The start of the Tokyo Marathon (© AFP / Getty Images)
Last update: 9 October
Here is a round-up of updates relating to international competitions, from cancellations to postponements and confirmations.
This page covers announcements made since the start of July. Up until the end of June, most other significant announcements were incorporated into our 'new normal' reporting pages.
If you're a competition organiser and have news to share regarding the staging of your event, please share it with us.
Tokyo Marathon (was 7 Mar 2021, now 17 Oct 2021) - rescheduled
The 2021 Tokyo Marathon will be held on Sunday 17 October 2021 with the intention of having an elite and mass race. Further details will be released in due course.
Announcement (9 October)
Cross Internacional de Soria (22 Nov 2020) - cancelled
“The current situation in our territory, although much more favorable than in recent times, makes it impossible for us to stage the Cross Internacional de Soria. This Soriana Athletics Delegation, fully supported in its activities by the Soria City Council and the Soria Provincial Council, has therefore decided to cancel the 2020 Cross Internacional de Soria."
(8 October)
Athens Authentic Marathon (8 Nov 2020) - cancelled
"Even by following a strict manual of rules and regulations - staging only the marathon race and not the shorter races, reducing the number of participants and having all participants to go through a Covid-19 test before the race - it was not enough. It seems that such measures would not secure the absolute safety of runners’ health, which is and will be the top priority in our minds."
Announcement (1 October)
Cross de Atapuerca (15 Nov 2020) - cancelled
“Given the evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic and the impossibility of guaranteeing the safety of participants and the general public, it has been decided to cancel the Cross de Atapuerca for this year. We look forward to enjoying this outstanding sporting event again next year."
(23 September)
European Cross Country Championships (13 Dec 2020) - cancelled
European Athletics has confirmed the cancellation of the European Cross Country Championships that was due to take place in Dublin, Ireland, on 13 December. As a part of an Executive Board meeting held in Lausanne, European Athletics spoke with the Fingal-Dublin 2020 local organising committee concerning the current Covid-19 situation in Ireland and the impact that this may have on the 2020 European Cross Country Championships. It soon became clear that, due to the overall uncertainty on hosting mass sporting events, the existing sanitary restrictions in Ireland, and the travel restrictions imposed across Europe due to the coronavirus pandemic, it would not be possible to host the event as scheduled.
Announcement (9 September)
Valencia Marathon (6 Dec 2020) - cancelled
"The Trinidad Alfonso EDP Valencia Marathon Organisation, run by SD Correcaminos and the Valencia City Council, regrets having to make the decision to cancel the 40th edition of the popular race, scheduled for the 6th of December. The Organisation of the event tried to exhaust all options in order to hold the event in a safe way for all runners, but the development of the health situation due to COVID-19 and the uncertainty of the near future are forcing us to forgo hosting the 30,000 participants that bought all bibs out for the 2020 edition."
Announcement (7 September)
World Mountain Running Championships (13-14 Nov 2020) - cancelled
"Together with our friends in the organisation team (Arista events), the local Haria government on Lanzarote and the Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA), we have decided that this is the best action to take. It is regrettable that our mountain running community and family can not meet and share the experiences together that we have grown to love over the past 36 years of WMRA competitions."
Announcement (4 September)
Meeting Città di Padova (12 Sep 2020) - cancelled
"With the impossibility of guaranteeing a competition programme with the presence of a sufficient number of international athletes, due to the global continuation of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are forced to cancel the event."
Announcement (31 August)
Amsterdam Marathon (18 Oct 2020) - cancelled
"The 45th edition of the TCS Amsterdam Marathon scheduled for Sunday 18 October 2020 has been cancelled. Despite the significantly modified programme, the Municipality of Amsterdam has decided not to grant a permit to the organiser, Le Champion, in light of the rising numbers of coronavirus infections in the capital. The international nature of the marathon and increasingly complex travel options have also been deciding factors behind the decision."
Announcement (21 August)
IAU 50km World Championships (27 Nov 2020) - cancelled
"Following the development of the coronavirus situation in Jordan and across the region, it is with regret that we have to inform you of the cancellation of the 2020 IAU 50 km World Championships that was planned for 27th November in Aqaba, Jordan."
Announcement (15 August)
Marathon des Alpes Maritimes Nice-Cannes (29 Nov 2020) - cancelled
"Unfortunately, after having tried everything to keep the race going, we find ourselves obliged to cancel the 2020 edition of the Marathon des Alpes Maritimes Nice-Cannes. To stem the spread of the coronavirus epidemic which is currently affecting France, the Mayor of Nice, Christian ESTROSI has just decided to cancel the sporting events which bring together more than 300 competitors scheduled in Nice on the calendar for this end of year 2020."
Announcement (15 August)
Paris Marathon (15 Nov 2020) - cancelled
"Faced with the difficulty that many runners, especially those coming from abroad, had in making themselves available for the 14th / 15th November, it was decided that it would be better and simpler for those concerned if we organised the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris in 2021."
Announcement (12 August)
Frankfurt Marathon (25 Oct 2020) - cancelled
The race organisers have decided to cancel the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon 2020. The 39th edition of Germany’s oldest city marathon was to have taken place on 25 October. "We have not taken this step of cancellation lightly and have done our utmost to find solutions and alternatives," says race director Jo Schindler. "Now we have to face the cold reality that cancellation is inevitable."
Announcement (11 August)
Nairobi Continental Tour Gold Meeting (was 26 Sep 2020, now 3 Oct 2020) - rescheduled
The Kip Keino Classic, a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting which was moved to 26 September, was rescheduled once again and will take place on 3 October.
