China Delegation Visits Hopkinton

A delegation from Xiamen, China, will spend the day in Hopkinton Wednesday, June 29 (tomorrow).

The Xiamen delegation is expected to meet with Hopkinton officials including selectmen, school leaders, state Rep. Carolyn Dykema and U.S. Rep. James McGovern.

At their meeting this evening (Tuesday), selectmen will consider making members of the delegation honorary citizens of Hopkinton.

A Wednesday tour and lunch at Caliper Life Sciences is also on the Xiamen delegation's schedule.

After an afternoon break, the delegation's visit will end with a reception and dinner with community leaders at the Marathon restaurant on South Street beginning at 6.

The visit is being hosted by the 26.2 Foundation, an initiative by the Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce and the Hopkinton Athletic Association.

The 26.2 Foundation envisions building  a Marathon Museum and Hall of Fame in Hopkinton to attract year 'round tourism to an area already famous for hosting the start of the Boston Marathon in April.

Each January, Xiamen, a prosperous city of about 3.5 million people on China's southeast coast, hosts the Xiamen International Marathon.

The Xiamen International Marathon, considered by many to be China's premier marathon, attracts more than 20,000 runners.

The Xiamen course travels through scenic sections of the city, including the Huandao Lu, or Ring Road, and is  considered among the most beautiful marathon courses in the world.

Xiamen has a sister-city relationship with Marathon, Greece as does Hopkinton. 

"If we connect the three, we have the beginning of a global network," says the 26.2 Foundation's Tim Kilduff.

Stops on the Xiamen delegation's itinerary include:

Gorman Richardson Architects at 77 Main St. where the delegation will be welcomed at 9.

Hopkinton Town Hall, 18 E. Main St., at 9:30 for a meeting with town officials.

A tour and lunch at Caliper, 68 Elm St., at 11.

A tour of Hopkinton High School and meeting with school officials at 1:15.

A photo opportunity at the Boston Marathon starting line at 2:30.

The delegation will then return to its hotel until dinnertime at the Marathon restaurant.

CORRECTION: This story was changed at 9:35 p.m. on Wednesday, June 29, for the following reason. Hopkinton and Xiamen have sister-city relationships with Marathon, Greece.