The organisers of the Mexico City Marathon have admitted that they still may not be able to charge for broadcast rights despite the race being awarded IAAF Gold Label status last year.
Ahead of Sunday’s race, marathon director Javier Carvallo has played down the chances of broadcast rights income being brought in next year.
He told Mexico’s El Economista newspaper: “It is the first year that we premiere the gold label and it is possible that in the coming years the interest will increase in this regard. It depends on supply and demand so I cannot confirm that next year we can charge for the TV rights.”
América Móvil-owned sports broadcaster Claro Sports, commercial channel TV Azteca and local digital station Capital 21 will all air Sunday’s race.
Carvallo said that the Mexican government has shown its intentions to continue to support the race. The government recently pulled out of funding the Formula One race in the Mexican capital, prompting private investors to step in to save the race.
The budget for last year’s event, which attracted 42,000 participants, was reported to be 51.4m pesos (€2.3m/$2.6m).