Wuhan Marathon postponed amid surge of Covid-19 cases in China
- Organisers pull the plug just days before 26,000 runners were set to return to Hubei capital, with strict Covid-19 protocols in place
- Registered runners will retain entry for race, which will be rearranged for a later date, and also have their registration fees refunded
The 2021 Wuhan Marathon, which was set to be run on Sunday, has been postponed after a recent rise of Covid-19 cases in a number of Chinese cities.
Officials announced the move in a statement on Friday, but did not confirm a new date for the event, which was last run in April 2019.
“Due to the recent local confirmed cases of new coronary pneumonia in many places in China, to prevent the spread of the epidemic and effectively protect the lives and health of the people, the organising committee has decided that the 2021 Wuhan Marathon [which] was originally expected to be held on October 24, 2021, will be postponed until further notice,” the statement read.
“We apologise for the inconvenience caused by the postponement of the race,” it added.
Registered runners will retain entry for the race, which will be rearranged for a later date, and they will also have their registration fees refunded.
The race was expected to see some 26,000 runners – up on the 24,000 participants in 2019 – descend on the capital of Hubei province, with strict Covid-19 protocols in place.