BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — At a press conference on Thursday, Mayor Marty Walsh announced the Boston Marathon is cancelled year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"The Boston Athletic Association, with our input and support has determined that the traditional one-day running of the 124th Boston Marathon is not feasible this year for public health reasons," Walsh said. "There's no way to hold this usual race format without bringing large numbers of people into close proximity. And while our goal and our hope was to make progress and contain the virus and recovering our economy, this kind of event would not be responsible or realistic on Sept. 14 or any time this year."

Instead, the Boston Athletic Association announced they will be holding a series of virtual events throughout the second week of September.

“Our top priority continues to be safeguarding the health of the community, as well as our staff, participants, volunteers, spectators, and supporters,” Tom Grilk, C.E.O. of the B.A.A. said. “While we cannot bring the world to Boston in September, we plan to bring Boston to the world for an historic 124th Boston Marathon.”

These virtual events include "exclusive panel discussions, champions interviews, and a downloadable Boston Marathon toolkit that includes signature race elements such as a printable finish line, winner's breaktape," according to the B.A.A.

Anyone who was registered to run the marathon will have their entry fee refunded.

WBZ NewsRadio's Suzanne Sausville (@wbzSausville) reports

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