The Chinese city will need to meet strict criteria over a three-year period to be successful
The Shanghai Marathon is in contention to become one of the Abbott World Marathon Majors.
Founded in 1996, the marathon has been held 27 times and, in 2020, became the first event in China to earn platinum label status from World Athletics.
If Shanghai’s bid is successful, it would join London, Boston, New York, Chicago, Berlin and Tokyo on the Abbott World Marathon Major list.
To do so the marathon – which starts at the Bund Bull and ends at the 72,000 capacity Shanghai Stadium – will need to go through rigorous testing over a three-year period.
The course records in Shanghai are held by Kenya’s Philimon Kiptoo Kipchumba and Ethiopia’s Yebrgual Melese, who ran 2:05:35 and 2:20:36 in 2023 and 2018 respectively.
Shanghai Marathon (Getty)
More than 150,000 people register for the Shanghai Marathon every year and the last edition featured 38,000 participants, with 12% of them coming from abroad.
Both Sydney and Cape Town Marathons are also in contention to become an Abbott World Marathon Major, with all three cities at different stages of the process.
Dawna Stone, CEO of Abbott World Marathon Majors, said: “AbbottWMM is delighted to welcome the Shanghai Marathon into the candidacy process from 2024. This presents an exciting opportunity to expand our impact into Asia/ China and further our mission to create, grow and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community. We look forward to working closely with the team in Shanghai as we start this journey together!”
Mr. Cao Wei, Chairman of Donghao Lansheng Group, the organising company of the Shanghai Marathon, added: “I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to the Shanghai Marathon for successfully becoming an Abbott World Marathon Majors candidate race!
“This recognition is the highest affirmation of our event organisation and service. In the future, the Shanghai Marathon will continue to focus on the principle of ‘runners first’, maintain the highest standards and quality, and work diligently to improve event services, aiming to establish itself as a new benchmark in global road running.”
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