Like track and field and soccer, Marathon is another favorite sports game of the Dalian residents. Many Dalian residents have talent in track and field events, and it has produced many world champions. The Dalian International Marathon Contest was first held in the last Sunday in October 1987. Since then, the contest has attracted more participants, and become one of the items of the Sports Travel in Dalian. In 1997, the International Federation of 'track and Field approved it as an international sports event.