Truth rating: 10
5:53 pm, November 2nd, 2012
(GettyImages.com)
The New York City Marathon has been canceled as the metropolitan area still reels from the effects of Hurricane Sandy.
After initially vowing to hold the iconic race as scheduled on Sunday, officials made the decision to pull the plug on Friday afternoon.
The cancellation comes after mayor Michael Bloomberg and other proponents of going forward with the event were hit with criticism from residents of a city whose power and transit systems are still partially crippled, and where dozens of people were killed and thousands more displaced by this week’s storm.
Much of the backlash had to do with the city directing its resources — including generators and law enforcement — toward the race and not to New Yorkers coping with an ongoing emergency.
“The Marathon has been an integral part of New York City’s life for 40 years and is an event tens of thousands of New Yorkers participate in and millions more watch,” Bloomberg said in a statement. “While holding the race would not require diverting resources from the recovery effort, it is clear that it has become the source of controversy and division.”
He added, “The marathon has always brought our city together and inspired us with stories of courage and determination. We would not want a cloud to hang over the race or its participants, and so we have decided to cancel it.”
“We cannot allow a controversy over an athletic event — even one as meaningful as this — to distract attention away from all the critically important work that is being done to recover from the storm and get our city back on track,” concluded Bloomberg.
What do you think — Was it right to cancel the marathon?
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