Berlin’s Mayor Kai Wegner has called on the climate protection group Last Generation to refrain from protest actions at the city’s marathon.
“If the so-called climate activists want to disrupt the marathon, it will make many Berliners very angry,” Wegner said on Saturday.
“I don’t even like to imagine it – a disruptive action could even prevent a marathon world record.”
Considered one of the world’s premier long-distance running races, the Berlin Marathon is an Abbott World Marathon Major alongside iconic races in New York, Boston, Chicago, London and Tokyo.
The event follows last weekend’s Sydney Marathon, which attracted a record field in its second year of a three-year candidacy period to become the seventh Abbott major.
Entrants in this year’s Berlin field include Kenyan star marathoner Eliud Kipchoge, who set the marathon world record last year in Berlin.
Almost 48,000 people have registered to run Sunday’s race, the 49th Berlin Marathon, according to event’s organisers.
The city’s race is beloved because it is mainly flat and therefore a good choice for first-time marathoners.
Weger, a member of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, said would-be protesters could face legal consequences and warned a protest could backfire on their climate goals.
“I say it again quite clearly – whoever wants to stand up for climate protection should refrain from these provocative and also punishable actions,” he said.
“Every disruptive person should know that the police and the rule of law will clearly take action.
“I therefore hope that the so-called Last Generation will refrain from announcing their intention to disrupt the marathon.”
Wegner said he feared acceptance for climate protection could decline “if the so-called Last Generation does not finally end their street blockades or damage to historic buildings like the Brandenburg Gate”.
“If that happens then climate goals cannot be achieved,” he said.
“But I want to achieve the climate protection goals – in Berlin, Germany and worldwide.”
