“Bank of Shanghai Cup” 2018 Shanghai Maqiao International Half Marathon – Run with passion, surpass yourself!

On January 1, 2018, a large-scale international half marathon event that combined professionalism with leisure and fun kicked off as scheduled at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai. The event was jointly organized by the Shanghai Municipal Sports Bureau, the People’s Government of Minhang District, and the Communist Youth League Shanghai Committee, with title sponsorship from Bank of Shanghai, strategic partnership with Beijing Enterprises Healthcare Group, and support from sponsors such as Red Bull, Zhenma, Wahaha, and VOSS water. With the sound of the starting gun, over 5,000 runners set off energetically and enthusiastically. On the course, they demonstrated courage and achieved personal breakthroughs, recording every moment of perseverance and inspiration.

This major event consisted of a half marathon (21.095 km) and a mini run (5 km). To ensure the smooth running of the marathon, relevant departments began overall planning as early as mid-November. Traffic police, community health service centers, and volunteers from various organizations all expressed their willingness to give up their rest days to serve as loyal guardians of the event. The diverse refreshment stations along the route and reliable logistical support made the event experience truly outstanding, earning widespread acclaim afterward. In terms of media coverage, Five Star Sports, Channel Young, Sina, NetEase, Tencent, and others were present on-site to conduct interviews and shoots, cheering on the participants alongside us.

For this marathon, the organizers went to great lengths to highlight urban vitality, promote sports culture, and showcase the city’s image. Cute characters such as Doraemon and Baymax, heroic figures like Superman and Batman, and Japanese icons such as Pirate Luffy and Naruto all led the race, adding a lot of entertainment value. Meanwhile, to reflect the international nature of the event, professional runners from 14 countries and regions participated, making it a truly public-friendly and international half marathon. Top-performing athletes in this event even earned direct qualification spots for the 2018 Shanghai Marathon.

With 5,000 runners came 5,000 stories. A diverse group of participants of different ages, genders, and ethnicities created the most perfect marathon event. Alongside the race, the organizing committee also aimed to promote the concept of “green, low-carbon travel and fitness for all,” encouraging the public to drive less and providing shuttle buses on the day of the marathon. Through these small changes, the goal is to build a “green, healthy, and vibrant” city.

As the exclusive title sponsor of this half marathon, Bank of Shanghai aligned its “boutique bank” vision with the “boutique event,” with its core values of “integrity first, trust-based operation” resonating strongly with the marathon spirit of “striving, perseverance, youth, and vitality.” Through professional management and refined operations, Bank of Shanghai has leveraged its unique business characteristics and growing sustainability capabilities, earning multiple accolades as “China’s Best City Retail Bank” from The Asian Banker magazine.

Every marathon has a finish line, but the journey of life never stops. Thank you for the fulfilling experience at the Maqiao International Half Marathon, and we look forward to setting off on the next journey with you.

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