UK newspaper The Guardian reports that the appointment of the London Marathon’s organisers to run the Olympics marathon had fuelled speculation that an amateur race could be hosted alongside the Olympic competition event. However London 2012 has said it remains “absolutely committed” to a three-lap marathon course which would preclude the mass participation element.
The three-lap course is justified on the grounds that spectators get to see the runners more often. The marathon at the recent World Athletics Championships in Berlin accommodated a 10km “fun run” along its course after the elite men’s race, and the event was declared a “great success” by International Association of Athletics Federations' president, Lamine Diack.
