中国の無計画な「マラソン熱」に怒り　クロカン参加者２１人死亡で

【上海ＡＦＰ＝時事】中国で開催されたクロスカントリーマラソンで、悪天候のため参加者２１人が死亡した問題を受け、マラソン業界に厳しい目が向けられている。マラソンは国内で盛り上がりを見せる一方で、物議を醸し、失態も続いている。（写真は中国・山東省青島で開催された青島西海岸ハーフマラソンの様子）
　中国北西部甘粛省の山岳地帯で２２日に行われた全行程１００キロの大会では、ひょうや冷たい雨、強風などの影響で参加者が亡くなったとされる。
　当局が調査を開始する中、中国のソーシャルメディアには被害者を悼む声と、主催団体はなぜ荒天にさらなる備えを講じていなかったのかと疑問を呈する怒りの声があふれた。
　だが、同国の一部のウルトラマラソンやマラソン、ハーフマラソン、長距離走大会などの質や運営をめぐっては、以前から懸念が生じていた。
　政府は年齢層を問わず運動を強く推奨しており、ランニングは大ブームとなった。ランナーの大半が中間層で、最先端のスポーツウエアやウエアラブル端末を身に着けて走っている。中には、記録をソーシャルメディアで自慢する人もいる。
　全国規模の陸上競技団体である中国田径協会（ＣＡＡ）の統計に基づく昨年の報道によると、２０１８年に国内で開催されたマラソン大会の数は１４年の４０倍。１９年には１９００件の「ランニング競技会」があり、上海マラソンなどの有名大会には、多い時で３万８０００人が出場する。
　中国中央テレビ（ＣＣＴＶ）は２４日ウェブサイト上で、甘粛省の悲劇は「近年、中国のほぼ全土で盛況のマラソン行事に対する警鐘」であり、「コースの計画、安全性の確保、医療体制の整備、緊急時の救助、食料の支給などに万全を期し、ミスがあってはならない」と指摘した。
　国営メディアが「マラソン熱」と呼ぶこのブームが、競技内容以外でトップニュースになるのはこれが初めてではない。２０１８年には深センで開催されたハーフマラソンで、参加者２５８人が近道をするなどの不正が発覚。１９年には徐州国際マラソンで、参加者が自転車を使用している姿が動画に収められたこともあった。
　大衆紙・新京報は社説で、マラソンの爆発的な人気に安全性の強化が伴っておらず、主催団体は現地当局を含め、大勢の参加者を集めて金儲けをする方を優先していると苦言を呈した。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】

〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/05/25-13:45）

The deaths of 21 ultramarathon runners in China throw a light on an industry which is booming in the country but has suffered a series of controversies and embarrassments.
Hail, freezing rain and high winds were blamed for the deaths of the runners taking part in a 100-kilometre (60-mile) cross-country mountain race on Saturday in the northwestern province of Gansu.
As authorities launched an investigation, Chinese social media erupted in mourning and outrage, questioning why organisers had not been better prepared for the extreme weather.
However, there has long been concern about the quality and organisation of some of the ultramarathons, marathons, half-marathons and other long-distance running events now taking place in China.
The government is heavily promoting exercise for all ages, and running has taken off in a big way with mostly middle-class competitors sporting the latest trendy gear and wearable technology.
Some participants want to boast of their achievements on social media or use it on job applications to boost their employment prospects. Others just want to keep fit.
According to media last year, citing Chinese Athletics Association (CAA) figures, the country hosted 40 times more marathons in 2018 than in 2014.
The CAA said that there were 1,900 running races in China in 2019.
Landmark events like the Shanghai marathon regularly attract up to 38,000 runners.
State broadcaster CCTV said in an online commentary on Sunday that the Gansu tragedy was a wake-up call for marathon events that have bloomed almost everywhere in China in recent years.
Route planning, safety guarantees, medical preparations, emergency rescue, food supplies, etc., need to be precise and foolproof, said CCTV, also warning runners to respect nature, respect science, cherish life.
- 'Run wild' -
It is not the first time that what state media often calls marathon fever has made headlines in China for non-sporting reasons.
In 2018, at a half-marathon in the southern city of Shenzhen, 258 runners were found to have cheated -- including many who took shortcuts.
Traffic cameras caught them darting through trees to join a different part of the race.
Then in 2019 a woman was filmed riding a green-coloured rental bike in the Xuzhou International Marathon in eastern China. She was ordered by race officials to dismount the bike, only to get back on again afterwards.
The CAA has attempted to clean up the sport, including handing out lifetime bans to three Chinese runners who cheated at the prestigious Boston Marathon in 2019.
Two of them presented forged certificates to reach the strict entry standard, while the third gave his bib to someone else to run for him.
Marathon organisers in China are now using facial technology to ensure that runners are identified correctly.
One CAA official previously told state media that some people have been swept up in China's marathon mania and were signing up for races despite being woefully unprepared and with little appreciation of what was involved.
That does not appear to have been the case with those who perished, reportedly of hypothermia, in Gansu, as elite runners were among the victims.
But the deaths have led to renewed calls for better regulations and organisation.
The General Administration of Sport, China's top sports governing body, has told event organisers across the country to improve safety.
An editorial in the Beijing News said safety has failed to keep pace with the exploding popularity of marathon-running and organisers -- which include local authorities -- are often more interested in attracting large numbers of competitors and making money.
In short, the needs and enthusiasm of popular sports should be met and cared for, but events should not 'run wild' at the expense of safety, it said.