Press Release: Beijing Stages First Vertical Run

International Skyscraper Racing Circuit Heads for Beijing’s Tallest Building

Beijing, China, 7th June 2013 – Beijing’s tallest building, China World Summit Wing, will host Beijing’s highest stair climbing race - the “China World Summit Wing Hotel Vertical Run”. On 3rd August 2013, runners will start at the tower’s ground floor lobby and ascend 82 floors to the helipad on the rooftop. They will face the challenge of running up a total 2,057 steps to a height of 330 metres, where, assuming can recover their breath, will see stunning views of Beijing’s skyline.

Stair climbing, first known as “vertical races” in the 1970s, is now a global sport with stair climbing clubs hailing from the US, Canada, Europe and Asia as well as professional athletes who train year-round to be the first to reach the top of the world’s tallest buildings. Although still a relatively new sport, stair climbing has quickly caught on with fitness enthusiasts attracted not only by the physical demands of this grueling sport but by also the novelty of competing in unique urban settings – the world’s tallest structures, some of the tallest of which are located here in Asia.



“Stair climbing is a bit like the challenge of Mount Everest; why do people climb it? Because it's there. Because it's a challenge! These buildings are beacons. They are symbols of the growth of the cities and societies they exist in. In terms of economic growth, Beijing is one of the fastest growing cities in the world and the China World Summit Wing is emblematic of China's emergence," says Justin Teo of event organisers Kroznot.

Beijing’s tallest vertical run has been selected as an official race for the 2013 Vertical World Circuit (VWC), the world’s first and only skyscraper racing circuit, uniting some of the world’s most iconic skyscraper races, including the Empire State Building Run-Up in New York City. Runners who participate in the VWC will be assigned points based on their result, with the male and female competitors with the total highest scores at the end of the year being declared world champion.



“We are proud to be bringing the Vertical World Circuit to China and having the world’s best stair climbers participating at the inaugural China World Summit Wing Hotel Vertical Run,” said Celine Du, Director of Sales and Marketing of the China World Summit Wing Hotel. “We look forward to hosting them and the hundreds of participants from all over the world who have signed up for the challenge”.

Aiming to attract hundreds of local and overseas participants, registration will commence on 7th June with participation fees starting at 60 RMB.

Official Event Website: www.verticalrun.cn
Vertical World Circuit: www.verticalrunning.org