The Taipei City Government plans to raise performance bonds and fines for organizers of running events following several incidents of pollution caused by fun runs.
One of the running activities that caused problems was the Color Run, a 5km race held last month in which runners were showered with colored powder.
Some members of the public complained that the powder polluted the Keelung River (基隆河) and the Dajia Riverside Park.
Organizers of the Light Run, a 5km race also held in Dajia Riverside Park last week, also received complaints after glow sticks and other trash were left in the park after the run.
Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) yesterday said the city would raise the performance bond for events to create a higher threshold to hold such activities in the future.
Event organizers will also face higher penalties if their race causes pollution, and the city will ban organizers who violate the regulations from holding running activities at city venues for one year.
“The Taipei City Government encourages running activities because they are great recreational activities. However, we must prevent pollution,” the mayor said.
The Taipei City Government’s Department of Environmental Protection has fined the organizer of the Taipei Color Run NT$70,000 (US$2,400) for polluting the river.
Sports Department Commissioner Ho Ching-liang (何金樑) said that existing regulations set performance bonds for activities held along the river and in the city at NT$30,000 and NT$100,000 respectively.
The city plans to raise the deposit for races and confiscate money from organizers whose events result in pollution or damage to public facilities.
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