This year’s edition of the half marathon Göteborgsvarvet was planned to be held on 11 September. But with just over two weeks left until the race, the organizer, the Gothenburg Athletics Association, canceled the competition.
The reason was the restrictions and concerns about the spread of infection during the pandemic.
At the same time, the organizer announced that it will not refund the entry fee to the approximately 35,000 registered participants.
“Feeling cheated”
The Swedish Consumer Agency has now received around 30 reports from dissatisfied people. And the Agency itself is critical of how the organizer has handled both contract terms and marketing.
– The reports show, among other things, that consumers feel they have been deceived, because they paid for a service they were not allowed to take part in. Several have also pointed out that the association has marketed the race close to the decision to cancel, says Rozanna Florén to SVT West News.
Göteborgsvarvet has opened to complete the race this year, with a different distance. In addition, the organizer has announced that those who sign up will have the opportunity to participate next year.
But that does not change the picture, according to Florén.
– Even if the event is moved to another date, we believe that the current contract terms are unreasonable, says Rozanna Florén.
“Sees the terms as reasonable”
Göteborgsvarvet’s union director Martin Bergman believes that they have acted in accordance with current board decisions.
– We have developed the terms together with our lawyers. We see the conditions as reasonable given the corona situation. Everyone will get value for their paid start-up fees and well into that, because in addition to this year’s new race and moving the registrations to next year, we have also offered a virtual race, says Bergman.
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