The Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, scheduled for Friday morning, 6 January has been postponed until further notice, due to the sudden death of Sheikh Makthoum bin Raschid al-Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, and vice-president of the United Arab Republics (UAE). A 40-day period of mourning has been announced.
Race Director Peter Connerton said, “It’s a huge shock to everyone here, and it’s too soon to say what will happen, but we will try to reschedule the marathon for February, after the period of mourning”.
The al-Maktoum family is deeply involved in horse racing, and the world’s richest horse race, the Dubai Desert Classic has also been postponed.
Pat Butcher for the IAAF
