NYC Marathon finally cancelled after outrage over resources and Hurricane Sandy cleanup
Mayor Michael Bloomberg defended the decision to run the New York City Marathon in Sandy’s aftermath, a growing number of residents, politicians (and even some marathon runners) blasted the decision and called on the race to be postponed.
The backlash grew against Bloomberg’s decision to hold the race on Sunday as scheduled, with some New Yorkers complaining that going ahead with the 26.2-mile race would be insensitive and divert city resources at a time when many are suffering.
“I understand why it cannot be held under the current circumstances,” Meb Keflezighi, the 2009 men’s champion and 2004 Olympic silver medalist, said in a statement. “Any inconveniences the cancellation causes me or the thousands of runners who trained and traveled for this race pales in comparison to the challenges faced by people in NYC and its vicinity.”
The cancellation means there won’t be another NYC Marathon until next year.
“We cannot allow a controversy over an athletic event – even one as meaningful as this – to distract attention away from all the critically important work that is being done to recover from the storm and get our city back on track,” Bloomberg said.
“There will no diversion of resources, there will be no redistribution of our efforts, no diminution of our efforts. We have a 24/7 operation going that I’m confident we’re going to do,” Bloomberg said at a press conference on Friday.
The mayor said New York has to show that “we are here and we are going to recover.” He said the marathon will “give people something to cheer about” after a “dismal week” and added that his predecessor, Rudy Giuliani, made the right decision to let the marathon continue after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack.
“I think Rudy had it right. You have to keep going and doing things and you can grieve you can cry and you can laugh all at the same time. That’s what human beings are good at,” Bloomberg said.
The nationally televised marathon had been held annually since 1970, including 2001, about two months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
“More for our people in New York,” Cynthia Spinner from Staten Island said. “They shouldn’t take their police or ambulance services off of what they’re doing now to go for the marathon. People need homes. They’re in hotels; they need everything right now.”