Northern Ireland

Rescheduled Belfast Marathon cancelled due to coronavirus

The Belfast City Marathon last year at the Stormont Estate, Belfast
The Belfast City Marathon last year at the Stormont Estate, Belfast The Belfast City Marathon last year at the Stormont Estate, Belfast

THE Belfast Marathon for 2020 has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The event had originally been scheduled for May 3 and then rescheduled for September 20.

It is the first time the marathon has been cancelled in its 38-year history, organisers said.

"Our fundamental priority must be your health and that of others," they said in a statement.

"At this time we do not believe we can stage our event safely."

Entrants can defer their entries until 2021.

Organisers said they would "also be happy to consider deferral of entries to the 2022 and 2023 marathons".