N.Y. Marathon Latest Event To Be Canceled Due To Pandemic
The N.Y. Marathon "has been canceled this year as concerns about the spread of the coronavirus continue to dash hopes of holding large-scale events," according to Matthew Futterman of the N.Y. TIMES. The race "would have celebrated its 50th anniversary in November" and annually attracts "more than 50,000 runners, 10,000 volunteers and roughly one million fans." City officials and New York Road Runners "decided holding the race would be too risky." While infection rates in the N.Y. metropolitan area are "now among the lowest in the country, the virus is spreading at concerning rates in areas that have not heeded the advice of public health officials to continue to practice social distancing, avoid public gatherings and wear masks." NYRR CEO Michael Capiraso said that the organization "decided to cancel before having to spend more money to organize" the race. With the announcement, N.Y. became the latest of the six major international races to be canceled this year. The Boston Marathon in March "postponed its race, scheduled for April, to September, then canceled it altogether last month." The London and Chicago marathons "remain scheduled for the fall, but organizers have yet to commit to holding them." The Tokyo Marathon "went forward in early March only with elite runners" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/24).
MORE NEWS COULD BE COMING: In N.Y., Dennis Young notes it is the "second time in the last decade that the world's biggest marathon has been canceled; the race wasn't held after Hurricane Sandy in 2012." There are still "several NYRR events on the calendar between August 15 and the November marathon, but today's announcement included the news that there was a 'likelihood of additional cancellations.'" The "most prominent of the remaining events is the 5th Avenue Mile in September" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/24).
BERLIN MARATHON CANCELED: REUTERS' Alan Baldwin reports the Berlin Marathon "will not take place this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic." The race, one of the six major marathons, "was originally scheduled for Sept. 26-27 but organisers had already said it could not go ahead then because of Germany's ban on public gatherings of more than 5,000 people until Oct. 24" (REUTERS, 6/24).