The
executive committee of Bajana International Marathon has announced that its
marathon scheduled to take place on 15 April 2017, has been cancelled.
Organizers
said the reason for the cancellation is that Brufut Marathon Association has
scheduled their 2017 marathon on the same date as Bajana International
Marathon.
“Brufut
Marathon always have their marathon races in December or January and Bajana
International Marathon always have their Marathon on Easter Saturday every
year,” they said.
Organizers
of the Bajana marathon said it came as a shock to them to learn that Brufut
Marathon has this year scheduled their race foe 15 April - Easter Saturday,
which is the day Bajana International Marathon takes place annually.
“Since
the inception of Bajana Int. Marathon in 2013, Bajana Int. marathon always
takes place on Saturday Easter Weekend,” the committee said.
“We
wish to make it abundantly clear that Bajana Marathon was not contacted either
by Brufut Marathon Association or any association governing the running affairs
in The Gambia regarding our Annual Easter Marathon to avoid any conflicts on
the date as it is a known fact that Bajana Marathon takes place in Easter”.
“Bajana
Int. Marathon has been advertising our race and registering international
runners on our website and Facebook page. Trophies for the marathon have been
ordered from the UK and we had registered runners from the UK, Holland, Spain
and Germany; all due to arrive in The Gambia on 12th of April 2017.”
The
committee said further: “We have contacted all international registered runners
that this year’s race has been cancelled and we have already informed them that
Brufut Marathon will take place on that date for those who still want to come
and run in The Gambia.”
Concluding
they said: “In the interest and welfare of Gambian Athletes, two marathon races
cannot take place in The Gambia on the same date.”
