The opening inspection of the wilderness survival event in Rongjiang Photo: screen of nfnews.com

Following allegations that safety personnel in a wilderness survival event held in Southwest China's Guizhou Province harassed female participants, the Chongqing-based company on Monday apologized in a video for "serious deficiencies in planning and execution." The local government of Rongjiang county in Guizhou earlier issued a statement announcing the halt of the event.

The event has attracted wide attention since signing up. The registration fee for the competition was 1,280 yuan, with 200 spots available, attracting 4,000 people to sign up. The champion will receive a reward of 100,000 yuan, media reports said. 

In the statement released by the Rongjiang County Bureau of Culture, Sports, Radio, Television, and Tourism on Sunday night, it was confirmed that the event organized by Chongqing Yunshen Wilderness Outdoor Sports Company in Guizhou's Liangwang township began on December 2 and was terminated on December 6.  

The termination was attributed to recent low temperatures and high forest fire risk levels, ensuring the personal safety of all participants.  

The statement also emphasized that the local government is highly attentive to widespread concerns among netizens regarding issues such as unfairness in the event organization, inadequate safety and service guarantees, and allegations that safety personnel hired by the company harassed female participants.  

The bureau said it is currently urging Chongqing Yunshen Company to immediately refund the registration fees to participants and properly handle follow-up matters.  

The head for Chongqing-based wilderness survival company admitted in that video on Monday morning that, "There were serious deficiencies in the planning and execution of this event. The contestants were not treated fairly, openly and impartially. The potential risks that the event might bring were underestimated."

Now, the company is cooperating with the local investigation, he said in the video.

In the statement, the local bureau in Rongjiang emphasized that it will address this matter properly, without evasion or shirking of responsibility, and will conduct a serious investigation in accordance with laws and regulations.  

Regarding concerns among netizens about alleged harassment of female participants by safety personnel hired by the company, the county government has established a task force to handle the matter.  

The county public security bureau has also promptly launched an investigation.

Global Times