Gabby Logan reflected on a 'very different' Great North Run as she began the TV coverage of the world famous event with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, following her death on Thursday.
Her Majesty passed away at Balmoral at the age of 96, with her death prompting an outpouring of grief across the world as people paid tribute to her remarkable reign. In the aftermath of The Queen's death, a number of events were cancelled. All Premier League and Football League matches were postponed, along with horse racing meets and the Last Night of the Proms, but this year's Great North Run did go ahead
Organisers put out a statement on Friday to confirm it would still be happening, encouraging runners to pay tribute to The Queen as they promised a more 'toned down' event.
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That approach was felt right from the start of the BBC's coverage of the Great North Run. After it was moved from BBC One to BBC Two to allow for coverage of The Queen's coffin leaving Balmoral, the broadcast began with a more stripped back version of the race's famous anthem, Mark Knopfler classic Local Hero.
And, after that sounded out over footage from the Great North Run from over the years, presenter Gabby appeared on screen, dressed in black, to welcome viewers at home. She said: "Good morning and welcome to the Great North Run. The atmosphere here in the centre of Newcastle before this famous race, well it's very different to years gone by, because there are unprecedented times.
"We are just four days since that shocking news about our Queen of 70 years of incredible service. And more than 50,000 incredible people behind me will set out on that 13.1 mile course, that iconic route from the centre of Newcastle, following the Tyne down to South Shields."
She continued: "And they'll be doing for the reasons they always so; personal reasons, charitable reasons, but today one would imagine that The Queen would be foremost in their minds and their hearts."
Talking about The Queen's amazing charity work, Gabby added: "And The Queen was an enormous supporter of so many charities, over 600 in her 70 years she was patron of and 14 of those are represented here today and they will be benefit from the Great North Run to the tune of £25 million."
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