World half-marathon cancelled

The World Athletics (WA) has cancelled the World Half-Marathon Championships that was to be held in China due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The president of World Athletics, Sebastian Coe, said on Tuesday it was “no fault” of local organizers in China that the event could not be held in Yangzhou in November.

The city will, instead, be given the rebranded world road running championships in 2027.

“The (World Athletics) council’s decision to award another event to Yangzhou in 2027 indicates its faith in the organizing committee and willingness to return and stage a World Athletics Series road running event there at the first available opportunity,” Coe said.

This year’s event was due to be the last before the championships are renamed the world road running championships, with the addition of five-kilometre races and mass-participation events alongside the elite competitions.

World Athletics Half Marathon Championships Yangzhou 22 has been cancelled and the city will instead host the World Athletics Road Running Championships in March 2027.

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) July 5, 2022