At 7:00 a.m. on April 12, 2026, the Bank of China · 2026 Beijing International Long Distance Run Festival – Beijing Half Marathon officially started at Tiananmen Square. As one of the oldest mass traditional sports events in China, this edition marked a double celebration: the 70th anniversary of the Beijing International Long Distance Run Festival and the 10th anniversary of the Beijing Half Marathon. A total of 22,000 runners gathered in the "Dual-Olympic City", starting from Tiananmen Square, passing iconic landmarks including Chang’an Avenue, Yonghe Temple and the Temple of Earth, and heading toward the finish line at the Olympic Park. Amid the spring morning light, the race connected the ancient capital’s cultural heritage with modern vitality.
LiveU, a world-leading provider of real-time video transmission solutions, deployed its flagship 5G live broadcast transmission matrix to ensure seamless transmission of multiple video and audio signals throughout the event. With zero interruptions, ultra-high definition and ultra-low latency performance, LiveU perfectly presented this spectacular city event combining historical heritage and sporting passion, enabling audiences worldwide to witness the birth of a new national record in real time.
A Legendary Course with Glory, LiveU Builds a Comprehensive Live Broadcast Network
The Beijing Half Marathon started at Tiananmen Square and finished at the Central Landscape Avenue of the Olympic Park, covering a total distance of 21.0975 kilometers across Dongcheng District and Chaoyang District in Beijing, showcasing the charm of the ancient capital and Dual-Olympic venues along the route.
To fully capture this landmark event, the broadcast team deployed multiple LiveU LU600 5G live backpacks and LU800 multi-camera integrated systems, establishing a full-range wireless transmission network covering the starting ceremony, key track points, mobile tracking vehicles and the finish line. This ensured stable return transmission of all video and audio signals throughout the race.
From the magnificent scene of thousands of runners starting at Tiananmen Square, to the graceful shots of athletes passing the National Stadium (Bird’s Nest) and National Aquatics Center (Water Cube), to the historic finishing moment when Wang Wenjie broke the men’s half marathon national record with a time of 1 hour 01 minutes 15 seconds, LiveU equipment delivered stable high-definition signals throughout. The excitement of the race, urban scenery and nationwide celebration were transmitted in real time to platforms including Beijing Satellite TV, Sports & Leisure Channel and the Beijing Time client, allowing off-site audiences to experience the running vitality of the Dual-Olympic City.
Robust Technology Breaks Limits, Overcoming Complex Transmission Challenges in Core Areas
Live broadcast of the Beijing Half Marathon covers key areas such as Tiananmen Square, Chang’an Avenue and the Olympic Core Zone. It faces not only network congestion caused by long courses and dense crowds, but also multiple challenges including signal blockage by urban buildings and fluctuations in mobile transmission.
Powered by its patented LRT™ (LiveU Reliable Transport) protocol and intelligent aggregation technology for multiple 5G/4G links, LiveU devices integrate scattered public network bandwidth to achieve stable transmission of 4Kp60 HDR ultra-high-definition signals with ultra-low latency as low as 0.5 seconds.
Compared with traditional satellite transmission and single-network solutions, LiveU technology completely resolves issues of signal interference and insufficient bandwidth in urban core areas. Even in crowded start zones and high-speed mobile tracking scenarios, the system maintained zero stuttering, no screen artifacts and uninterrupted performance, ensuring every highlight and record-breaking moment was delivered clearly and smoothly to the studio and audiences worldwide.
Flexible Deployment for Efficient Empowerment, Witnessing 70 Years of Event Renewal
During the event, LiveU portable live broadcast backpacks became core equipment for the outdoor broadcast team. Their lightweight design and superior portability allow cameramen to move freely along the course without complicated cabling, capturing precious close-ups of athletes’ determination, warm volunteer services and enthusiastic spectators.
This efficient "one person, one backpack" field operation model perfectly matches the long-distance, multi-node and highly mobile demands of marathon broadcasting. It overcomes limitations of traditional broadcast trucks that cannot easily access narrow routes, greatly expanding live coverage and visual richness.
"We are honored to provide technical support for the 70-year-old Beijing International Long Distance Run Festival and witness this classic event shine with new vitality," said a representative from LiveU China. "As the Dual-Olympic City, Beijing carries profound sporting spirit and cultural heritage. LiveU’s 5G wireless transmission technology acts as a bridge to deliver the passion of mass running and the glory of new records to millions of households. In the future, we will continue empowering top sporting events with innovative technologies, helping more historic moments appear clearly and reliably in front of global audiences."
From the Beijing Half Marathon to numerous city marathons across China, LiveU has become the preferred technical solution for sports broadcasting nationwide. Validated by more than 5,000 customers in over 150 countries, LiveU continuously redefines standards for large-scale event broadcasting with more stable, efficient and flexible IP video transmission solutions, making every race and every celebration visible to the world across distances.
About LiveU
LiveU is a pioneer in global IP-bonded video transmission and the inventor of the patented LRT™ protocol. It provides end-to-end high-definition, stable and low-latency real-time video broadcast solutions for broadcasting, sports, media, government, public security and other industries.
The company’s product portfolio includes portable 5G live backpacks, multi-camera integrated systems and cloud management platforms, supporting wireless video transmission for news gathering, large-scale events, outdoor performances and other scenarios. Through technological innovation, LiveU enables high-quality live content transmission from anywhere to anywhere.