BEIJING: Organisers of a 2021 ultramarathon in northwest China during which 21 runners died in extreme weather conditions have been sentenced to years in prison for their roles, state media reported.
Five individuals involved in planning the ill-fated event were issued jail terms ranging from three years to five and a half years by a court in Baiyin, a city in Gansu province, where the deaths occurred, state news agency Xinhua reported late Friday (Dec 15).
In May 2021, the 100km cross-country mountain race turned deadly as freezing rain, high winds and hail hit the competitors.
The five defendants were convicted for “organising a large-scale event that led to a significant safety incident”, said Xinhua.
In the provincial capital of Lanzhou, an official was sentenced to four years and 10 months for “dereliction of duty and bribery”, and another to three and a half years for “dereliction of duty”, Xinhua added.