Is Paris Marathon Still On?

By Michael Ferguson

As the world continues to grapple with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many major events have either been postponed or cancelled altogether. The Paris Marathon, which is one of the biggest marathons in the world, is no exception.

What is the Paris Marathon?

The Paris Marathon is an annual 26.2-mile race that takes place in the French capital. It attracts thousands of runners from all over the world who come to take part in this iconic event. The race starts and finishes near the Arc de Triomphe and takes runners through some of Paris’s most famous landmarks, including Notre Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower.

Is it still on?

The Paris Marathon was initially scheduled to take place on April 5, 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, it was postponed until October 18, 2020. Unfortunately, with France experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases in recent weeks, organizers have announced that this year’s race has been cancelled altogether.

What does this mean for runners?

For those who had signed up for this year’s Paris Marathon, they will be given three options: they can transfer their registration to next year’s race (which is scheduled for April 11, 2021), receive a refund of their entry fee minus a small administration fee or donate their entry fee to a charity.

What about future races?

As of now, there has been no announcement regarding next year’s race. However, organizers have stated that they are closely monitoring the situation and will make an announcement when it becomes clearer whether or not it will be possible to hold next year’s race safely.

The Bottom Line

While it is undoubtedly disappointing news for runners who were looking forward to taking part in this year’s Paris Marathon, cancelling the event was the responsible decision given the current circumstances. As for next year’s race, only time will tell if it will be possible to hold it safely. In the meantime, runners can continue to train and prepare for whatever challenges lie ahead.