Bath half marathon goes ahead with 6,200 runners despite backlash over coronavirus pandemic
THE BATH half-marathon went ahead this morning despite a fierce backlash over coronavirus concerns.
Around 6,200 runners took part in the 13.1 mile race which is around half the usual amount.
Sporting events across England and Europe - including the Premier League - have all been suspended in a bid to curb the outbreak.
But race organisers pressed ahead regardless following advice from government experts.
Bath MP Wera Hobhouse was one of thousands of people who condemned the decision and called for the race to be axed.
She said: "The most vulnerable in our city from a further spread of the infection must be the priority."
But organisers resisted calls to pull the plug having "carefully considered, listened and consulted" to relevant authorities claiming "no epidemiological or medical evidence" suggested it should be cancelled.
A statement read: "Even if we were to cancel at this late stage on the eve of the event, we anticipate that thousands of runners would still turn up to run the route.
"And we feel we would owe a duty of care to those runners, given that our resources are ready and waiting to support them."
More than 1,800 people left comments on the Bath half marathon Facebook page with the majority criticising the decision.
Hundreds more piled in on Twitter too.
One wrote: "Hope many #lawyers are preparing to go after the organisers. So irresponsible! Typically arrogant Bath."
LATEST SPORTS NEWS
Another added: "Absolute nonsense. They cancelled an international rugby match at less than 24 hours notice. You’re fooling nobody with your “it’s too late to cancel” rhetoric."
And one more said: "If the number of virus cases in Bath increases sharply after this event, you will have some serious explaining to do."
On Friday, the London Marathon was postponed until October because of the pandemic.