. "description": "U.S. Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna has a proposal for improving the most important relationship in the world. The worst conditions hit the runners leading at the front, many of whom were already past the second checkpoint by that time. Her 21-year-old daughter, a university student, saw a video online of a runner passed out, froth spilling from his mouth. Huang was the champion in the men's hearing-impaired marathon at That can happen even in non-freezing weather, especially with wind and rain. [5][6] The starting line, at the main entrance of scenic area, has an elevation of 1,595 metres (5,233ft); while the summit at the third checkpoint reaches 2,230 metres (7,320ft). The most common causes are hypothermia and falling off cliffs. "Microsoft365", In the three previous years the race was sunny and hot, so most runners handed away their windbreakers. "MicrosoftTeams", askQuestionLink || ( askQuestionLink && ! None of the companies involved with the race or the local Gansu government answered repeated calls from The Times. The race was halted when some of the 172 runners went missing, and a rescue operation was launched. WebHigh winds and freezing rain hit participants in the 100km (60-mile) ultramarathon in the Yellow River Stone Forest, a tourist site in Gansu province, on Saturday. The 62-mile mountain race in Gansu Province left athletes in shorts and T-shirts facing freezing rain, Authorities said Li fell from a high-rise apartment building last Wednesday and suggested it was a suicide by saying that they ruled out homicide. The actual on-field event coordinator was the "Yellow River Stone Forest Administration", which is headed by the publicity chief of Jingtai County's Communist Party Committee, who later committed suicide (see Disciplinary action). "startDate": "2023-07-14T10:00", Marathons grew 39 events in 2014 to 1828 in 2019. The Chinese Communist Partys Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the partys highest anticorruption body, is investigating the race. He is believed to have died by suicide. Which theory is correct? Rescuers transfer the remains of victims to a helicopter at Jingtai county on May 23. [1] This ambiguous instruction was delegated to the closest village at the foothill, Changsheng (). There is conflicting information about what weather was predicted, and what information was assessed and passed on by organisers. Similarly, mining accidents and landslides are notoriously common, including the Shenzhen landslides of 2015 that saw dozens of buildings buried and a slew of prison sentences for criminal negligence. It was midday May 22, more than 24 kilometers into a 100-kilometer ultramarathon race through the Yellow River Stone Forest of Chinas northwestern Gansu province. Alice Su is the Los Angeles Times former Beijing bureau chief. His username at that time was Lonely Running. "Apple", But Keyu Jin, the author of The New China Playbook, counters that Beijing could helm the worlds largest economy within the next decadeif it continues its innovative approach to local competition. "background": false, The news stunned China and the wider ultramarathon trail-running world. He descended the mountain, shaking in the fog, feeling a woolly daze settle over his mind. Liang won several ultramarathons, including the Ultra Gobia 400 km (250 We really dont want to talk about this anymore.. All of the dead were in the lead pack. The day began in jittery anticipation as 172 Lycra-clad runners jumped up and down at the starting line of the 62-mile mountain race in Gansu Province, China. Zhang, the runner who passed Huang in the storm, was trying to climb. Born to farmers, Huang lost his hearing and speech due to an injection given to treat illness when he was 1 year old, the report said. Leng said besides hitting hard economic targets, local officials in China often launch side projects, such as infrastructure building, trade fairs and sports events, to attract the upper leaderships attention and increase their chances of getting promoted. In return, Liang gave a plug for the beautiful sceneries of the place. He pulled out a thin thermal blanket. Li Zuobi, the Communist Party chief at Jingtai, greets winners at the 2020 race. "It was very hot one day before the race, and although the weather forecast said there would be wind and moderate rain in Baiyin on Saturday, everybody believed it would be mild," Mao said. Head lamps and flashlights lit the ground. BEIJING, May 23 (Reuters) - Twenty-one people were killed when extremely cold weather struck during an ultramarathon in rugged Gansu province in northwestern China, sparking public outrage on Sunday over the lack of contingency planning. It was dark. A joyful and tragicomic novel has been given extra weight by Russias invasion. Whos to blame? Access unmatched financial data, news and content in a highly-customised workflow experience on desktop, web and mobile. The 100-kilometer (62-mile) race on May 22 that began with 173 runners at the Yellow River Stone Forest park in Jingtai County, which is administered by the city of Baiyin, ended with 152 returning alive, six of whom were rescued by a local shepherd. Your guide to the most important world stories of the day. Khannas plan includes reducing trade deficits and tensions, improving communication, and bolstering deterrence. But Keyu Jin, the author of The New China Playbook, counters that Beijing could helm the worlds largest economy within the next decadeif it continues its innovative approach to local competition. Gansu authorities have meanwhile offered about $150,000 compensation each to families of those who died. Paralympian Huang Ganjun also died during the race. The official hung a medal on Liangs neck and shook his hand in congratulation. Khanna will join FP editor in chief Ravi Agrawal for an in-depth discussion about not only China, but also Ukraine, U.S. national security priorities, trade policy, and more. Leng said the events fit into Xis push to make China a sports power. Keep up with the world without stopping yours. But as the authorities rushed to pin the blame on organizers and suspend future races, the disaster also exposed flaws in Chinas aggressive, top-down push for economic development, a pursuit that put the 57-year-old bureaucrat and 172 runners in the same treacherous terrain on a fateful day last month. ", "label": "Register and Add to Calendar", I