New York, NY (Sports Network) - New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg said Thursday the New York Marathon will be run as scheduled on Sunday, despite calls from many to postpone the event in the wake of the recovery from Hurricane Sandy.
Bloomberg said during a Thursday news conference that the city needs to move on and personnel from police, fire and emergency services departments will not be involved in the race.
"The marathon is not going to redirect any focus," said Bloomberg on Thursday. "By Sunday we'll have electricity downtown and that will free up police. This city is a city where we have to go on."
On Wednesday, Bloomberg had stated that the marathon would be run, although one sports event in the city -- Thursday's NBA opener between the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks at the Barclays Center -- had been postponed.
Bloomberg said that the basketball game was postponed because it was to be played Thursday, when recovery efforts were still ongoing in full.
