MADRID — The Barcelona City Hall on Saturday confirmed that it has taken the decision to postpone the annual Barcelona Marathon due to worries over the continued spread of the COVID-19 virus.

In a communique, the authority said instead of being held on March 15, the race will now be held on October 25 in order to give more time to "continue working to contain the coronavirus."

We have agreed to postpone the race in order to continue working to contain the coronavirus, following the recommendations of health authorities and the WHO 

Barcelona City Hall

The communique adds that the decision was taken after talks with local sporting and health authorities.

"We have agreed to postpone the race in order to continue working to contain the coronavirus, following the recommendations of health authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO)," explained the City Hall.

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Around 13,400 people from all over Spain, Europe and the world took part in the 2019 Barcelona Marathon and the cancellation of the event is another blow to the city's hotel sector after fears over COVID-19 caused February's cancellation of the 2020 Mobile World Congress, which usually attracts over 100,000 visitors to the city.

Other sporting events to be affected by the coronavirus include next week's Champions League tie between Valencia and Atalanta (from northern Italy), with the game due to be played behind closed doors along with the following week's Europa League game between Getafe and Inter Milan.

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A total of 441 cases of the coronavirus and eight deaths have so far been confirmed in Spain by the Spanish Ministry of Health.