lost control of my hands and feet, I could only crawl, keep climbing, keep climbing I told myself that I cant stop, must keep up my body temperature, stay alive, and see my family.. Seeing the potential for rapid growth that could generate revenue and build China into a healthy and fit nation, the China Athletic Association (CAA) scrapped the central approval procedure required for holding mass sporting events in 2014, and it handed control to local governments. But in 2015, amid a national boom in marathons, the young man found that he could make more money running and quit his job, according to a profile of Liang by Renwu magazine. Lax regulation is a constant problem in a country that combines an intrusive and authoritarian government with a surprising lack of enforcement at the local level and a willingness to cut corners. More than 3,000 people were made to move from mountainous villages to flat areas so they could work in factories. The number of fatalities and the fatality rate surpassed the U.S.China joint Yangtze rafting disaster[zh] in 1986 in Sichuan. And unfortunately now, in Gansu, everything came at once.. "Apple", "iCal", WebIt was midday May 22, more than 24 kilometers into a 100-kilometer ultramarathon race through the Yellow River Stone Forest of Chinas northwestern Gansu province. How will it impact global trade, sanctions, and great-power competition? It was May 22, 2021. Liang Jing competes in a race around the Mont-Blanc, crossing France, Italy, and Switzerland in 2019. "[4] The provincial meteorological center, at an unknown time on the day before, flagged a key notice that warned of "2122 May is forecasted to have massive yellow dust and sand carried by winds, a drop of temperature and some precipitation. With most of the deaths due to hypothermia, one of the biggest criticisms of the ultramarathon was the failure to mandate proper gear. At the same time, runners and organizers have become a bit complacent about the sports dangers, he said, holding increasingly extreme events without preparing for the consequences. At the news briefing, Baiyin officials bowed and apologised, saying they were saddened by the tragic deaths of the runners and that they were to be blamed. Zhang would later post online that Huang pointed to his ears, meaning that he couldnt hear., The next time Huang was spotted was around 2 a.m., when, according to local reports, a rescue team found his body in rugged terrain. const button = document.querySelector( '#register-1117049' ); On June 25, an official government investigation identified 27 officials as being responsible for the deaths. const askQuestionLink = button.parentElement.parentElement.querySelector( '.bigfoot-footnote__button' ); "Yahoo" Five employees of the private companyShengjing Sports Culture Development Co.that had been contracted to organize and run the race for the past four years. Surviving participants said the forecast had shown some wind and rain was anticipated,but nothing as extreme as what they experienced. The day began chilly and overcast. Photo: Jingtai TV / WeChat. Changsheng villagers did not learn of the urgency until 16:42 when shepherd Zhu Keming, who was taking refuge uphill, managed to get out of the mobile phone signal blind spot and phone to report that two runners had died. The Gansu provincial government has set up an investigation team to further look into the cause of the deaths, the People's Daily reported. Argument: UNI POWER TRANSMISSION is an ISO 9001 : 2008 certified company and one of the leading organisation in the field of manufacture and supply of ACSR conductors. The city of Baiyin, like many formerly prosperous industrial regions, had hoped to use its natural resources to reinvigorate its economy. Liang Jing supported his family of three by running really, really far. You will have inefficient projects, she said in an interview. if ( ! FP subscribers are encouraged to send in questions in advance. A member of the House select committee on China, Khanna says Washington needsShow more to rebalance its economic relationship with Beijing. For much of the past three decades, there was widespread consensus that Chinas continued rise was inevitable. WebOriginal file (SVG file, nominally 998 789 pixels, file size: 788 KB) You will have local governments inexperienced in launching certain types of projects that nonetheless launched them without careful preparation and planning.. } ); The runners took off, many in shorts and short sleeves. These included Chinas top endurance runners such as 31-year-old Liang Jing, who had won the 250-mile Gobi Desert ultramarathon, and the Paralympian Huang Guanjun. The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals. "trigger": "hover", But Keyu Jin, the author of The New China Playbook, counters that Beijing could helm the worlds largest economy within the next decadeif it continues its innovative approach to local competition. askQuestionLink.classList.contains( 'is-active' ) ) ) { Around noon on Saturday, a mountainous section of the race was hit by hail, freezing rain and gales that caused temperatures to plummet, officials from Baiyin told a news briefing on Sunday. But more recently, an alternative school of thought has become popular: China has already peaked. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. The first distress message was sent at 11:50 (Nationwide Beijing time[note 1]) by a runner via GPS, but never received a response. "trigger": "hover", WebLiang Jing ( Chinese: ; pinyin: Ling Jng; March 1990 22 May 2021) was a Chinese ultramarathon runner; he died in the Gansu ultramarathon disaster . China Despite forecasts the night before the race of rain and heavy winds, many runners set off in shorts and vests and little more. Videos and posts from survivors of the race in remote northern China shed light on how 21 elite runners died in a wild storm. My jacket was packed in a transfer bag and stored at the [checkpoint 6] changing point 62km into the track. Explore the benefits included in your subscription. "Yahoo" A massive rescue effort was initiated, with over 1,200 rescuers dispatched, assisted by thermal-imaging drones, radar detectors and demolition equipment, according to state media. And he ran: 10 to 20 kilometers a day, working his way up to marathons, accumulating a bagful of medals and certificates that he showed the reporter one by one.
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