The "2013 Canal Culture City Cup China (Suqian · Luoma Lake) Eco-Four Open" will kick off on the 18th of this month at Luoma Lake in Suqian City, Jiangsu Province. Organizers said in an interview on the 15th that the event is expected to become China’s first large-scale sports competition integrating ecological civilization development.
The inaugural event features four classic sporting disciplines representing the most essential human survival skills on land and water: "Luoma Lake Swim," "Luoma Lake Kayaking," "Luoma Lake Lakeside Cycling," and "Forest Park Cross-Country Running."
It is understood that the competition is divided into professional and amateur categories, with the entire event lasting one day. The professional category will invite 20 high-level mountain and outdoor teams from both China and abroad, including two international teams. The amateur category will openly recruit 400 to 600 participants for men’s, women’s, and relay groups nationwide, with amateurs competing as individuals.
During the one-day event, participants will complete four challenges: the "2km Luoma Lake Swim," the "10km Luoma Lake Kayaking," the "38km Luoma Lake Lakeside Cycling," and the "8km Forest Park Cross-Country Running." According to the organizing committee, nearly 1,000 athletes from both the professional and amateur categories are expected to take part.
A relevant official from the organizing committee told reporters that in addition to the competition, a celebrity experience event will be held on the 17th. The Olympic champion experience team includes three sports stars: Chen Zhong, Zhang Guozheng, and Wang Liping. The film and television star experience team features celebrities Chang Kuan, He Jing, Shi Dasheng, and Dong Jingchuan.
The event is jointly organized by the Mountaineering Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China and the People’s Government of Suqian City, and co-hosted by the Jiangsu Provincial Social Sports Management Center, the Suqian Municipal Sports Bureau, the Administrative Committee of Hubin New District in Suqian, and Beijing Hengjian International Sports Culture Communication Co., Ltd. The "Canal Culture City" is the exclusive title sponsor.