First it was the Boston Marathon going virtual, and now the New York Marathon, the largest in the world, has been cancelled due to health and safety concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. But unlike its Boston counterpart, the New York Marathon, which was scheduled for November 1, 2020, will not be held virtually and the 50th running of the iconic race will not take place until November 7, 2021.
"Canceling this year's TCS New York City Marathon is incredibly disappointing for everyone involved, but it was clearly the course we needed to follow from a health and safety perspective," said Michael Capiraso, president and CEO of New York Road Runners, the event's organizers.
The organization said it will send additional information directly to registered runners. They will have an option to claim a refund or defer their entry to a different year.
"While the marathon is an iconic and beloved event in our city, I applaud New York Road Runners for putting the health and safety of both spectators and runners first," said Mayor Bill de Blasio in a statement.
In addition to the marathon, organizers have also been forced to cancel the 2020 Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K on October 31.
The New York City Marathon is just the latest of the large running events that have been called off this year. In addition to the cancellation of the 2020 Boston Marathon, London postponed its spring marathon to October. Paris and Tokyo also said their races won't take place as planned.