'Keep the Marathon on May Day Monday' says the Bishop of Down and Dromore
What a pity it would be if the Belfast Marathon were to be moved to Sunday instead of Monday. This is an event in which everyone can participate at the moment. It is one of the highlights on our cross-community crown, and its very route and participants symbolize a glimpse of a ‘shared future’. All are able to participate because it takes place on the May Day holiday.
The suggestion that the Marathon be moved to Sunday drives a coach and horses through that. It really says to Christian people, who set Sunday morning aside for worship as a priority, ‘This event is not for you’. Whatever else may be said, there are still vast numbers of people who worship on a Sunday - you can see by the number of cars outside so many churches! Not only will many of those who would wish to join in the Marathon be disenfranchised by their conscience, but they may not even be able physically to get to church. There are at least thirty churches on the route, which I could immediately count, and many others which may be inaccessible. Has a proper survey been conducted on the effect of a change of day on accessibility to them?
I ask the Board of the Marathon and the Belfast City Council to consider this very seriously. They must make the decision, but please take these things into account, and make the Marathon something for all - including Sunday worshippers!
+ HaroldDown and Dromore