The International Army Games (IAG) 2021 continued with the "Safe Environment" contest in Korla, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Wednesday.

The "Safe Environment" individual race tests the nuclear, biological and chemical reconnaissance teams' capabilities to cope with various threats. It's a fierce competition challenging participants to survive on a hostile battlefield.

It involves two 3.75-kilometer closed road sections, dotted with vehicle obstacles and personal obstacles. Before it starts, each of the three-member teams enters a chamber to test the air tightness of their equipment.

Inside the vehicle, the crew members are donning gas masks and suits, which limit their vision and breathing. It's a great test of their driving and survival skills, as they need to overcome the obstacles at a high speed.

Participating countries battling for top honors in the games are China, Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. They all drive the China-made Warrior SUVs, with a maximum speed of 120 kilometers per hour.

Along the way, contestants have to get off the vehicles and carry out such tasks as identifying toxic substances and detecting sources of radiation.

"The biggest challenge is the psychological one. When testing an unknown chemical agent, there are different possibilities. We've only been given three testing kits for each agent. If I wasted too much and failed to get a result, the team would be punished with an extra 60-second time delay," Song Jinchao from China's "Safe Environment" team told CGTN.

Then the participants go through 12 types of personal obstacles, including ropeways, ladders and a single-plank bridge.

The Chinese team completed all the challenges in nine minutes and 12 seconds, followed by Russia and Belarus.

"It wasn't easy. We trained ourselves so hard that each time we got very exhausted. Lots of sweat, clothes soaked. But we enjoyed the training. We're satisfied with our performance today," said Feng Bo, also from China's "Safe Environment" team. 

"Compared with previous years, this year's contest is more difficult. For example, the vehicle passage's width has been reduced from 30 centimeters to 10. The event simulates a more combat-based scenario. Besides, the evaluation standards have become more accurate," Tan Silong, chief judge of the "Safe Environment" contest, told CGTN.

The "Safe Environment" contest will continue over the two-week Army Games. A firing match and a relay race of the event are scheduled on August 29 and August 31, respectively.