The 2016 Seven Stars Mountain King off-road running competition, organized by the Taiwan Sports Leisure Industry Development Association and the Republic of China Land Sports Competition Association, and hosted by Weiyue Sports Marketing Company, was scheduled to take place on April 30.
The Yangmingshan National Park Administration refused to approve the 2016 Seven Stars Mountain King off-road running race, citing concerns over safety and ecological impact. However, the organizers recently posted a statement on their official Facebook page (Charming Trail), announcing that the event would go ahead as planned on April 30.
In their Facebook post, the organizers wrote, “The park authority cited significant impacts on trail surfaces and vegetation, potential disturbances to other hikers, and concerns over national compensation in case of injuries on the trails. They requested that the running event be changed to a hiking activity, and that terms such as 'competition,' 'ranking,' 'prizes,' and 'chip timing' be avoided. The event must not affect other trail users or hikers. In response, we have adjusted the event plan and content accordingly.”
Director Chen Maochun reiterated in an interview today that no speed-based competitions are permitted on any trails or paths within the national park. Although the organizers intended to rename the event as a hiking activity in their written materials, references to chip timing clearly indicate a competitive race, which is illegal. The national park administration will not make any exceptions.
Chen said that on the 30th, they will request the Seventh Special Police Corps to collect evidence on-site and advise runners not to participate in the competition. In addition to preventing the organizers from setting up aid stations, arches, traffic cones, and other related facilities, they may also close the trails if necessary and will not stand by idly.
Chen noted that according to the organizer’s announcement, there are three registration groups for the run, with about 800 participants in each group. Given the route, the same path will experience a back-and-forth flow of 3,200 people in a short period, impacting not only the trails but also regular weekend hikers. Rescue efforts would also be significantly hindered in case of an accident.
Chen pointed out that if the organizers insist on holding the event, they will face heavier penalties under Article 15 of the Administrative Penalty Act. With three race categories and an estimated 2,400 participants, the projected profit after deducting expenses could exceed NT$1 million. Therefore, the maximum fine imposed on the organizers could surpass NT$1 million.
According to a statement released by the Yangmingshan National Park Administration on the 25th, although the content of the 2016 Seven Stars Mountain King off-road running competition proposal was revised—such as renaming it to an off-road hiking event—the English name, chip timing, and overall format still reflected a competitive running race. Since the event was still planned as a chip-timed competition, it was deemed a violation of good faith principles.
The park authority also announced on its official website that off-road running causes substantial damage to trail surfaces, affecting soil and water conservation. With a high volume of hikers on holidays and limited trail width, speed-based events could lead to collisions and endanger other visitors. The heavy foot traffic also negatively impacts soil stability and ecological preservation. Therefore, any speed-related competitions are not permitted on trails or paths within the park. 1050427
(Central News Agency)
(Central News Agency)