The 2024 Taizhou Marathon kicked off in front of the Hunangyan District People’s Government of Taizhou City. 15,000 runners from 12 countries and regions gathered in this picturesque city of mountains and seas, immersing themselves in the beautiful scenery of Taizhou and its profound cultural heritage. Our university recruited a total of 483 faculty and student volunteers, who were divided into two parts—track refreshment stations and stretching services—to provide solid support for the event.

2024 Taizhou Marathon volunteer group photo

Volunteers place supplies for athletes

Before the event, the Taizhou Marathon Organizing Committee, in collaboration with the TU Youth Volunteer Association, meticulously prepared and held a volunteer training session for the 2024 Taizhou Marathon. The training covered such aspects as event knowledge, job responsibilities, and volunteer service norms, providing the volunteers with a comprehensive introduction to marathon-related knowledge. This inspired their enthusiasm for service and enhanced their professional skills and service awareness.

At 5 a.m., under the guidance of the teachers in charge, TU’s faculty and student volunteers assembled in an orderly manner and were transported to various track refreshment stations. Upon arrival, the volunteers quickly got into gear, with clear divisions of labor and each performing their assigned duties. They set up the refreshment stations, distributed supplies, and organized them according to the training requirements, fully preparing for the arrival of the participants.

At 8 a.m., the race began. Runners raced along the course with passion, while the volunteers, with beaming smiles, provided encouraging shouts and arranged the supplies for easy access, creating a beautiful scene that ran throughout the event. Their sincere and bright smiles, vibrant enthusiasm, smooth and skilled actions, and strong sense of responsibility injected energy into the progress of the Taizhou Marathon. As the race came to an end, volunteers in the stretching area promptly provided professional stretching services, and the track volunteers quickly moved on to the tasks of transporting supplies and cleaning up the site. They completed the wrap-up tasks in a busy and cooperative manner. Han Yaoqi, a volunteer from Class 3, pharmaceutical engineering of 2024, commented, “At 5 a.m., the city of Taizhou was still in silence, perhaps some were still dreaming, but some had already risen for a sweet journey. Witnessing the dawn, the passion of sports, the vitality of life, and the beauty of volunteering with my fellow volunteers was a memorable experience.”

In the past 10 hours of voluntary service, our university’s young volunteers followed instructions, worked closely together to provide various competition services, delivered warmth and love, and practiced dedication and took on responsibilities through their actions. Their work attitude received high praise from relevant departments and the organizing committee, showcasing the responsibility and commitment of TU youth to the general public and participating competitors. TU will continue to practice the spirit of volunteerism, which includes “dedication, assistance, friendliness, and progress.” The TU youth will continue to run on the path of volunteer service, telling the story of Chinese-style modernization in Taizhou.