Preview of the 2014 Boston Marathon

World Today

Officials in the U.S. city of Boston are completing their last minute preparations for the 2014 marathon being held on Monday. At the finish line last year two explosions ended the lives of 3 people and left 260 wounded. This year, even more runners are taking part and security has been increased. CCTV’s Correspondent Daniel Ryntjes reports.

Previews of the 2014 Boston Marathon

Officials in the U.S. city of Boston are completing their last minute preparations for the 2014 marathon being held on Monday. At the finish line last year two explosions ended the lives of 3 people and left 260 wounded. This year, even more runners are taking part and security has been increased. CCTV's Correspondent Daniel Ryntjes reports.

The moment exactly a year since the Boston Marathon tragedy, still raw in the memories of the people who described themselves as “Boston Strong”.

Many rushed to help the wounded, even as they wondered whether it would stop at two explosions.

Shane O’Hara, the Manager of “Marathon Sports Boston” where this video was shot, was among them. He says: “The scene outside was the most gruesome thing I’ve ever seen.”

Among those who will be standing at the finish line this year will be Heather Abbott who’s amputated left leg was replaced with a life-like prosthesis. She will be cheering on Peter Riddle who helped save her life. She says, “I think I found myself to be a little more emotional than I expected at this time of the year, just because it brings back memories of what I was doing around this time last year.”

And the families of the three who died, including 29 year old Krystie Campbell, 8 year old Martin Richard and 23 year-old Chinese graduate student Lu Lingzi have been visiting the scene.

But just as this city looks back in mourning, it also looks forward to the possibility of paying tribute through a very different ending.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, delivered a speech on April 15th, saying “You will send a resounding message around the world–not just to the rest of the world but to the terrorists–that we will never yield. We will never cower. America will never, ever, ever stand down. We are Boston. We are America. We respond. We endure. We overcome and we own the finish line.”

Five thousand of the 36,000 running this year were not able to finish last year and officials have also allowed an additional 9,000 runners to enter.

Security concerns were raised last week when a psychologically unstable man told police he was carrying a rice cooker in his backpack.

For the race, they’ve erected 8,000 additional security barriers, 40 checkpoints and four times the number of canine units, banning the use of backpacks and bags.

Helicopter surveillance teams are also being deployed.

This unit was responsible for tracking down suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev using infrared cameras. He is expected to face trial in November and if found guilty could face a death sentence. His brother Tamerlan was killed during the police manhunt.

President Obama marked the exact anniversary of the bombings with a moment of silence at the White House.

The Boston Marathon 2014 provides the city and this nation with an opportunity to demonstrate continued resilience and a moment to re-define the marathon once again as a moment of sporting celebration.