The Boston Marathon, founded in 1897, is the world’s oldest marathon race. Known as the "No. 1" in the field, this event is also the most-watched sporting event in the U.S. after the Super Bowl, awarding its winners with an olive wreath symbolizing peace. However, no one could have anticipated that on April 15 local time in the U.S., near the finish line at the latter stage of the race, an explosion occurred, resulting in a tragic incident where at least three people were killed and over a hundred injured.
Marathon races are among the most difficult outdoor events to secure due to their open nature. With marathon events in China and Shanghai currently booming, what lessons can the Boston tragedy offer for improving security at Chinese marathons?
Security upgraded for U.S. events
The explosion at the Boston Marathon, which gathers marathon enthusiasts from around the world, shocked the global sports community. Many found it hard to believe that terrorism would target the sport that promotes peace.
“Like other international sports organizations, World Athletics is deeply saddened by the tragedy at the Boston Marathon. We extend our deepest condolences and sympathy to the families and friends of those who lost their lives or were injured in this incident. The cause of the explosions is currently unknown, and we condemn this act of violence,” stated World Athletics’ official website. While denouncing the atrocity, the organization also expressed its solidarity with all sports lovers and pledged action to support those affected.
The impact of the explosions extended beyond just the marathon. In an effort to prevent further attacks, numerous sporting events in the U.S. were canceled or affected. The Boston Celtics’ home game against the Indiana Pacers on April 16 was called off. Shortly after the explosions, the National Hockey League (NHL) announced the postponement of the Boston Bruins’ game against the Ottawa Senators, with the new date to be determined. Players from both teams left the arena after a moment of silence.
Due to heightened national alert in the U.S., security for various sporting events was urgently stepped up. For example, in the NBA, the Pistons conducted thorough checks in their home team locker rooms before the game; the Nets increased armed police patrols at the Barclays Center. Although fans faced inconveniences due to enhanced security, they all hoped the perpetrators of the Boston Marathon bombings would be brought to justice soon.
No major issues for Chinese runners participating
The historic Boston Marathon also attracted 87 Chinese participants. According to the registration data on the event’s official website, the oldest Chinese participant was 65 years old, the youngest 20, and 17 of them were female.
As the Chinese track and field team was preparing for the National Games and did not send any athletes, all 87 participants were amateur runners. Among these, eight were from Shanghai. Liang Guang, a runner from Guangzhou, said although the explosion happened suddenly, there was no chaos at the scene. Following the blasts, security was tightened in Boston, and “there were four or five armed police officers downstairs from my hotel, and I had to show my room card to enter.”
While the Chinese participants were unharmed, one Chinese female international student was injured in the blast, and another went missing. According to a post on the People’s Daily Weibo account, the injured student is named Zhou Danling, and the missing student is named Lu Lingzi—both are Chinese students studying at Boston University.
London Marathon to proceed as scheduled
As people condemn the perpetrators of the Boston Marathon bombing, upcoming sporting events are also on high alert. This tragedy has served as a serious wake-up call for many event organizers.
This Sunday (April 21), the famous London Marathon will take place. The Boston explosions have made the UK especially cautious. London police have actively contacted their U.S. counterparts in hopes of obtaining intelligence about the Boston case to enable preemptive measures. With these precautions, along with the successful security experience from last year’s London Olympics, UK Sports Minister Hugh Robertson believes the London Marathon should be safe. “We are absolutely confident in ensuring the security of this event. And I think it’s the best way to show our solidarity with Boston and send a message to those behind the bombings: we will not be intimidated off the course.”
Another terrorist attack targeting a sporting event undoubtedly reminds the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee to further strengthen their security measures. “Security has always been a top priority in organizing the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and we are working closely with government partners to ensure the safety of the 2016 Games,” emphasized the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee after expressing condolences to the victims in Boston, while stressing that security will not be compromised.
Although terrorism appears to have once again targeted sports—following the Munich Olympics massacre, the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team, and the shooting of the Togo football team—the International Olympic Committee has yet to make any new assessments or statements regarding the security situation for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics.
