Determined to put on a show of "solidarity" for Boston, London Marathon organizers may point the competition on Sunday. The British capital has long been a top target for terrorists, and these problems have only increased after painful views from the Boston Marathon on Monday, where bombs killed three people and injured more than 170. London organizers established on Tuesday that the London version will go ahead as planned after holding high-level talks with authorities and police. Earlier in the day, British sports minister Hugh Robertson said the country "won't be cowered by this sort of behavior." "The best way for us to react would be to press forward with the race on Sunday, to get people on the streets and to celebrate it as we always do in London," said Robertson, who confirmed Britain's security forces as "the best anywhere in the world." "These are stability of judgments but we're definitely confident here that we can keep the event safe and secure. I believe that is one of those situations where in fact the best way to demonstrate solidarity with Boston is to continue and deliver a really clear message to those responsible." The London Marathon is going to be seen by around 500,000 visitors as 37,500 athletes weave their way past and along a number of the city's most recognizable landmarks. Prince Harry, the patron of the London Marathon Charitable Trust, can attend the race and make the presentations to the winners. "The support we've been made available from our stakeholders and the greater running community has been excellent. We've the entire support of the Metropolitan Police, the mayor's office and other authorities," Nick Bitel, chief executive of the London Marathon, said in a record. "We want to reassure our runners, viewers, volunteers and every one connected with the event, that we're doing everything to make certain their security and that the Virgin London Marathon 2013 can be an excellent success." Mo Farah, who won the long-distance double at the London Olympics, is likely to be running a half-marathon. The three medalists from the men's convention at the London Games are also on the list of articles. There have been no high-profile withdrawals so far and the accumulation to the workshop remains unchanged for competitors. "There is pretty intense activity going onto guarantee the race is safe and is carried down with the usual aplomb," explained Ed Warner, chairman of UK Athletics. "The decision at the moment would be to go ahead with the competition and I'm sure it's the right decision. They'll handle well with the increased demands positioned on them." The competition Sunday in London is among six on the planet marathon collection alongside Tokyo, Boston, Berlin, Chicago and New York. Belgrade is among other cities holding this weekend to marathons, with coordinator Dejan Nikolic expressing confidence that the competition will soon be safe and a "beautiful working festival." "We can do our best to ensure that in 2013 the safety level is even higher," Nikolic said. In 2005, people were killed 52 by suicide attacks on the public transportation system in the British capital. London and mainland Britain also experience a modest risk from Northern Ireland-related terrorism, in line with the government, and a massive security operation was put in place last summer to safeguard the successful London Olympics. The Boat Race between English colleges Oxford and Cambridge went ahead this year amid tightened protection after having a protester jumped in to the River Thames last year and narrowly avoided being struck by the oars of the 2 crews. Royal Marines were stationed along the amount of the 4 1/4-mile course. Police already were planning a major security operation in London for the ceremonial funeral on Wednesday for former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, a meeting at St. Paul's Cathedral which is visited by Queen Elizabeth II and dignitaries. The plans demand a through the streets of London, with Thatcher's flag-draped coffin to be carried on a horse-drawn carriage. The memorial protection plans are anticipated to be evaluated in light of the bombings at the Boston Marathon. "I would stress that at this level, there is been no story that this is terrorism-related," Metropolitan Police commander Christine Jones said. "We work with London Marathon to be sure we have most of the techniques set up that we need."
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