At the meetings of the Management Board of the Sofia – European Capital of Sport Foundation, a letter was received from the Lion Heart Athletic Club, in which the club informed that it was withdrawing from organizing the Sofia Marathon, due to various factors, including the lack of support received from all responsible institutions for organizing an event that would be part of the world athletics calendar. In view of the withdrawal of the organizer ranked first in the procedure conducted by the foundation and given the lack of sufficient time to conduct a new procedure, the Management Board accepts that it has ended without selecting an organizer. Believing that Sofia deserves a good sports event and that a year without a marathon should not be allowed, the Management Board of the Foundation decided that this year too it will support the organizers of the marathon listed in the calendar of the Bulgarian Athletics Federation – Leisure Time Sports Association, scheduled for October 12, while at the same time encouraging all clubs and interested parties to actively participate in improving the organization of the event. Sofia Municipality, represented by the Sofia – European Capital of Sport Foundation, will continue to provide all necessary logistical, organizational and financial support to the marathon, while at the same time continuing to initiate concrete steps for improvements in the organization, as well as requiring the organizers to work effectively to eliminate all shortcomings in the current organization. The Board confirms its understanding that the Sofia Marathon should be the face of a sporty Sofia, attract the maximum number of participants, while at the same time being a quality tourist product and celebration for both the participants and the residents and guests of the city.
The Leisure Sports Association confirmed that the association is ready to organize the event and committed to obtaining all necessary institutional support, outside of the Sofia Municipality, and to working to improve the marathon.