Tallinn Marathon to take place virtually in 2020

Tallinn Marathon will take place online this year due to coronavirus social distancing rules, the organizers announced on Friday.
Participants of the first virtual run of the Tallinn Marathon that takes place from September 1 - 30 can choose the track and the distance for themselves.
The programme includes five- and ten-kilometre distances of Sügisjooks, a half-marathon (21.1 km) and a classic marathon (42.2 km).
The goal is to organise Estonia's biggest virtual sports event ever, with at least ten thousand participants from Estonia and abroad.
The virtual run of the Tallinn Marathon will include a combined marathon which can be completed by any running and sports enthusiast.
The full marathon distance will have to be completed during September by running or walking.
The participant will be able to complete it in parts until he or she reaches the total required number of kilometres. The length of the shortest single part of the distance must be one tenth of the entire length of the marathon, i.e. 4.2 kilometres.
Participants who will complete the combined marathon will receive the same beautiful medal and participant's shirt as those who will complete the classic marathon distance.
Head organiser of the Tallinn Marathon Mati Lilliallik said: "As a responsible organiser, we understand that a big event that brings together thousands of guests from abroad can pose direct danger in Estonia as well.
"We would require at least 2-3 months to prepare an event of such scale, including assurance of sufficient technical support, provision of high-level services to participants and assurance of overall safety of the event.
"If today it was one hundred percent clear that we would be allowed to organise such a big event without any restrictions in September, we would still manage to prepare for a full-scale international running event with thousands of participants.
"Unfortunately, due to the continuing danger of the virus, as well as travel restrictions and quarantine requirements existing in different countries, such forecast does not seem to be reasonable in any way.
"Therefore, the organization of the event in its usual form is not a responsible approach towards thousands of participants, members of the organisational team and health of Estonian residents."
More information can be found here.
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Editor: Helen Wright