SWAKOPMUND, Namibia, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The crack of a starter's pistol pierced the cool morning air in the Namibian coastal town of Swakopmund at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) on Saturday, sending thousands of runners charging into the dawn for the 35th Rossing National Marathon, a sporting event that has grown into a platform for friendship, cultural exchange and people-to-people ties.
This year's marathon attracted nearly 5,000 registered participants on-site, marking the highest turnout in the event's history, according to the organizer.
Runners from 23 countries competed along a scenic route framed by the Atlantic Ocean and one of the world's oldest desert, the Namib. Participants raced in four categories: 5 km, 10 km, half marathon and full marathon, all in an atmosphere brimming with energy, cheers and a shared sporting spirit.
Among the international runners was a participant from Zimbabwe, who said the experience left a lasting impression on him. "What I will remember most are the uplifting drumbeats and the sincere smiles along the way. They made me understand that sport is a language without borders, and here I felt friendship, warmth and hope," said the runner.
The marathon also coincided with the 50th anniversary of production at the Rossing uranium mine, adding symbolic significance to this year's gathering.
Johan Coetzee, managing director of the Rossing uranium mine, said the event had helped strengthen the public foundation of friendship between China and Namibia, as well as with other countries, by linking online and offline participation through sport.
In China, an online "cloud run" connected to the marathon was organized through the Joyrun app, with categories ranging from 3 km to the full marathon. The event attracted more than 40,000 registrations, allowing participants from different locations to join the occasion and further broadening the marathon's reach.
More than a local sporting tradition, the race served as a platform for friendship and cultural interaction, especially between China and Namibia. That spirit was on vivid display at a Chinese-themed refreshment station set up along the course at the 2.5-km mark.
While providing drinks and food for runners, the station also offered a colorful showcase of Chinese culture. Chinese staff from the Rossing uranium mine, dressed in traditional attire staged dragon and lion dances, waved dragon ribbons and beat Chinese drums to cheer on participants.
"From the China-Namibia online and offline linkage to the expanding scale of participation, the Rossing Marathon has used sport as a bond to consolidate the popular foundation of friendship between China, Namibia and more countries. In the future, we will continue to cultivate this brand so that the ideas of cultural integration and healthy living will take deeper root through running," Coetzee said. ■
