News Summary:
The Taipei City Government on July 3, 2026, announced the 2026 Taipei Marathon, opening general runner registration for the marathon group, with the half-marathon group opening on July 27. The event, scheduled to start December 20 in front of Taipei City Hall, maintains its World Athletics Gold Label status and aims to foster a city-wide marathon culture. New initiatives include a "Christmas Fun Breakfast Run" on December 19 and a "Little North Marathon Experience Camp" during summer. Previously on June 18, six Taipei biotech firms confirmed their attendance at BIO 2026 in San Diego, focusing on precision medicine, drug delivery, and bioprocess innovation. Also on June 18, the city's Sports Bureau co-hosted the 2026 CTC World Cup International Ballroom Dance Open at Taipei Arena on July 4, which attracted over 1,130 international dancers, showcased world champions, and featured Asia's first dual-orchestra live performance. Earlier, on June 15, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an accepted the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize Special Mention Award and delivered a speech titled "Human Touch in a Smart City." He elaborated on Taipei's governance in smart city development, child and adolescent health, AI governance, and urban resilience, citing the "Sheng Sheng Drink Fresh Milk" policy, NVIDIA's first overseas headquarters in Taipei, and the city's comprehensive AI operational guidelines. Mayor Chiang also noted the city's investment of over $200 million to enhance its drainage system.