2026 Great Eastern Women’s Run cancelled amid worsening air quality from haze

More than 12,000 people had signed up for the 2026 edition of the Great Eastern Women’s Run.

PHOTO: GREAT EASTERN

Published Oct 16, 2026, 10:32 PM

Updated Oct 16, 2026, 10:38 PM

The 2026 Great Eastern Women’s Run was cancelled because of the worsened air quality. Organisers said they wanted to protect participants, staff and volunteers.

Minister Grace Fu warned PSI could rise above 300 and haze may last three to four weeks. Singapore has had unhealthy air since Oct 5, its longest stretch since 2015.

More than 12,000 people had signed up. All paid entry fees will be refunded, except the $20 donation for Daughters Of Tomorrow and Singapore Cancer Society.

SINGAPORE – The 2026 edition of the Great Eastern Women’s Run (GEWR), slated to take place on Nov 1, has been cancelled owing to the “worsening air quality” caused by the transboundary haze.

Organisers announced on Oct 16 that the decision was made to “safeguard the health of our participants, staff and volunteers”.

Explaining the move, organisers said on the event website: “We carefully considered the prevailing and expected conditions, the prospect of haze persisting through to early November, and the potential health impact of prolonged outdoor physical activity.

“We believe this is the right move to minimise unnecessary health and safety risks to participants, especially young children and elderly women, as well as staff and volunteers.”

Earlier in the day, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said at a press conference that air quality in Singapore could reach hazardous levels where PSI readings rise above 300.

The haze could also last for another three to four weeks, she said.

Singapore has registered unhealthy PSI readings for 12 straight days since Oct 5, making it the longest continuous stretch of poor air quality the country has had to endure since the 2015 haze crisis.

The upcoming run would have been the 20th edition of the GEWR, which was launched in 2006.

Over 12,000 people had registered for the 2026 run, with organisers stating that all participants who paid a registration fee will receive a full refund of their race fee, excluding the $20 donation which will go towards supporting the beneficiaries of the event – Daughters Of Tomorrow and Singapore Cancer Society.

The following categories were set to feature at the Nov 1 run: 100m princess dash, 2km mummy & me (for families of two, three or four), 5km, 10km (individual open, team category for tertiary students only) and 21.1km.

In a questionnaire on its website, organisers also elaborated on why they made the decision more than a fortnight before the event, pointing to the extensive planning and coordination that needs to be done in advance for an event of this scale.

Organisers said: “Given the unexpected air quality conditions, the uncertainty over the duration of the haze and the operational lead time required, we felt it was important to make a timely and responsible decision rather than wait until the last minute and risk greater disruption for participants, volunteers and partners.

“Organising an event and cancelling on the actual day will also lead to large amount of food and material waste which for sustainability reasons we should avoid.” The only other time the GEWR was called off was in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic.

It returned the following year with just the elite-only half-marathon featuring 15 runners in a physical format.

Sports and recreation

超过 12,000 人报名参加 2026 年大东方女子长跑赛。

照片：大东方

发布于 2026 年 10 月 16 日晚上 10:32

更新于2026年10月16日晚上10:38

由于空气质量恶化，2026年大东方女子长跑赛被取消。主办方表示，他们希望保护参赛者、工作人员和志愿者的安全。

卫生部长傅海燕警告称，空气污染指数（PSI）可能超过300，雾霾可能持续三到四周。新加坡自10月5日起空气质量一直不佳，这是自2015年以来持续时间最长的一次。

已有超过12000人报名。除捐赠给“明日之女”和新加坡癌症协会的20美元外，所有已支付的报名费都将退还。

新加坡——原定于11月1日举行的2026年大东方女子长跑赛（GEWR）因跨境雾霾导致“空气质量恶化”而被取消。

组织者于 10 月 16 日宣布，做出这一决定是为了“保障参与者、工作人员和志愿者的健康”。

组织者在活动网站上解释这一举措时说：“我们仔细考虑了当前和预期的情况，雾霾可能会持续到 11 月初，以及长时间户外体育活动可能对健康造成的影响。

“我们认为这是正确的举措，可以最大限度地减少参与者（尤其是幼儿和老年妇女）以及工作人员和志愿者不必要的健康和安全风险。”

当天早些时候，新加坡永续发展及环境部长傅海燕在新闻发布会上表示，新加坡的空气质量可能达到危险水平，PSI读数将超过300。

她表示，雾霾可能还会持续三到四周。

自 10 月 5 日以来，新加坡已连续 12 天空气污染指数 (PSI) 读数不健康，这是自 2015 年雾霾危机以来该国遭受的最长的连续空气质量差时期。

即将到来的比赛本应是第 20 届 GEWR，该赛事于 2006 年启动。

超过 12,000 人报名参加了 2026 年的跑步活动，组织者表示，所有支付报名费的参与者都将获得全额退款，但 20 美元的捐款除外，这笔捐款将用于支持本次活动的受益者——“明日之女”和“新加坡癌症协会”。

11 月 1 日的跑步比赛将设置以下类别：100 米公主短跑、2 公里妈妈和我（适合两、三或四口之家）、5 公里、10 公里（个人公开组，团队组仅限高等院校学生）和 21.1 公里。

组织者在其网站上的一份问卷中还详细阐述了他们为何在活动开始前两周多就做出这一决定，指出如此规模的活动需要提前进行大量的计划和协调工作。

组织者表示：“鉴于意料之外的空气质量状况、雾霾持续时间的不确定性以及所需的运营准备时间，我们认为及时做出负责任的决定非常重要，而不是等到最后一刻，以免给参与者、志愿者和合作伙伴带来更大的干扰。

“组织好活动却在当天取消，会导致大量食物和材料浪费，出于可持续发展的考虑，我们应该避免这种情况。” 此前，全球环境与自然资源日活动仅在2020年新冠疫情期间取消过一次。

第二年，该赛事回归，但只举办精英半程马拉松，共有 15 名跑者参加。

体育和休闲