It was already to be suspected due to the current situation, but now it is sad certainty: the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon 2020 will not take place. Together with the state of Hesse and the city of Frankfurt, organizer Motion Events has decided to cancel the 39th edition of Germany's oldest city marathon, which should have taken place on October 25.
A decision that was not easy for everyone involved. For race director Jo Schindler, however, it is the only correct decision in view of the global situation. "Measured against the hardships this worldwide pandemic is causing people, states, institutions and companies, the cancellation of a sporting event is less significant," Schindler said. "Sport, especially my beloved running, is the most beautiful pastime in the world. However, it should not lead to endangering lives. We did not take this rejection lightly and struggled for solutions and alternatives until the end. Now we have to state soberly that the cancellation is unavoidable."
In addition to the main competition, the marathon, the other competitions - the Generali Relay Marathon, the Mini Marathon and the Struwwelpeter Run, which is so popular with children - have also been cancelled. Participants have already been contacted and fully informed about the cancellation and the implications.
Last year, the classic run on the Main River had moved 27,052 athletes. That's a number that can become a dangerous superspreader event quite quickly, even with outdoor exercise. Especially as a new record number of participants had been looming for 2020. Up until the registration freeze - made due to the Corona-related uncertainty - registration numbers for the marathon were 15 percent higher than last year's registration numbers. Now the focus is on October 31, 2021, when the 39th Mainova Frankfurt Marathon will take place - hopefully then entirely without corona fears.
The Corona Contact and Operation Restriction Ordinance of the State of Hesse severely restricts the hosting of major events until October 31, 2020. They will remain prohibited unless event organizers can ensure that minimum distance requirements, sanitation guidelines and personal registration of everyone involved in the event are met. "In our case, this includes spectators," explains race director Schindler. "But this recording of spectators with location and time, we can unfortunately not ensure with absolute certainty with hundreds of thousands of spectators on a 42.195-kilometer route across Frankfurt."
Markus Frank, head of the sports department of the city of Frankfurt, regrets the understandable cancellation: "The Mainova Frankfurt Marathon is one of the central major sporting events in our city. The oldest German city marathon is a top sporting event and at the same time an attractive destination in the popular sports sector. The fact that we will not see a Mainova Frankfurt Marathon this year does not only deprive the runners of a major goal in the race calendar. The Frankfurt public, who every year in large numbers and reliably provide a good atmosphere along the course, will also miss the running highlight."
Preparations for October 31, 2021 are already underway. When the starting gun sounds for the 39th edition, thousands of top and amateur athletes will once again be able to enjoy the spectacular run into the Festhalle to the cheers of the spectators.
"I am convinced that with a lead time of around 15 months, we will succeed in meeting the requirements of the State of Hesse," says race director Schindler. "That's why my team and I are really looking forward to the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon 2021."
