Firstly, thank you to everyone who has expressed their understanding and support during what is an unprecedented time in the running community and the wider world generally. It has been very much appreciated by all the team.
It is with great sadness that we have to inform you that, due to the ongoing novel-coronavirus pandemic and the measures that have now been put in place to contain it, we will be unable to hold the 2020 Australian Outback Marathon on the 25th July.
Our first and foremost concern is for your health and safety as well as that of our staff, wonderful volunteers, all the employees at the Ayers Rock Resort and also the wider community and this is a responsibility that we take very seriously.
We are also particularly mindful of the health and well-being of the remote Aboriginal communities in the region for whom an outbreak of this insidious virus could have potentially devastating effects.
As many of you would now be aware, there are ever-tightening restrictions put in place to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Amongst other things this means that interstate travel to the Northern Territory has now been severely limited and this has meant the closure of the Ayers Rock Resort until at least the beginning of July. Given the remoteness of the location and the event itself, we realistically cannot guarantee that all facilities would be up to their usual world-class standard – the ongoing fight against COVID-19 may even mean that the area is still inaccessible at the end of July.
Thanks again for all your support and we sincerely hope to see you all at the 2021 Australian Outback Marathon.