Around the Bay Road Race cancelled, refunds won’t be given
Published September 22, 2020 at 4:23 pm
North America’s oldest, long-distance road race has been officially cancelled for 2020.
North America’s oldest, long-distance road race has been officially cancelled for 2020.
Organizers of the Around the Bay Road Race say the 126th edition will not proceed due to “the ongoing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and the provincial safety measures in place limiting outdoor gatherings”.
Ontario reported 478 new confirmed cases Tuesday (Sept. 22), the highest since early May.
Last year’s race brought 10,000 runners and thousands of spectators to the course, which begins in Hamilton’s downtown core.
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Ontario took a step back in its COVID-19 recovery on Saturday (Sept. 19) as Premier Doug Ford reimposed restrictions on social gatherings across the province in a bid to curb what he described as an “alarming growth” in new cases.
Ford said indoor gatherings must now be capped at 10 people across Ontario, down from 50 under relaxed measures that took effect under Stage 3 of the province’s pandemic recovery strategy. Outdoor gathering limits, previously at 100, are now set to 25.
The government also set minimum fines of $10,000 for gathering organizers and $750 for those who attend.
Runners who paid their entry fee for the 2020 race will not receive refunds, according to the organizers, who say race expenses have already been paid.
Those who registered already can choose to either defer until 2021, defer until 2022, or request a 2020 medal and Around the Bay shirt.
The race is typically held in March but was postponed until November in the hopes that we were headed towards recovery.
—with files from The Canadian Press
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