One Belt One Road Marathon - A Malaysia-China Collaboration

KUALA LUMPUR, March 1 (Bernama) -- The organiser of the China-Malaysia One Belt One Road (OBOR) Marathon Major Series scheduled for Oct 1, is targeting 20,000 local and international runners. Tourism and Culture Ministry deputy secretary-general (Culture) Rashidi Hasbullah said the event organised by the ministry and China Athletics Association (CAA) would take off at Dataran Merdeka, here. "The Ministry is taking into account the economic impact that can be generated through this sports tourism event," he told a press conference here Tuesday. Rashidi said CAA launched the OBOR Marathon Series in response to the Chinese government's One Belt One Road initiative in connecting the republic to a major part of Europe and Asia, including Oceania, and East Africa, particularly through the marathon sports industry. He said the ministry had agreed to collaborate with CAA via sports tourism to encourage tourist arrivalsKu especially from China. He said the marathon series is a continuation from the 29th Kuala Lumpur SEA Games to be held from Aug 19 to 31 and the 9th ASEAN Para Games from Sept 17 to 23. It is estimated that RM40 million would be generated through the marathon series from accommodation, food and beverage, transportation, travel packages and participation costs, he said. Meanwhile, Marathon Wisdom Sports Group (China) chief executive officer Zhang Han said the event is expected to attract Chinese tourists to Malaysia. Malaysia is the first location to be selected by the Chinese government for the international marathon series outside the republic. This event was initiated following Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's visit to China last year. -- BERNAMA