2016.03.21

On March 20, the second Qingyuan International Marathon Contest had its official kickoff under the exclusive sponsorship of Times Property. The opening ceremony and race-starting ceremony of the marathon were held at 8:00 a.m. with the attendance of government leaders such as Ge Changwei, secretary of the Municipal Party Committee; Liang Zhiqiang, chairman of the municipal CPPCC; Cui Jianjun, member of the Municipal Party Standing Committee; Deputy Mayor Chen Jianhua. Times Property Qingyuan Branch General Manager Yu Fei was also present. In a gesture symbolic of unity, they collectively "fired" the starting pistol.

The marathon was said to boast the largest scale of any sporting event in the 28-year history of the Qingyuan municipality. Approximately 20,000 runners from 14 countries or regions and 29 provinces (including municipalities and autonomous regions in China sought the most advantageous positions in which to begin their trek. Municipal Party Committee Secretary Ge Changwei and Standing Committee Member Cui Jianjun participated along with all the other athletes.

·Yu Fei, general manager of the Qingyuan Branch, and leaders from the municipal government of Qingyuan took part in the firing of the pistol.

The event actually included five programs: a full marathon, a full marathon (for amateurs), a half-marathon, a half-marathon (for amateurs) and a mini-marathon. There were nearly 20,000 contestants, with the youngest being just three years of age and the oldest a youthful 77. The region was well represented, with 10,617 contestants coming from the Pearl River Delta. In fact, the event had the participation of more than 500 Times Property homeowners, who eagerly demonstrated the zeal and enthusiasm so characteristic of their community.

Basically, all the employees of the Qingyuan Branch participated, as did employees from the head office and branches in other cities. A total of 120 Times Property employees participated in the event, including nearly 100 in the mini-marathon, 14 in the half-marathon and two in the full marathon.

·Contestants wait for the signal to begin

As the day of the marathon arrived, the entire city of Qingyuan was abuzz with excitement. Cheering and shouting could be heard from all quarters, and with that joyous noise the sullen mood of the rainy weather was swept away. Employees of Times Property were outstanding figures on the course, which was crowded with people. From 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., employees of the Qingyuan Branch ran with courage and pride, and many of them carried signboards. Their mission was to demonstrate the corporate image and brand spirit of the company as a source of positive energy for all the runners and citizens. With perseverance and willpower, the many colleagues who ran in the full marathon or half-marathon demonstrated impressive spirit and perseverance.

·A phalanx of Times Property led by Yu Fei, general manager of the Qingyuan Branch: the "Running Times Property"

·Zhou Siyang, general manager of the Foshan Branch, took a photo at the finish line of the half-marathon

At 11:45 a.m., the contestants returned one by one, and the prize winners in the full and half marathons were confirmed. A solemn award ceremony was held in Citizen's Sports Park. Qingyuan Branch General Manager Yu Fei presented awards to the champion from the men's division of the full marathon. Contestants from Kenya won first and second places, while a contestant from Dongguan, Guangdong Province, was honored for his third-place finish.

·Yu Fei, general manager of the Qingyuan Branch, presented awards to contestants in the men's division of the full marathon

The Times Property 2016 Qingyuan International Marathon Contest was more than simply a large-scale sporting event for marathon runners and fans. It is also an outstanding promotional activity on behalf of Times Property. Thus, the success of the event allowed people to savor the fascination of Qingyuan and its bright promise for development, and consequently to think of Times Property, an enterprise with dreams, goals and a deep awareness of its social responsibility. The core values of Times Property--"love, commitment and creation"--are carried forward by the spirit of athletic competition. Once again, Times Property has made great contributions to development of sports and health for all. Going forward with determination and courage, Times Property will be like a bird, winging its way toward a happy, fulfilling tomorrow.

·Group photo of employees attending the marathon