JERUSALEM (JTA) — The full Tel Aviv Marathon, which was postponed a week due to oppressive heat, was canceled.
The Tel Aviv municipality nixed the marathon on Monday, four days before the 26-mile race, after Israel’s Health Ministry said the forecast for hot and drier than normal weather would endanger the runners. The race had been rescheduled for Yarkon Park.
On March 15, one man died and some 80 people were hospitalized with heat stroke after running the half-marathon of 13 miles. The start time of the race had been pushed forward in order to avoid the day’s heat.
Tel Aviv residents and political opponents have called for the resignation of Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai in the wake of the death of Michael Michaelovich, 29, in the half-marathon.
The Health Ministry has set up a committee to set official guidelines for weather conditions and public events.
