The 2020 New York City Marathon, originally set to take place in November, has been canceled, organizers said on Wednesday.
The New York Road Runners (NYRR) cited “coronavirus-related health and safety concerns” in its announcement.
“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,” Michael Capiraso, NYRR president and CEO, said in a press release.
The organization said that it made the decision in partnership with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s (D) office.
“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,” de Blasio said in a statement.
The 50th New York City Marathon is now scheduled for Nov. 7, 2021.
The marathon usually gathers more than 50,000 runners, 10,000 volunteers and about 1 million fans, according to The New York Times. Last year, there were 53,640 finishers, the NYRR said.
Runners who registered for the 2020 race should expect to be contacted by July 15 to receive a full refund for their entry fee or guaranteed entry in 2021, 2022 or 2023 marathons. Those who entered through a charity or tour operator should get in contact with those groups starting on July 1.
The group also canceled the 2020 Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K, scheduled for Oct. 31, after previously canceling all in-person events through Aug. 15.
New York’s coronavirus infection rates have dropped since it was the epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S., but 26 other states are experiencing increases in confirmed cases as of Tuesday night.
The New York Marathon was the third of the six major international marathons to be canceled this year, alongside events in Boston and Berlin.