BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- More than 50 marathon events have been canceled due to the spread of COVID-19 virus, confirmed a spokesman for China's General Administration of Sport on Wednesday.

"The epidemic has caused a serious impact on sports," Peng Weiyong, deputy director of the economy department of the country's sports governing body, told a press conference.

According to Peng, many international events, including the Asian Athletics Indoor Championships, the Diving World Cup Series, and a number of Olympic qualifications, have been postponed or relocated from China, all the ongoing domestic professional leagues of soccer, basketball, volleyball and others have been called off, more than 50 marathon events have been canceled, and nearly all outdoor fitness venues, stadiums and sports training institutions around the country have been closed.

"In face of the epidemic, the General Administration of Sport of China is actively carrying out work on national sports consumer cities, encouraging innovation on supportive policies, increasing government procurement, arranging special assistance funds, and making full use of new technologies, to help sports enterprises get through the difficult time," Peng said.