Organisers of the Sydney Marathon have acknowledged an “unfortunate error” that led to the inclusion of a German football stadium on participation medals for this year’s event.
The design for the medal, which every runner who completes the 42.195km course will receive, incorporates various local landmarks, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the world-famous Opera House, where the race ends.
But the concept for the back of the medal, which replicates the Sydney skyline that runners will pass underneath, also includes Allianz Arena, the highly distinctive home of Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, who play their games in Bavaria, some 9,000 miles away.
Organisers have taken the mistake and the reaction to it in their stride. In a statement published on the event’s Instagram account, a spokesperson said that it was “a beautiful medal, and now a little more unique”.
“What it represents does not change,” the spokesperson continued. “Behind every one of these medals is months of early mornings, long runs and quiet determination, and having it placed around your neck at the Sydney Opera House is a moment our participants will never forget.
“We’re grateful to our participants and partners for taking it in such good humour, and our focus now is where it should be, on delivering a safe, spectacular and unforgettable weekend.”
The 2026 edition of the event, which is the largest in Australia and has been held annually since 2000, will be held on August 30. According to information published on the marathon’s official website, 35,000 runners took part in 2025, helping to raise AU$8.8m ($6.31m; £4.63m) for charity. The 2026 event has grown significantly, with 40,000 participants this time, over 9,500 of which are estimated to be running for charity.
How the mistake with the medal occurred is not yet clear. The Athletic has contacted the organisers of the Sydney Marathon for comment. With a week to go, it is also too late to correct the mistake. A spokesperson, however, promised that they “would not run” from the error.
Sydney is not the first distance event to incorporate an incorrect city on its medals. In 2025, organisers of the Great North Run, the world’s biggest half marathon, apologised after an aerial view of Sunderland and the River Wear were depicted on the medal instead of Newcastle, Gateshead, South Shields and the River Tyne.
