The investigators said the tragedy was a public safety incident brought about by extreme weather including high winds, heavy rain and plunging temperatures, as well as unprofessional organisation and operation. (Photo from Insider Voice) |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] BEIJING: On Friday (Jun 11) that China had punished 27 government officials deemed responsible for last month's ultramarathon deaths, the state-run People's Daily said one of the world's deadliest sporting tragedies in recent history, Reuters reported.
Twenty-one people died of hypothermia when extremely cold weather suddenly descended on a government-organized 100km marathon on May 22 in the rugged northwestern province of Gansu. The head of Jingtai county, where the race was held, was dismissed from her post, the People's Daily reported, citing a news briefing by investigators. Other organizers held accountably included the mayor and the Communist Party chief of the city of Baiyin, to which the jurisdiction of Jingtai belongs.
Meanwhile, the investigators said the tragedy was a public safety incident brought about by extreme weather including high winds, heavy rain, and plunging temperatures, as well as unprofessional organization and operation. China's sports administration said last week it was suspending all high-risk sports events that lack a supervisory body, established rules, and clear safety standards. Li Zuobi, the Jingtai county party chief, fell from his apartment building on Jun 9 and died, state media reported, adding that the police have ruled out homicide while Li's death was still being investigated. It wasn’t clear whether or not Li's death was linked to the ultramarathon.