Thursday, August 24, 2000, updated at 15:44(GMT+8)
Sports
Beijing To Hold Iron Man Challenge
2000 Beijing Foujie Cup Iron Man Triathlon will be held in Beijing's Yanqing country from August 26 to 27.
The international iron man challenge was formally introduced to China in 1997. But, these kind of competitions have always been sponsored by foreigners for foreign athletes. The 2000 Beijing Foujie Cup Iron Man Challenge is the first international iron man challenge to be held in China and sponsored by a local enterprise, Hai Liyuan Biology Health Drink Ltd.
The race covers about 150 kilometers and includes a mountain biking, cross-country running and rowing. Fifteen teams will participate in the challenge. Each team will have four members and at least one of them must be a woman. Unlike others challenges, the rules stipulate that the worst time on a team will be the time for the entire team.
Zhang Jian, secretary-general of Beijing Iron Man Triathlon Association, who recently swam across the Bohai Sea Channel, announced in a news conference Wednesday that he would open a swimming school soon.