UK Athletics chairman Ed Warner says British athletes remain committed to London Marathon
UK Athletics chairman Ed Warner says British athletes remain committed to running at this weekend's London Marathon.
Last Updated: 16/04/13 6:21pm
Two explosions brought a tragic end to the Boston Marathon on Monday, killing three people and injuring many more with Massachusetts General Hospital saying "several amputations" had to be performed on survivors.
British double Olympic gold medal winner Mo Farah is among those scheduled to race on Sunday and having spoken to the event's chief executive Nick Bitel, Warner has "complete confidence" that it will go ahead and be staged successfully.
"This type of terrorist outrage is particularly saddening. It's a very sad day for our sport. We've had no indication that any of the British athletes will pull out," Warner said.
"I'm very conscious of the work that London Marathon are doing around safety and security for this weekend.
"I talked to Nick Bitel this morning and I have complete confidence that race organisers, police and security services will do the right thing by the race.
"It's important that it's not waylaid by those tragic events in Boston overnight. My heart goes out to everyone affected in Boston."
Prince Harry will still attend the world's biggest Marathon to make the presentations to the winners of the various races despite the bombings in Boston, and it has been confirmed there will be a 30-second silence before the start of the elite men's race and mass start on Sunday.
The prince, who is patron of the London Marathon Charitable Trust, will also meet a selection of volunteers involved with the running of the annual event and members of the St John Ambulance.
A St James's Palace spokesman confirmed that the prince would be attending the Marathon as planned but declined to comment further, saying: "As far as we're concerned there's nothing to suggest any change."