Runners compete in the Guangzhou Marathon start the race from the Tianhe Sports Center in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province on December 13, 2020. (Chen Jimin/Xinhua)

The 2021 Guangzhou Marathon will be postponed due to the COVID-19 epidemic, local organizers announced on Friday.

"Due to the current situation in epidemic prevention and control, in order to effectively protect the health and safety of runners, staff, and citizens, the organizing committee has decided to postpone the 2021 Guangzhou Marathon," the organizing committee said in a statement.

The Chinese mainland on Thursday reported 79 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, the National Health Commission said in its daily report on Friday.

The 2021 Guangzhou Marathon originally planned to be held on December 12. Guangzhou became the latest city to postpone a marathon event after Shanghai, Xiamen, Nanning decided to delay their races.