Washington marathon off because of security fears

While most sports have no plans to call off events because of the war in Iraq, one major cancellation was announced yesterday. Sunday's DC Marathon in Washington is off because of security concerns relating to the war. The race director, John Stanley, made the decision on Wednesday night after his office received more than 1,200 calls and e-mails from worried runners.

Washington is also hosting the World Figure Skating Championships, starting with official practice today. City and skating officials have said the event will go on as scheduled.

NBA basketball games in America were temporarily halted or delayed on Wednesday night for President George Bush's speech announcing that the US had begun war against Iraq. But the NBA and the NHL ice hockey league said they would now keep to their schedules. Major League Baseball also continued to prepare for the start of a new season with spring training in Florida and Arizona.

In Kuala Lumpur, Michael Schumacher spoke out against the war during preparations for Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix. The Formula One world champion insisted that talks to avoid war should have been given more time.

"We do not drive with closed eyes," said Schumacher, when asked whether drivers could concentrate on their job amid the war in Iraq. "Personally, I would be much more happy if we could talk a little bit more about how we can solve war and how we can avoid the war rather than basically to only have discussions to accept the war."

Schumacher said it was not up to the drivers whether Sunday's race should go ahead. "I think it is a matter of mentality because, in particular, Americans were very, very concerned." He said he had noted that Tiger Woods had pulled out of a golf tournament in Dubai.

"In those circumstances it is a single person's decision," Schumacher said. "Here we have quite a big structure around and I guess at the end of the day it is not a single man's decision, except [the president of the sport's governing body, the FIA] Max Mosley who can decide whether it is safe or not."