Statement on the 2021 race from the Community Sports Foundation

It is with regret that the Community Sports Foundation have taken the decision to postpone the next edition of Run Norwich until 2022.

Although the current national roadmap out of Covid-19 would allow for the 2021 Run Norwich event to take place, there remains some uncertainty about the short-term future of mass-participation events.

There are huge costs associated with the delivery of Run Norwich and if the event were to be cancelled after these costs have been incurred it would have a devastating effect on the charity’s finances this year.

When the 2020 event was cancelled, the incredible generosity of those who waived their right to an entry fee refund allowed us to meet those costs and provide the event’s usual contribution towards the Foundation’s charitable work; we remain humbled and grateful for this amazing support.

We are now at the point ahead of the 2021 race where we would have hoped to open entries, which in turn allows us to undertake many of costs associated with Run Norwich. This is particularly relevant to items with a significant lead-in time such as medals, signage, goody bags, and merchandise.

At this stage, we are not confident enough to open entries and commit to this high level of expenditure, and we believe the picture may not become completely clear until it is too late.

We have of course attempted to gain insurance to cover the 2021 event from cancellation due to Covid-19 this year but have been unsuccessful, and therefore the decision to postpone the return of Run Norwich until 2022 has been taken.

Dan Wynne from the Community Sports Foundation said:

“We would love to deliver Run Norwich in 2021, but the fact is we simply do not know with absolute certainty whether or not we will be able. It would therefore be an enormous and unnecessary gamble with the Foundation’s finances to press on with our plans at this stage.

“In 2020, the generosity of Run Norwich entrants helped the Foundation to navigate an incredibly challenging year that none of us could have seen coming.

“After receiving that support last year, it would be irresponsible to take a risk now when uncertainty around mass-participation events currently remains.”

Ian Thornton, Chief Executive Officer for the Foundation said:

“Run Norwich is one of our favourite days of the year as we get to bring around 8,000 people together to celebrate running and the wonderful city that we call home.

“We hope people will understand the reasoning for our decision this year and will be raring to go when we can finally return safely with a full field in 2022.”

Those who allowed the Foundation to keep their 2020 entry fee as a donation were due to receive priority entry and other incentives for the 2021 race; these will now be valid for the next edition of Run Norwich instead.

Those due to run for Team CSF or one of the other official race charities this year will be eligible for next year’s race and will be contacted in due course.

We are currently working with Norwich City Council and our other key partners in the hope that we can return on our usual weekend on 17th July 2022.