Covered in White: The Aftermath Left Behind by 22,000 Runners in China

A road turned completely white.

They were tens of thousands of paper cups.

Not only the road surface, but even the areas around neatly manicured trees were densely packed with various types of garbage, including banana peels.

This was the scene left behind after the Shenyang Marathon in China concluded on September 6, drawing some 22,000 participants.

Photos and videos of the untidy roads that remained uncleaned for a while after the event spread online, sparking controversy.

While water and snacks are essential for runners, disposable cups and trash that were trampled and tossed into bushes and along the roadside were left completely uncollected.

As it takes time for paper cups coated with plastic to fully decompose, critics pointed out that this could place a burden on the urban environment.

As criticism from local netizens intensified, the Shenyang Municipal Bureau of Sports stepped in to address the issue, stating, "After the race ended, all the paper cups on the roads and green spaces were collected, and on-site inspections have been completed."

They also explained, "The discarding of paper cups around water stations is a common phenomenon in marathon events across the country, and due to regulations, it is currently difficult to immediately introduce realistic eco-friendly alternatives."

The bitter aftermath left by the large-scale sporting event has raised challenges regarding the water supply systems and environmental management plans for marathons, according to evaluations.

(Produced by SBS Digital News | Video by Na Hong-hee | Graphics by Yang Hye-min)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.