Due to the current pandemic control measures, the SCO secretariat and the government of Yunnan province decided to hold the 5th race online. Marathons will be held in SCO member countries themselves, and participants can upload videos and photos of their participation to an application available in Chinese, Russian and English languages, so that they can share the healthy lifestyle with each other.

"It increases engagement among people from SCO member countries, enhances the cohesion within the SCO and reflects the firm belief of the SCO member countries of keeping watch and helping each other, overcoming difficulties together and uniting to overcome the pandemic," says Lin Songtian, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

Besides the marathon, an SCO children's online art exhibition was held in June. Children from 15 SCO member countries created more than 500 paintings about the fight against the pandemic in their eyes, and some of the works are still on display.