The Great Eastern Women’s Run, due to be held on Sunday 1 November at the National Stadium, has been cancelled because of the haze. Its organiser announced the decision on 16 October, and more than 12,000 people had registered for this year’s edition of Southeast Asia’s largest all-women’s running event.
The organiser said it weighed current and expected conditions, the chance of haze lasting into early November, and the health effect of long periods of outdoor exercise. “It is not ideal for our participants, especially young children and elderly, to participate under unfavourable weather conditions,” it said.
Full refunds, minus the S$20 donation
Every participant who paid a registration fee will get a full refund of the race fee. The S$20 donation for the event’s beneficiaries, Daughters Of Tomorrow and Singapore Cancer Society, is not refunded and will still go to the two charities.
Refunds go back automatically to the original payment method within six to eight weeks. Runners do not need to apply.
Participants will still receive their commemorative finisher items, including medals and, for those entered in the 21.1km race, the half-marathon finisher tee. Collection details will follow once they are finalised.
Why it was called off three weeks early
The organiser said it decided now, rather than closer to race day, because an event of this size needs long lead times for planning and coordination. Shorter distances or a changed programme were ruled out, since runners, staff and volunteers would still spend extended periods outdoors while air quality could shift at short notice.
“We did not believe that programme or distance changes would provide enough certainty to proceed safely,” it said. Postponement was also considered, but no workable alternative date could be found.
A second run lost this weekend
The Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants cancelled its ISCA Run at The Meadow, Gardens by the Bay, on 15 October. The race was set for this morning, 17 October, and was expected to draw almost 3,000 participants, families, volunteers, staff and partners. ISCA said registrants would be emailed on medal collection and other arrangements.
At 5am on Saturday, the 24-hour PSI stood at 194 in the central region, 185 in the west, 179 in the east, 164 in the south and 145 in the north. All five readings sit in the unhealthy band of 101 to 200, a day after the central region hit 229, its highest reading of this haze season.
