Great CityGames to go ahead as council leader pledges terrorists cannot win

Organisers of the Arcadis Great CityGames scheduled to take place tonight in Manchester city centre and Sunday’s Simply Health Great Manchester Run have confirmed both events will go ahead.

This follows consultation with Greater Manchester Police and Manchester City Council following Monday’s terrorist attack on Manchester Arena which claimed 22 lives.

The Great CityGames takes place on a specially built track on Deansgate and at the purpose-built athletics arena in Albert Square as part of the Bank Holiday weekend of sport.

Sunday’s Great Manchester Run is Europe’s biggest 10k event.

Organisers say all start times remain as arranged.

Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese said: “There has been a tremendous outpouring of grief, solidarity and support for everyone affected by this week’s tragic events and for this great city of Manchester.

“We have been touched by messages of goodwill from people of all ages, races, religions and from all around the world.

“There have been countless examples of the generosity of Manchester’s spirit – from those giving to charitable funds such as the We Love Manchester charity to people queueing up to donate blood.

“Not least we have seen last night’s moving vigil here in this very Square and seen people continuing to come here to lay floral tributes to those who have lost their lives in this atrocity.

“Albert Square is going to be the venue for the pole vault and long jump events in this weekend’s Great CityGames and we need to begin the build so this can happen.

He went on: “This means we will now be need to respectfully and sensitively relocate to those floral tributes to St Ann’s Square. We recognise that there are people who will still wish to leave floral tributes and would invite them to take these to St Ann’s Square.

“There is no more defiant message that we can send to terrorists than carrying on with our everyday lives and the Great CityGames will be a powerful symbol of that resilience.

“We will not let those who want to sow fear and division win. This is Manchester and we do things differently here.”