LONDON - This year's London Marathon has been postponed from 26 April to 4 October due to the outbreak of coronavirus, announced the organizers on Friday.

Every runner with a place will be able to use their place in the rescheduled event without any further payment. If they choose not to take part or are unable to do so, they will receive a refund of their entry fee.

Runners may also choose to defer their entry to the 2021 race, which is scheduled for 25 April 2021, on payment of the entry fee for 2021, following the standard deferment process.

The event director Hugh Brasher said: "The world is in an unprecedented situation grappling with a global pandemic of COVID-19 and public health is everyone's priority."

Earlier on Friday, elite football in Britain has been suspended until at least 3 April.

In a statement released on Friday, the Premier League said: "Following a meeting of Shareholders today, it was unanimously decided to suspend the Premier League with the intention of returning on 4 April, subject to medical advice and conditions at the time."

England's international friendly matches against Italy and Denmark at the end of March were also canceled off.

The All England Open Badminton Championships starting from Wednesday will continue to its conclusion on 15 March, "unless government advice changes".