From: RT
-------------------- Participation in N.Y. Marathon Down -------------------- By Associated Press September 18, 2002, 8:20 AM EDT NEW YORK -- International applications for the New York City Marathon fell 17 percent this year due to concerns about terrorism, fears of flying and worries about the economic slowdown, the New York Road Runners Club said. Officials said 10,000 international runners would participate in the Nov. 3 marathon, down from the usual 12,000. "People worldwide still have concerns about further (terrorist) activity, the safety situation," Mary Wittenberg, executive vice president of the Road Runners Club, told the Daily News. The club operates the race. Wittenberg said the economic climate might also be having an impact. Each year, 36,000 people are invited to participate in the 26.2-mile run. An equal number of spots are generally reserved for international, national and local competitors. Because of the drop in international participants, race officials have sent out an additional 5,000 invitations to Americans who were not selected in the June lottery. Copyright (c) 2002, The Associated Press -------------------- This article originally appeared at: http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-brf-attacks-marathon0918sep18(0,3202242).story Visit Newsday online at http://www.newsday.com
