The City of Cape Town has partnered with the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon for the event’s first hybrid virtual marathon.

The annual marathon usually attracts 20 000 athletes from over 60 countries but with restrictions on gatherings, event organisers have found an innovative way to continue with the race.

A few invited runners will take on the marathon in four cities in South Africa, and this year a virtual app will link thousands of runners across the world. The app will tell them about 30 Cape Town landmarks as they virtually complete the marathon in their own cities.

Double Olympic medallist Mo Farah, who is the race’s ambassador, will also take on the marathon from his home city of London.