2025 Cape Town Marathon canceled over safety concerns

Source: Xinhua

Editor: huaxia

2025-10-19 20:04:45

Runners are left disappointed as the 2025 Cape Town Marathon was cancelled at the last minute in Cape Town, South Africa, Oct. 19, 2025. (Photo by Xabiso Mkhabela/Xinhua)

CAPE TOWN, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- The 2025 Cape Town Marathon was canceled early Sunday due to severe wind damage that made the racecourse and venue unsafe for participants.

A notice from the marathon organizers at around 5 a.m. read: "Please DO NOT report to the start. The event will NOT go ahead. Further updates will be communicated."

The Cape Town Marathon is Africa's only World Athletics Gold Label race, drawing 21,000 entrants last year. Around 24,000 runners were due to start this year's race at 6:15 a.m., and many were already at the venue or on their way into the city when the cancellation was announced.

In a following statement, organizers said, "The decision to cancel was made at 4:45 a.m., and communications to all runners went out at 5 a.m. in the form of direct WhatsApp messages to all participants and a dedicated running club captains' group, as well as statements on social media platforms and statements sent to local radio stations, event media partners and key stakeholders."

"The winds overnight wreaked havoc in the race venue in Green Point, with marquee tents damaged and branding being ripped off fences and scaffolding, prompting emergency meetings of the race organizing team in conjunction with the Joint Operations Committee (JOC), which consists of representatives from the City of Cape Town's Disaster Risk Management and Safety and Security portfolios, as well as medical services and the South African Police Services (SAPS)," it added.

Canceling such a large event is not an easy decision, Cape Town Marathon CEO Clark Gardner noted in the statement. "We have worked for months on planning for all scenarios and conditions, but ultimately a bigger force had the final say, and we are so sorry for the situation. We wish to thank our participants, sponsors and stakeholders for their ongoing support and understanding," he said.

Speaking on behalf of the JOC shortly after the decision, Christo Engelbrecht of the SAPS said the route is "unsafe" and the infrastructure at the start and finish venue has been "compromised." "It's unsafe for runners and pedestrians in that whole area, and that's why the race has had to be cancelled," he said. "It was a collective decision made by the whole team in the JOC."

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis echoed the concerns: "I'm disappointed of course, and gutted for the runners who have prepared so well. But I'm grateful to the event organizers and authorities for taking a decision with runners' safety in mind, after heavy winds blew down some race infrastructure."

"The City is committed to hosting events of the highest global standards, and that includes sometimes managing difficult calls like this one," the mayor added.

Organizers have announced that the next Cape Town Marathon will be held on May 24, 2026. ■

Runners are left disappointed as the 2025 Cape Town Marathon was cancelled at the last minute in Cape Town, South Africa, Oct. 19, 2025. (Photo by Xabiso Mkhabela/Xinhua)