KUNMING, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- The 2018 SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) Kunming International Marathon will kick off on December 2 in Kunming in China's Yunnan province.

The online registration system will open on September 20. About 20,000 participants are expected to compete in four different races; the full marathon, the half-marathon, a "health run" and parent-child events. Registration runs from 9:00am September 20 to 11:00pm October 7 at www.sco-marathon.com.

The 2018 SCO Kunming International Marathon will be the first marathon named after an international organization in China. More foreign competitors, especially those from SCO member states, will be invited to the events.

This marathon is the third edition of the event. The competition has become a major platform for cultural exchange between SCO member states.