KANCHANABURI: Organisers of a mini-marathon have finally thrown in the towel after protests by villagers along the planned route and a warning from police.
The Running Thailand health club on Tuesday announced the cancellation of the event at Pilok mine in Ban I-tong of Thong Pha Phum district planned for this coming Sunday.
- Earlier report: Mini-marathon runs into roadblock in Kanchanaburi village
A new location will be found and a new date announced later, the message posted on its Facebook account said.
The run encountered opposition from residents worried, among other things, that it would flood their village with visitors, who would leave behind all their garbage.
Kanchanaburi police on May 2 turned down the organisers' request to close Road 3088 to traffic, for use by the runners, saying it was the only access to the outside world for the reclusive village. But organisers on May 3 defied the police order to keep the road open, telling members that the event would continue.
Their defiance prompted Pilok police to issue a warning that stern action would be taken against any runners obstructing traffic on the road.
The organisers had promised the people of Ban I-tong there would be only about 500 entrants, but instead around 3,000 runners registered for it.
