World Athletics will certainly not regret its choice to have awarded Beijing the hosting of the world championships in 2027. The popularity of athletics continues to grow in China, particularly non-stadium races. According to the Chinese Athletics Association (CAA), at least 2,5 million people in China have completed a marathon or half-marathon as of December 31, 2023. The data has been recorded since 2016. It reveals a progression regular finishers of a road test in the country. In 2023 alone, 142.700 Chinese or residents in China completed a marathon, and 507.500 a half marathon. During the same year, no less than 699 road running events, with a minimum of 800 participants, were organized across China, for a total of 6.051.900 runners. The two most active months on the calendar were April and November, with more than 100 mass events in each.