Doha Diamond League (25 Sep 2020) - rescheduled
The 2020 Wanda Diamond League today announced a further change to its 2020 calendar, with the date for the Doha Diamond League brought forward by around a fortnight. The fifth meeting of the season was scheduled for 9 October after it could not be held as the traditional season opener in April, but will now take place instead on 25 September. The plan is to stage 12 disciplines. A list of athletes who will compete in the Qatari capital will be announced in due course.
Annoucement (3 August)
Valencia Half Marathon 2020 - cancelled
The 2020 Medio Marathon Valencia Trinidad Alfonso EDP, scheduled for Sunday 25 October has been cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation. In a statement, the organisers said: "SD Correcaminos (running club), the organiser of the Valencia Half-Marathon Trinidad Alfonso EDP, after fully appraising the health situation and consulting all the authorities involved, hereby announces the cancellation of the 30th edition of the race. The results of the appraisal and consultation showed that it was impossible to go ahead with the race, which was scheduled for the 25th of October 2020."
Announcement (30 July)
Great Ethiopian Run (15 Nov 2020) - postponed
"The 20th edition of TOTAL Great Ethiopian Run International 10km was scheduled to be held on 15 November 2020. However, due to the current situation of Covid-19, we are forced to postpone the race. We will announce the new date on a later date. Please bear with us while we work through the details to deliver the 20th edition of our flagship race."
Announcement (27 July)
Nanjing Continental Tour Gold Meeting 2020 - cancelled
Following the decision taken by China's National Administration of Sports to suspend all international sporting events until next year, organisers of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting in Nanjing have announced that the competition will not go ahead this year.
Announcement (25 July)
Shanghai Diamond League (19 Sep 2020) - cancelled
Following the decision taken by the National Administration of Sports to suspend all international sporting events until next year, we are sorry to announce that the 2020 Shanghai Diamond League will not go ahead as planned on 19th September. The meeting will return next year, taking its traditional place as one of the early-season events in the Diamond League calendar.
Announcement (24 July)
Müller Grand Prix, Gateshead (12 Sep 2020) - cancelled
The Wanda Diamond League today announced a further change to its 2020 calendar. The Müller Grand Prix in Gateshead, UK, scheduled for 12 September to have been the fifth competitive meeting of the season, has been cancelled.
Announcement (23 July)
ISTAF (13 Sep 2020) - confirmed
“With 3500 spectators instead of 45,000, the ISTAF will certainly be different this time, but it may be a first small step back to normal," said meeting director Martin Seeber. "We want to set an example for sport and be a beacon for athletics."
Announcement (21 July)
Hamburg Marathon (13 Sep 2020) - cancelled
Major sporting events in Hamburg, which have been postponed until late summer and autumn 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic that has been raging since spring 2020, will no longer take place this year, but will be postponed until 2021.
Announcement (21 July)
Madrid Half Marathon (4 Oct 2020) - cancelled
"The organisation of the Movistar Madrid Half Marathon and the ProFuturo Race announce the cancellation of the 2020 edition, originally scheduled for 29 March and which, due to the coronavirus health emergency, was postponed to 4 October. The circumstances are still not ideal for the celebration of these two sporting events with a joint participation of close to 20,000 people, and the prospect for the coming months does not offer security guarantees for participants, spectators, volunteers and the organisation team either."
Announcement (21 July)
Rotterdam Marathon (was 24-25 Oct 2020, now 10-11 April 2021) - postponed
"With pain in our hearts we have decided to reschedule the event due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation. The NN Marathon Rotterdam is now scheduled to take place on the 10th and 11th of April 2021. Every individual runner with a place in the 2020 edition will be able to use their place in the rescheduled event."
Announcement (20 July)
Kagawa Marugame Half Marathon (7 Feb 2021) - cancelled
"The 75th anniversary running of the Kagawa Marugame International Half Marathon scheduled for 7 February 2021 will not take place. After careful consideration we determined that, with no visible end to the coronavirus crisis in sight, for the health and safety of participants, volunteers, staff, medical and rescue personnel, fans along the course and everyone else involved with our event, our 75th running must be postponed for one year."
Announcement (20 July)
Meeting Liege (9 Sep 2020) - cancelled
"There will be no 19th edition of the Meeting International d'Athlétisme de la Province de Liège this year. The applicable corona measures meant it is not possible to organise the event properly later this summer. The 19th edition can take place in July 2021 and we are also looking forward to the 20th anniversary of this international event in 2022."
Announcement (16 July)
Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2022 - postponed
Senegal and the International Olympic Committee have mutually agreed to postpone the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2022 to 2026. This postponement meets the requirement of responsibility and the concern for efficiency imposed by current circumstances.
Announcement (15 July)
Great Birmingham Run (11 Oct 2020) - cancelled
"There’s no option to stage the event as planned, or at a later date in the year."
Announcement (15 July)
Chicago Marathon (11 Oct 2020) - cancelled
Event organisers and the City of Chicago announced the decision to cancel the 2020 Bank of America Chicago Marathon and all race weekend activities in response to the ongoing public health concerns brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
Announcement (13 July)
Toronto Marathon (18 Oct 2020) - cancelled
Working closely with the City of Toronto and Mayor John Tory, event organisers Canada Running Series have made the decision to cancel the event due to Covid-19 related health and safety concerns. "We are pleased to announce that we will be transitioning to a virtual event this year, to continue to offer the best possible running and fundraising goals in these challenging times."
Announcement (13 July)
Seiko Golden Grand Prix Tokyo (was 10 May 2020, now 23 Aug 2020) - postponed
Originally set to take place on 10 May, the Seiko Golden Grand Prix – a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting – will now be held on Sunday 23 August. “Only domestic athletes will participate,” read a statement on the meeting’s website. “We are also considering allowing high school athletes to play a role. Details will be announced once they are confirmed.”
Announcement (13 July)