The Tel Aviv municipality on Monday canceled the marathon scheduled for Friday,
after concerns that warm weekend weather could endanger runners.
“In
light of the weather expected for Friday, and in keeping with recommendations
from the Health Ministry, the Sports Ministry, and medical authorities, the Tel
Aviv marathon will not be held this Friday. All registration fees will be
returned to those who signed up,” the municipality said in a statement on
Monday.
The decision came three days after a 29-year-old man died and
dozens more runners were hospitalized with heat stroke and dehydration while
running the half marathon last Friday in unseasonably warm weather.
The
forecast for this Friday has weather of around 31 degree Celsius.
After
the tragic death of Maj. (res.) Michael Michaelovich during last Friday’s
half marathon, the city vowed to open an investigation into the decision to hold
the race.
Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai said that the municipality would not
only hold its own investigation, but would also cooperate with any inquiry
launched into the decision to hold the event.
On Monday, a spokesman for
the Tel Aviv city hall said that the city has not opened its own investigation
and that the Health Ministry is responsible for probing what went wrong.
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