Adidas apologizes after backlash over Boston Marathon ‘survivor’ e-mail

Geoffrey Kirui of Kenya crosses the finish line to win the men’s division of the 121st Boston Marathon in Boston, Massachusetts, US, April 17, 2017. (Reuters)
Updated 19 April 2017
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Adidas apologizes after backlash over Boston Marathon ‘survivor’ e-mail

DUBAI: German sportswear giant Adidas has apologized after facing social media backlash over an e-mail it sent out on Tuesday congratulating runners in the Boston Marathon for having “survived” the race.
Many online slammed the company on its choice of words as memories of the deadly 2013 marathon bombing remain fresh in people’s minds.
“Congrats, you survived the Boston Marathon!” Adidas said in the subject line of an e-mail it sent to the 26,492 participants who finished the annual race Monday.
Social media users were quick to criticize the e-mail.
“Poor choice of words for the Boston marathon,” one Twitter user said.

Another tweeted: “@adidas you may want to rethink the subject line.”

The official Twitter account of Adidas North America, with the handle @adidasUS, rushed to apologize.
“We are incredibly sorry. Clearly, there was no thought given to the insensitive e-mail subject line we sent Tuesday,” it tweeted.
“We deeply apologize for our mistake.”

On April 15, 2013, two brothers of Chechen descent, Tamerlan and Dzokhar Tsarnaev, planted pressure-cooker bombs near the Boston Marathon finish line, killing three people and injuring 264 others.
The Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon and one of the most prestigious races over the distance of just over 42 kilometers on the athletics calendar.


Newcastle complete cruise into Champions League last 16

Updated 25 February 2026
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Newcastle complete cruise into Champions League last 16

  • The Magpies will make up a six-strong contingent of English sides in the last 16 alongside Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham

NEWCASTLE, United Kingdom: Newcastle United completed their stroll into the Champions League last 16 with a 3-2 win over Qarabag on Tuesday to progress 9-3 on aggregate over the Azeri champions.
The Magpies will make up a six-strong contingent of English sides in the last 16 alongside Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham.
A tie that involved an over 5,000-mile (8,000 kilometer) round trip for both sides was killed off inside 45 minutes last week as Newcastle led 5-0 at half-time on their way to a 6-1 rout.
That allowed Eddie Howe to heavily rotate his side, with four-goal hero from the first leg Anthony Gordon among those left on the bench.
Newcastle still made another fast start to add to their lead twice inside six minutes.
Sandro Tonali fired in the rebound after Dan Burn’s shot was saved before Joelinton stroked in Harvey Barnes’ cross.
Qarabag had taken the scalps of Benfica and Eintracht Frankfurt in the league phase to make the play-off round and at least salvaged some pride with two goals in the second half.
Camilo Duran outpaced Burn to pull a goal back before the Newcastle defender was penalized for handball inside the box.The Magpies will make up a six-strong contingent of English sides in the last 16 alongside Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham.
Aaron Ramsdale saved Marko Jankovic’s penalty but Elvin Jafarguliyev netted the rebound.
In between the visitors’ two goals, Sven Botman powered in a header from a corner.
That took the tally of goals conceded by Qarabag in the Champions League to 30 — a single season record in the competition.