New York City Marathon organisers are offering deferments to entrants of the November 7 race who will be barred from entering the United States by continuing Covid-related travel restrictions.

The event will take place one day before the November 8 lifting of travel restrictions announced by the White House, so organisers said runners affected who have already paid their entry fees will be eligible to defer their entry to 2022, AFP reports.

The 50th edition of the race through the five boroughs of New York City was cancelled in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, the first time since Hurricane Sandy wiped out the event in 2012 that it wasn't run.

This year, instead of the usual flock of more than 50,000 finishers, organisers were projecting closer to 30,000.