Gold Coast Marathon 2020 cancelled, Gold Coast Show expected to be postponed

Two of the city’s biggest annual events will not go ahead this year.

The start of the 4km Junior Dash during the Gold Coast Marathon weekend last year.

THE Gold Coast Marathon, one of the city’s biggest annual events will not go ahead this year, Mayor Tom Tate has revealed.

Just days after GC600 was shelved for the year as a result of COVID-19, Cr Tate said the event would be delayed until next year, while the Gold Coast Show is expected to be formally delayed at a council meeting next week.

Cr Tate said he was disappointed but said the decisions were unavoidable given social distancing measures.

The Mayor said the marathon would return bigger and better in 2021.

“It won’t be going ahead. It will be postponed for another year,” he said.

“It’s just another major event that has to be postponed but from a council point of view we will be backing it next year – we have 12 months to train for it now.

“It will bounce back bigger and better than ever and there will be another year to plan.

“Marathon bosses should roll over the prize money that was meant for this year so it’s even bigger next year.”

Council’s funding for this year’s now-cancelled marathon will be rolled over into next year’s budget.

Crowds at the Gold Coast Show at Broadwater Parklands last year. Picture: Richard Gosling.

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Cr Tate also confirmed the historic Gold Coast Show, due to be held in Southport in late August, would almost certainly be postponed until 2021.

“It has to be postponed until next year and council will make the official decision at the council meeting next week.

“Postponing it by 12 months is the right thing to do but I have told the State Government verbally and I will put it formally in writing that we still want our (public) holiday.”

The Bulletin understands Show bosses had been hoping to move it until late this year but the idea proved unviable because of the long-term continuation of social distancing measures.