Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, has recently seen the establishment of an International Association of Vertical Marathon in the city at the conclusion of the 2015 Asia Pacific International Vertical Marathon.

The Asia-Pacific Vertical Marathon Association is a joint organization which includes the organizers of the vertical racing events in China, Singapore, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Member countries of the association will help improve the competitiveness of Asia-Pacific athletes and promote the popularity of the sport in the region through player exchange at events, joint transnational event organization and executive meetings.

Vertical marathon originated in the US and has become an actual sport with a growing popularity in China.

The 2015 Asia Pacific International Vertical Marathon, a six-month event, finished in Guangzhou last Saturday and attracted over 500 domestic and international runners. The event saw Polish runner Piotr Lobodzinski and Australian Brooke Logan lift the men's and women's titles respectively.

Source: China Daily

Proofread by John Devlin.