On March 19, the unveiling ceremony of Guizhou Marathon College was held at College of Physical Education of Guizhou University. The event was attended by Ma Lei, Director of the Guizhou Provincial Sports Bureau; Zhu Junhua, a second-ranking inspector; Yi Jiandong of Wenzhou University; Cao Zhenshui, coach of Tsinghua University’s national athletics team; Chen Jun, Director of the Colorful Guizhou Culture and Tourism Research Institute; Wang Liping, national-level coach from Beijing Sport University; Deng Lin, County Governor of Weining County and Bai Bin, an extreme endurance athlete. Guizhou University officials in attendance included Yang Wei, Party Secretary; Song Bao’an, President and Academician; and Chen Xiangsheng and Wu Pan, Vice Presidents. The ceremony also drew prominent athletes such as Feng Peiyou and Xia Yuyu, as well as representatives from leading sports brands including Xtep and Li-Ning. Faculty members and students of Guizhou University were also in attendance.
The unveiling ceremony and seminar were jointly organized by the Guizhou Provincial Sports Bureau, Guizhou University, and the People’s Government of Weining County. The event marked an important step in implementing President Xi Jinping’s instructions during his visit to Guizhou, calling for “deepening the integration of culture, tourism, and sports and enriching tourism offerings.” It aims to support the province’s cultural tourism brand strategy, known as “Mountain Park Province, Colorful Guizhou,” by leveraging university intellectual resources and the advantages of sports administration. The event also seeks to explore new avenues for the high-quality development of marathon sports through the integration of culture, tourism, and sports, and to promote the professionalization, industrialization, and branding of marathon sports in Guizhou.
During the ceremony, representatives from the three organizing parties jointly signed the framework agreement for Guizhou Marathon College. Relevant leaders, experts, and representatives from the sports community also participated in the unveiling.
In her speech, Yang Wei emphasized that “strong sports make a strong China.” She noted that, as a nationally recognized “Double First-Class” university, Guizhou University has always adhered to the principle of holistic student development, viewing the improvement of students’ physical health as a fundamental part of moral and character education. Yang highlighted that the establishment of the Marathon College represents a significant step for the university in supporting the province’s cultural tourism strategy and contributing to local high-quality development. She stated that the university will seize the College as an opportunity to further integrate sports and education, strengthen its sports disciplines and talent cultivation programs, develop a scientific marathon training system and curriculum, organize diverse long-distance running activities, and host high-level marathon events. These initiatives aim to help students cultivate perseverance through long-distance running and to underscore the central role of sports in comprehensive student development.
Ma Lei expressed his reflections on the establishment of the Marathon College with three words: “moved, grateful and thankful.” He said he was deeply moved by Guizhou University’s provision of high-quality educational resources for the College, grateful for the institutional advantages of China’s sports development in the new era, and thankful for the strong support from all sectors for the development of marathon sports in Guizhou. He noted that the College will serve as a platform to identify grassroots sports talent and provide athletes with opportunities for academic and professional advancement. It is expected not only to become a cradle for marathon talent in Guizhou but also to contribute to the development of marathon sports and the advancement of Chinese sports as a whole.
Following the unveiling ceremony, the Guizhou Marathon High-Quality Development Seminar was held at Xianzheng Building on the West Campus. Leaders, experts, and representatives from the sports community engaged in in-depth discussions on topics, including the development of the Colorful Guizhou Marathon Super League, the management of Guizhou Marathon College, the cultivation of youth athletics talent in Guizhou, and strategies for promoting Guizhou Marathon nationwide.
During the seminar, Feng Peiyou was appointed as the “Promotion Ambassador” for the Colorful Guizhou Marathon Super League and delivered the league’s initiative statement.
Editor: Pang Aizhong & You Xiao
Chief Editor: Li Xufeng
Senior Editor: Yao Zuozhou
Translator: Wang Xiaomin
