Beijing Marathon to Return after 2-Year Covid Hiatus

Staff members gather at Tiananmen Square before the start of the annual Beijing Marathon in Beijing, China November 3, 2019. REUTERS/Jason Lee
Staff members gather at Tiananmen Square before the start of the annual Beijing Marathon in Beijing, China November 3, 2019. REUTERS/Jason Lee
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Beijing Marathon to Return after 2-Year Covid Hiatus

Staff members gather at Tiananmen Square before the start of the annual Beijing Marathon in Beijing, China November 3, 2019. REUTERS/Jason Lee
Staff members gather at Tiananmen Square before the start of the annual Beijing Marathon in Beijing, China November 3, 2019. REUTERS/Jason Lee

Thousands of runners will line up for the Beijing marathon in November after a two-year Covid pause, organizers said, as sporting events gradually return to China.

The world's most populous country has cancelled almost all international sports competitions since Covid emerged there in 2019, with the Beijing Winter Olympics in February this year a rare exception.

Race organizers said on Tuesday that 30,000 runners would be able to take part in the 26-mile (42-kilometer) course through the capital on November 6 -- but only Beijing residents can register.

China is the last major economy wedded to a zero-Covid policy, stamping out virus flare-ups with snap shutdowns, mass testing and lengthy quarantines.

The table tennis world team championships kicked off last Friday in the megacity of Chengdu, though participants must stay in a "closed loop", and it was announced last week that China would host the season-ending World Tour Finals for badminton in December.



Salah Double Sends Liverpool 8 Points Clear in Premier League before Amorim’s First Game with United

 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah leaves the pitch after the English Premier League soccer match between Southampton and Liverpool in Southampton, England, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah leaves the pitch after the English Premier League soccer match between Southampton and Liverpool in Southampton, England, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)
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Salah Double Sends Liverpool 8 Points Clear in Premier League before Amorim’s First Game with United

 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah leaves the pitch after the English Premier League soccer match between Southampton and Liverpool in Southampton, England, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah leaves the pitch after the English Premier League soccer match between Southampton and Liverpool in Southampton, England, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)

Mohamed Salah sent Liverpool eight points clear at the top of the Premier League by scoring twice to help his team rally to a 3-2 win over last-place Southampton on Sunday.

It was a 10th victory in 12 league games for Liverpool, which took advantage of defending champion Manchester City's stunning third straight league loss — 4-0 at home to Tottenham on Saturday — and fifth in a row in all competitions.

Liverpool was trailing 2-1 when Salah equalized in the 65th after running onto a long pass forward from Ryan Gravenberch. The Egypt forward then converted a penalty in the 83rd after a handball by Yukinari Sugawara.

Ruben Amorim takes charge of his first game as Manchester United manager later, away to Ipswich.