New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg wanted to make it a symbol of the resilience of New Yorkers, as it did after the 9/11 attacks, but he eventually gave in to popular fury. In a press release issued on Friday evening, the mayor had to admit that the marathon, “an integral part of New York life for forty years”, which was to take place in the city on Sunday, November 4, became “a source of controversy and division”, and cancel the test.
New Yorkers, who pride themselves on being tough (“tough”), have effectively lost patience. How to celebrate a marathon in a city divided between neighborhoods reminiscent of the images of New Orleans after Katrina, and the Ve Avenue where we queue in front of the Apple Store to buy an iPad mini? The marathon was to start on Staten Island, the island hit by Hurricane Sandy and the delay of rescue teams, where 19 people died, half of New York’s victims.
“If the runners want to exercise, they just have to come to Coney Island, climb the floors of buildings without electricity and bring food and water to the elderly.”, was carried away Domenic Recchia, city councilor of Brooklyn.
Michael Bloomberg and the organizers had assured that the holding of the test would not disperse the resources necessary for the victims. But the unease grew day by day. The teams responsible for maintaining the course of the race have indicated that they preferred to participate in the clearance work, the hoteliers refused to ask the survivors of the disaster to leave their rooms to accommodate the runners. “We saw growing animosity towards the participants”, recognized Mary Wittenberg, president of the organizing committee, the New York Road Runners.
Everything was ready: the stands, the flags, and especially these gigantic generators parked for a week in Central Park West that the New York Post denounces to the “one” of a scathing “Abuse of power” (“power” means “power” and “electricity”). They will now be deployed in the most affected locations.
“CANCELED? WHY?”
For the more than 47,000 participants, it is dismay. “Canceled? Why?” Pepa Randezzo has tears in his eyes. This notary from Genoa had been training for her first race for four months. “I don’t understand. The organizers didn’t tell us anything”, repeats Christian Rana, who arrived from Buenos Aires two days ago.
Those who came from abroad or the rest of the United States, of course, saw the images of destruction on television, but they did not associate them with a city admittedly more crowded than usual, but still faithful. to itself.
Little consolation: Central Park, which has remained closed these days to allow loppers to secure the trees, will reopen. The organizers have decided to keep the scaffolding at the finish line. Marathon runners will not have a medal, but they can at least take a photo.
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