The New York Marathon scheduled for Sunday November 4 was canceled by Mayor Michael Bloomberg because of Hurricane Sandy, amid a fierce debate on whether or not it should be held after the Superstorm.

The cancelation came after Bloomberg admitted that the marathon had become the source of "controversy" and "division."

"The Marathon has been an integral part of New York City's life for 40 years and is an event tens of thousands of New Yorkers participate in and millions more watch. While holding the race would not require diverting resources from the recovery effort, it is clear that it has become the source of controversy and division," Bloomberg said on Friday.

In addition Bloomberg said his government "cannot allow a controversy over an athletic event - even one as meaningful as this - to distract attention away from all the critically important work that is being done to recover from the storm and get our city back on track."

Bloomberg, along with other officials had claimed the race will not take away funds from the recovery efforts, according to USA Today.

"It does use some resources but not resources that can make a difference in recovery," Bloomberg said.

"It's a relatively small amount. We have to keep going and doing things, you can breathe, cry and laugh at the same time that's what human beings are good at."

Some New Yorkers disagreed with the Mayor for giving the marathon a green light after the disaster that took place earlier in the week.

"I'm also really very aghast at the fact that we've just gone through the Sandy hurricane and I believe that the people should not be diverted to the marathon, " New Yorker Michael Sofronas told Businessweek.

"They should focus on the people in need," he said.

"It's all about money, money from everybody. The sponsors, the runners."

Bloomberg had defended his decision at a news conference earlier Friday, as he explained to officials that the marathon could be a good way to raise money for the city and boost morale.

"[New York] has to show that we are and we are going to recover," Bloomberg added.

"Give people something to cheer about in what has been a very dismal week for a lot of people."

New York's mayor referred to the flooding, power outages of thousands of homes and businesses and the lost of at least 39 lives in New York due to the monster storm.

Businessweek reported that the marathon's sponsors and organizers have named the marathon the "Race to Recover."

The marathon brings New York an estimate of $340 million into the city, Businessweek confirmed.

New York Road Runners, the organization in charge of the race, was going to donate $1 million and had said sponsors have promised more than $1.5 million.

Bloomberg had compared this decision of his to his predecessor, Rudolph Giuliani, who carried on with the marathon two months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Bloomberg said, "If you go back to 9/11, Rudy made the right decision in those days to run the marathon and pull people together."