ATHENS (GREECE) – This year’s Athens Marathon, scheduled to take place on November 7-8, has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organisers said in a statement.
The Greek athletic federation, SEGAS, said though a number of scenarios were considered, including conducting only the full 42 km race and by cutting down on the number of participants. However, they were forced to cancel it as they could not guarantee the safety of the runners.
The Athens Marathon, which was first held in 1972, routinely attracts over 15,000 participants.
SEGAS said a “Special Edition Virtual Race” would be held instead, the details of which will be announced in the coming days.
The pandemic has forced four of the six marathon majors such as Berlin, New York, Boston and Chicago, cancelled.
The London Marathon, originally set for April, was postponed to October 4 and will be run as an elite-only event.
Greece has reported more than 18800 cases of the novel coronavirus and over 390 deaths.