Third wave sees Durban SPAR Grand Prix postponed
The race organisers stressed that the event was only postponed and not cancelled.
THE Durban leg of the 2021 SPAR Grand Prix Women’s 10km Series, scheduled for Sunday, June 27, has been postponed until later in the year due to Covid-19.
Due to the rapid rise in the Covid-19 cases, particularly in Gauteng, the decision to postpone the first race was taken after extensive discussions with key role players that included Athletics South Africa, the events medical team and representatives of the City of Durban.
SPAR Group’s marketing executive, Mike Prentice, said the decision to postpone the race was not taken lightly.
“We know the athletes are desperate to get back into competitive running and to earn money,” he said.
“In view of the severity of the third wave of the Covid-19 epidemic in South Africa, we believe it is in the interests of all parties that the race should not be run at this time.
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“The majority of the elite runners are resident in Gauteng, where conditions are dire. We also have international athletes flying in to take part in the race and we are concerned for the safety of all runners and officials,” said Prentice.
Prentice stressed that the race was not been cancelled but postponed until conditions improved.
“Lives come first, and that is the bottom line here” said James Moloi, the president of Athletics South Africa.
The Durban SPAR Grand Prix was the first of six invitational races to be run in Durban, Tshwane, Pietermaritzburg, Cape Town, Johannesburg and Gqeberha.
Each race will be limited to a maximum of 250 invited runners.
Substantial prize money is on offer in each race and the overall winner will pocket a cheque for R190 000.
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