The organizers of the 2007 Beijing International Marathon have decided to change the starting point and route of the race in order to leave room for a national event to be held at Tiananmen Square on October 21.

In a recently circulated document, the Chinese Athletic Association said the starting point will be shifted to the National Olympic Sports Center, which also happens to be the finishing point.

The revised route will pass by major venues for the 2008 Olympic Games, including the National Stadium and the National Swimming Center, which are known as the "Bird's Nest" and "Water Cube" respectively.

As one of the most popular international sporting events, the Beijing marathon attracts over 20,000 athletes from around the world every year. Tiananmen Square used to be the starting point of the event.

(CRI October 10, 2007)