Social media may help mitigate risks
Modern large-scale marathons are held on urban streets. With a course exceeding 42 kilometers, tens of thousands of participants from around the globe, nearly a million spectators along the route, and the event’s massive influence both locally and internationally, this sunny outdoor sport is highly vulnerable to becoming a target for terrorists.
Former FBI counterterrorism official in New York, Pat D’Amuro, revealed that marathons have long been seen as attractive targets by terrorists. “You can’t screen everyone standing by the route because they’re just passersby.” D’Amuro admitted this situation leaves little room for conventional venue security checks. “It’s fair to say that marathons are very difficult to effectively control.”
After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, security for the Boston Marathon was upgraded, with large numbers of police deployed and bomb-sniffing dogs used. But for the crowds gathering near the finish line, the event had no effective countermeasures. D’Amuro also believes the Boston Marathon bombings serve as a direct warning for future marathon events. “Security vigilance cannot be ignored. There need to be certain screening measures at both the start and finish lines. Not only should private security companies be involved, but there also needs to be greater cooperation with the police.”
Moya Dodd, a member of the International Centre for Sport Security, believes social media should be utilized before major events to analyze intelligence and develop security plans. “Social media gives everyone a voice. Used properly, it can help identify potential risks in a timely manner and better guide people to avoid danger when incidents occur.”
Relying solely on armed police forces does not necessarily enhance the sense of security at outdoor events like marathons—in fact, it may increase public anxiety. Colonel Nelson Garcia, Vice President of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, believes more plainclothes security personnel are needed at event sites. “If there are professional plainclothes security officers in every area along the route, the impact of a terrorist attack might be minimized more quickly.”
During the International Sports Security Conference, Interpol expert John Abbott, who oversees sports security, also reminded marathon organizers to utilize city surveillance systems to detect potential risks early. “These events are usually held on busy streets in major cities, which offer good sightlines for security. Therefore, event security personnel must make better use of surveillance cameras and security networks. A systematic monitoring network can help better observe every corner of the event and quickly identify suspects.”
4,000 police to safeguard Shanghai Marathon
Security has always been a top priority for the Shanghai Marathon. Over the years, with increasing participation, the security task has become even more challenging. Last year, with the marathon route covering major urban arteries such as Jinling Road, Huaihai Road, and Nanjing Road, the Shanghai police developed a more detailed security plan.
To prevent various safety issues, departments including transportation, public security, criminal investigation, and fire services in Shanghai all went into pre-event mode. Different police units cooperated closely, conducting multiple on-site inspections of the race route prior to the event. Last year, over 4,000 police officers were deployed for the Shanghai Marathon’s security.
The Shanghai police revealed that during the event, traffic controls were implemented on the marathon route, and citizens were informed in advance to plan alternative travel routes. At the same time, responsibility for each zone was assigned to specific individuals, and all planned measures were strictly carried out. Prior to the event, every officer involved in Shanghai Marathon security familiarized themselves with the safety plan and emergency response protocols for unexpected issues.
To enhance safety, prior to the race, Shanghai police, along with riot dogs and firefighting-police forces, conducted thorough security checks at key areas such as the start and finish lines. During the event, they also managed pedestrian flow at nearby rail stations. Meanwhile, volunteers assisted police in maintaining order along the route, ensuring the event proceeded smoothly without disrupting public travel. To improve communication with citizens, the Shanghai police’s official Weibo account live-streamed updates on the event and provided real-time traffic and crowd information for various road sections.
In fact, when it comes to safety issues and terrorist attacks, China's sporting events also need to be approached with caution. According to Wang Dawei, a professor at the People's Public Security University of China, the anti-terrorism experience from the Beijing Olympics has not become outdated. "We still have a lot of room for improvement in terms of anti-terrorism expertise, early warning for emergencies, and the public’s ability to stay alert and save themselves." Regarding terrorist attacks like the Boston Marathon bombing, he used a rhyming slogan to remind people how to respond to explosions: "If you hear an explosion, hit the ground; bend down, cover your mouth, and get away fast; if the crowd heads east, I go west (avoid the flow); steer clear of bridges and railings."