SADDENED and shocked organisers of the Ballarat Gift say they are keeping their fingers crossed for an opportunity to reschedule the event, if possible.
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The literal 11th hour cancellation of the $35,000 running championships due to Victoria's shock five-day lockdown, which was announced on Friday afternoon, means hundreds of athletes, many from interstate, will be forced to miss the event, one of the key lead-ups to the Stawell Gift at Easter.
Organisers could be forced to refund thousands in sponsorship dollars if the event fails to go ahead.
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Concerns now turn to whether a re-scheduled event is even possible. At this stage, the Victorian Athletics League has a full program of weekends leading into the Stawell Gift at Easter.
One of the only possible chances for a rescheduled event would be on the Monday of the Labour Day weekend, with a meeting at Warrnambool scheduled for that weekend, but the Monday free.
Ballarat Gift secretary John Jones said the committee would meet over the coming days to determine whether and how it would attempt to reschedule. "We'll definitely reschedule COVD permitting if we can," he said. "Right now, that's our immediate plan to reschedule."
Mr Jones said it was not just be a blow for the athletes, but for the city which would have seen a boon in tourism and hospitality business.
"It's more than a running event, it's certainly one of the highest profile running events for changing the image of running into a carnival," Mr Jones said. "We have really good patronage, and it's not just Ballarat people, but for people across the state and the country.
"Last year, Ballarat won the best meet on the circuit, so we know what it means to a lot of people.
"It's also worth noting how much of an important event this is to the athletes as well. There are many that would use Ballarat as a major lead-in to Stawell."
Mr Jones said the committee was bracing itself for a possibility of having to refund sponsors. "We had more races, more sponsors, about 60 VIPs this year as well, but it is what it is and we'll do our best to deal with it," he said.
