Premier League football matches are to be postponed this weekend after the death of the Queen, but theatres will stay open and other mass events are expected to go ahead during the 10-day period of official mourning.

The Great North Run said its races would start on Sunday, arguing that the 60,000 runners participating would raise £25m for charity, “a fitting tribute to the Queen, who lived her life in the service of our country and its people”.

A similar justification was cited by the London to Brighton bike ride, also confirmed as taking place on Sunday. “We have a huge responsibility to both our charities who rely on the substantial amount of moneys that are raised and to you the participants who have trained so hard,” the organisers said.

Theatres are expected to remain open from Friday night and throughout the period of national mourning up until the funeral, although UK Theatre and the Society of London Theatres said lights would be dimmed for two minutes at 7pm each evening.

National guidance states there is “no obligation to cancel or postpone events and sporting fixtures” during the period of mourning, leaving the decision up to individual organisations as to whether to go ahead.

Events clashing with the state funeral – the date of which is not yet set but is expected to be Monday 19 September – are much more likely to be put off, with the government suggesting none too subtly that organisers might act “as a mark of respect”.

The Premier League…