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Edinburgh - Marathon runs into cash crisis

The Edinburgh Marathon faces being scaled down amid a cash crisis.

The annual event is struggling for cash after going massively over budget last year despite a major injection of public money.

Organisers say they are struggling to pay for big-name runners at this year’s event and may have to scrap a TV deal to screen highlights. They also fear they may have to cap the number of entrants allowed to take part.

The event’s financial difficulties have been blamed on the failure to secure a major sponsor for the marathon over the last two years. The city council, Scottish Athletics and EventScotland agreed to plough £100,000 into the marathon, which was staged for a third time last year after being revived after almost 20 years.

Despite attracting more than 11,000 entrants, including 6000 relay runners, the event is still thought to have made a loss well in excess of £50,000.

A report for the council said the marathon’s finances were being investigated by the local authority, which has already had to step in to bail out two of the Capital’s major events this year.

The Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh International Science Festival have received £300,000 and £100,000 each amid fears over the delivery of this year’s events.

And officials have admitted they are concerned about “uncertainties” over the Marathon’s finances.