The New York Marathon, originally scheduled for 1is November, was canceled Wednesday due to the coronavirus pandemic, announced the New York Road Runners association, which is organizing the event.
This is the second time that the world’s most popular cross-country race has been canceled, after the 2012 break after the hurricane Sandy.
The canceled edition should have been exceptional, as it was the 50the New York Marathon, established in 1970.
“Canceling this year’s marathon is a huge disappointment for all involved,” commented New York Road Runners CEO Michael Capiraso, quoted in a statement, “but that was clearly the way forward. from a health safety perspective. “
New York was by far the city in the world hardest hit by COVID-19, which has caused more than 22,000 deaths.
The organizers will offer the possibility to registrants to have their registration fees reimbursed or to postpone their participation to 2021, 2022 or 2023.
“I applaud the New York Road Runners’ decision to make the health and safety of spectators and runners a priority,” New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said in the statement.
Although far from the most competitive in terms of times achieved, due to a difficult course, the New York Marathon is the most popular annual cross-country race in the world.
In the 2019 edition, he broke the record for the number of participants who crossed the finish line of a marathon, with 53,640 runners.
Contacted by AFP, NYRR vice-president responsible for media, Chris Weiller, said that before the cancellation, the organization was counting on “more than 53,000” runners to finish this year, including 25,000. about came from abroad.
The 50e New York City Marathon is now scheduled for November 7, 2021.
Coronavirus: Berlin Marathon 2020 canceled
The Berlin Marathon is canceled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, organizers of the race, originally scheduled for September 27, said on Wednesday, minutes after a similar announcement for the New York Marathon.
Since 2003, all world records have been achieved on the Berlin course, which is flat and particularly favorable. The current world record belongs to Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge, in 2h 01m and 39 seconds, and dates from September 2018.
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