Copenhagen Half marathon has been cancelled due to the coronavirus

With less than three months to go, organizers can confirm that it will not be possible for thousands of runners from more than 110 countries to gather in Copenhagen for the annual Copenhagen Half Marathon this September.

“Last year was an amazing year for everyone who took part in the race as an official, spectator or as a participant. We know this cancellation will disappoint many who looked forward to the event, but we don’t believe it will be possible or responsible to hold a race the size of Copenhagen Half Marathon in the heart of Copenhagen in 2020,” says Dorte Vibjerg, CEO of the organizing running Club Sparta.

The cancellation stands in sharp contrast to a record breaking event in 2019, which saw records in terms of elite athlete performance and participant numbers. Geoffrey Kamworor ran like the wind and smashed the world record, winning in 58 minutes and one second and the mass race attracted a sell-out field of 25,000 runners for the first time. Following on from these successes, the 2020 event was set to be even better.

Dorte Vibjerg added; “After last year with a world record in the streets of Copenhagen the Copenhagen Half Marathon really has earned the attention of the foreign runners and the international community. This year 42 percent of the registered runners are foreigners.

This means, they will need a clarification in relation to flight tickets and accommodation so we have decided to provide clarity now by cancelling the event. There is nothing more we want than to welcome all the runners and tourists to Copenhagen, but we have come to realize that it isn’t possible this year.”

All participants who were registered will be able to transfer their registration to next year’s race which will take place on September 19 2021, or get a full refund of the entry fee paid.

“We sincerely hope that our runners will want to support us once this is all over and return to run in Copenhagen next year, where we will once again host the Copenhagen Half Marathon. By transferring their entries to 2021; runners will be helping to protect the future of the event,” CEO Dorte Vibjerg concludes.

posted Tuesday July 7th