However there were several unfortunate incidents in 2016 involving marathon participants. The forum was designed to find ways to overcome these initial teething problems and to safeguard the health of the country's marathon industry and the runners themselves.

The event brought together national sports administration officials, famous economists, sports medicine specialists and industry leaders, with each offering their own perspective on how to develop the marathon industry, best practice for organizing events, and how marathons can contribute to the growth of urban economies.

Participants in the China Marathon Healthy Development Forum pose for a photo at the forum venue in Xiamen, Fujian province on Dec 30. [Photo/fjsen.com]

Hong Yongmiao, member of the Academy of Science for the Developing World, offered an economist's perspective on the marathon industry. According to Hong, though the sport has been booming since 2015, its future growth will depend on its market-oriented industrialization under effective supervision and safety control.

Hong offered valuable advice to the organizers of the Xiamen International Marathon, which was due to take place just three days after the forum. He suggested that cooperating with sports ware brands based in the nearby cities of Quanzhou, Putian and Wenzhou would be an effective way to expand the Xiamen event's global influence, as would engaging with international marathon organizations.

Qi Bing, chairman of XMG Sports, organizers of the Xiamen Marathon, stressed the value of the event for the city, suggesting that the marathon has become a "gilded name card" for Xiamen. The company also runs a number of other long-distance events in Xiamen, including the Xiamen (Haicang) International Half Marathon, the Pink Run or Cross-Strait Ladies Half Marathon, Xiamen-Kinmen Crossing, and Ironman 70.3 Xiamen.

Qi explained that since it was first held 15 years ago, the Xiamen Marathon has seen an improved level of competition, increasing popularity among runners, and a widening array of matching activities. In fact, the marathon has established itself as a new tradition, a festival of sport for all, according to Qi.