Due to the ongoing spread of the Covid-19 virus which is better known as the Coronavirus, the 2020 Paris Half-Marathon had to be cancelled last Sunday (1st March). Some 44,000 runners had been expected to take part.
Notice of the cancellation was only given the previous day as new rules by the French Government to cancel “gatherings of more than 5000 people”.
In a statement on the race website, organisers wrote, “As part of its fight against the spread of the Coronavirus, the French government has taken the decision today to cancel all events that bring several thousand people together. As a result, the Harmonie Mutuelle Semi de Paris, which should have taken place tomorrow Sunday March 1st, will unfortunately not be held.
“The preparation needed for such an event by the participants who set out to take part should not be lost, however. This is why the organisers and the Paris City Council have jointly decided to postpone the 2020 edition of the Harmonie Mutuelle Semi de Paris to a later date.
“As soon as circumstances permit, the organising teams of Amaury Sport Organisation and the services of the Paris City Council will mobilise to suggest a possible replacement date to the 44,000 people entered for the event.”
It seems very likely that other large races may suffer the same fate as the Covid-19 outbreak is likely to last until the end of 2020 at least. It seems highly likely that the Olympics will be impacted.
And the Paris marathon now has also been postponed.
ReplyDeleteI had this as my spring marathon target. Will need to revisit ghat plan in light of this unsurprising news.