Organizers and Officials Sentenced in Deadly 2021 China Ultramarathon

Following the tragedy that claimed 21 lives, Beijing suspends events without national safety standards.

Five individuals involved in planning the ill-fated ultramarathon in northwest China in 2021, where 21 runners died due to extreme weather conditions, have been sentenced to jail terms ranging from three to five and a half years.
Two officials in the provincial capital of Lanzhou were also sentenced for 'dereliction of duty and bribery', with one receiving four years and 10 months, and the other three and a half years.
The incident raised questions about the organization of such events, with criticism directed at the apparent disregard for incoming extreme weather and lack of adequate safety measures.
In response to the tragedy, Beijing's General Administration of Sport announced the suspension of events without national safety standards, including mountain trail running, wingsuit flying and ultra-long distance running.
An official report released a month after the tragedy found the race organizers had 'organised, managed and operated the event poorly' and 'bore direct responsibility for the incident'.