The Bank of China Beijing International Running Festival — Beijing Half Marathon 2026 began at 7 am on April 12. As the official title sponsor, BOC supported the event with professional, efficient, and thoughtful financial services.

The race started at Tiananmen Square with 22,000 Chinese and international runners. The men's champion set a new national record in the half-marathon with a time of 01:01:15.

2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the Beijing Half Marathon and the 70th anniversary of the Beijing International Running Festival. As the only bank serving both the Beijing Summer and Winter Olympics, BOC has provided professional, efficient, and heartwarming financial services to the half marathon.

Comprehensive race services

At five cheer stations along the course, BOC volunteers gathered to encourage the runners. 

In BOC's post-race service area, a team of 30 professionals was ready to assist runners with rest and recovery.

In the post-race zone, BOC offered services and activities such as laminating race bibs, checking in with finish results, taking photos at the Horse Year-themed wall, creating AI-customized fridge magnets, and using post-race newspaper machines. 

BOC also provided on-site services related to debit cards, credit cards, personal pensions, and e-CNY (digital RMB).

The 2026 Beijing International Running Festival also included events such as the Family Run and the Together Run. BOC set up a parent-child financial service zone, showcasing services and products related to children's financial services and inclusive finance, helping to create an integrated sports scenario that combines athletic experiences, financial services, and cultural consumption.

Pre-race preparations

Leveraging its global network in 64 countries and regions overseas, BOC opened domestic registration channels and an exclusive overseas registration portal for runners before the race. As a result, the number of overseas runner registrations increased by 35 percent compared to the previous year.

BOC launched a comprehensive information and financial services platform in the "Marathon" section of its mobile banking app, featuring the event calendar, training plans, results tracking, and exclusive benefits, and providing runners with support throughout the process from race preparation to completion. 

During the pre-race Marathon Expo from April 9 to 11, BOC set up a booth showcasing the integration of smart financial services and fitness-for-all initiatives. The booth, which included a dedicated photo wall, a graffiti interaction zone, and Year of the Horse marathon dolls, became one of the expo's most popular photo spots.

BOC also rolled out a series of consumption promotion activities in collaboration with business districts, tourist attractions, restaurants, and other merchants to boost consumption during the marathon. By promoting consumption and public well-being, BOC aims to turn event traffic into additional consumer spending.

Contributions to Beijing city development

BOC has supported Beijing's high-quality development and the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region through a range of financial services. Through its financial services, BOC has supported regional transportation integration, industrial upgrading and transfer, and flagship projects such as the Beijing-Tangshan Intercity Railway and the Beijing-Xiong'an High-Speed Railway. By the end of 2025, BOC's outstanding loan balance for projects under the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region exceeded RMB 560 billion.

To support the construction of the Beijing International Center for Science and Technology Innovation, BOC has launched dedicated products for sci-tech innovation investment loans, computing power loans, and R&D loans. 

BOC has also upgraded its departure tax refund service from counter-based processing to self-service processing, helping enhance Beijing's role as a center for international exchanges. Moreover, BOC has launched the country's first CUBe Card for international tourists to meet their communication, payment, and transportation needs.

Focusing on key urban renewal tasks, BOC has provided financial support for a range of projects, including several projects related to the construction of Beijing's sub-city center, the renovation of the Longfu Temple cultural block in Dongcheng district, and the renovation of old bungalow courtyards.

The Bank of China Beijing Half Marathon 2026 is not just a celebration of running but also a convergence of financial services and the sporting spirit. Aiming to enrich "sports + finance" scenarios, BOC will continue to support high-level sports events through its professional financial services. BOC will contribute to the integrated development of cultural, tourism, and sports industries, while promoting public health.