New York City Marathon Is Moving Ahead
NYRR president and CEO Mary Wittenberg says they are keeping all options open.
NYRR president and CEO Mary Wittenberg says they are keeping all options open.
In a statement issued on Tuesday afternoon, New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg said that her organization is working closely with New York City officials in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, which devastated the city on Monday, in an effort to stage Sunday’s New York City Marathon as scheduled.
“This is a very challenging time for the people and City of New York. The City is rightfully focused on assessment, restoration and recovery,” Wittenberg said in a media statement. “At NYRR, we stand with our City agency partners and support their efforts. The Marathon has always been a special day for New Yorkers as a symbol of the vitality and resiliency of this City.”
RELATED — Wittenberg: “Time On Our Side.”
Despite mass flooding and power outages which have closed all three major metropolitan airports and have severely compromised public transportation within the city, Wittenberg says the organization is moving forward with their race-planning preparation.
“NYRR continues to move ahead with its planning and preparation,” Wittenberg said. “We will keep all options open with regard to making any accommodations and adjustments necessary to race day and race weekend events. We will provide an update and more detail as information becomes available.”
On Tuesday evening, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg said, “I understand that the New York City Marathon will go on on Sunday,” according to a Tweet from Race Results Weekly’s David Monti, who also serves as an elite athlete consultant for the New York Road Runners. Another announcement is expected by the mayor on Wednesday morning.
Stay tuned to Competitor.com as this story continues to develop.