Executive Summary: AGN and CGA announced the cancellation of the 2026 City to City Marathon due to lack of sponsorship. However, Plus27 Events attempted to rescue the race by proposing to take on the full financial and operational risk, offering AGN and CGA either 20% of proceeds or a guaranteed R300,000 fee, plus their normal levies and broadcast rights.
Provincial officials delayed meetings, failed to respond timeously, arrived unprepared and eventually countered with an unrealistic demand for R600,000 plus 10% of sponsorship revenue on top of 20% of the proceeds. Two weeks later, AGN and CGA tried to accept Plus27’s original offer, but by this time it was too late to organise the 2026 race safely and professionally, leaving cancellation as the only viable outcome.
On 17 August, a joint statement from Athletics Gauteng North (AGN) and Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) announced that the City to City Ultra Marathon, Gauteng’s premier ultra, was cancelled for 2026. The official word from AGN and CGA was that this was due to a “lack of sponsorship”. However, I have received documentation that the real reason is the usual greed and incompetence from athletics administrators.
Continue reading “The Real Reason City to City was Cancelled: Greed & Incompetence”
