Comrades Marathon 100th anniversary to go on in June as originally planned

The centennial Comrades Marathon will take place on its original date of June 13 next year and not in September as has been widely speculated.

Athletics South Africa (ASA) president Aleck Skhosana says they have had a meeting with the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) and told them that a change of date was not advisable.

"We have a set athletics calendar that has worked best over the years.

"We have told them that while we understand the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic‚ we don't believe changing things around is the way to go."

Like most athletics events‚ the 2019 Comrades Marathon was cancelled and the CMA‚ in their quest to ensure that the centenary event of the race between Durban and Pietermaritzburg went ahead‚ were toying with the idea of a September date lest the pandemic had not fully dissipated by June.

But a change of date for the world famous ultra‚ given its popularity‚ would impact negatively on the dates of the other road races and athletic events.

And thus‚ the CMA - who had asked for a September date when they applied to KwaZulu-Natal Athletics for next year's calendar - will revert to the original June 13 date.

Skhosana‚ who confirmed that they have asked permission from government to resume athletics activity in November‚ said the sport's governing body would rather the status quo remained next year.

"There's a 2021 calendar that has to be approved (by ASA) and it will then go to government for approval. Once we have the go-ahead from government‚ we will release the calendar."

The ASA president said the resumption of athletics next month will happen under strict observance of government rules and protocols and warned against over excitement that the sport is back.

"The main reason for the stoppage of athletics in its entirety in March was for the safety of everyone who is involved.

"It is therefore important that we abide by the rules and we have applied to government for permission in terms of the numbers that would be allowed to participate in the events that will be taking place."

He said they will have a zero-tolerance policy to non compliance.

"While we will allow for events to go ahead‚ if race organisers and athletes do not abide‚ we will not think twice about cancelling or stopping them‚" he warned.

Skhosana would not say which of the events will take place but it is believed that only those that were originally scheduled for November/December in the 2020 calendar are considered.

"We have received those races and tournaments that must go ahead and we will submit to government for approval in terms of the numbers and how they should go ahead."

For road running‚ the popular Soweto Marathon as well as the KaapseHoop Marathon in Mbombela are in the mix but both are unlikely to go-ahead.

The KaapseHoop organisers had opened up registration but then later announced that the race could not go on as normal but rather as a virtual race.