Organisers of the Sydney Marathon have taken a major branding error in their stride after an engraving mistake on the race medals inadvertently became a trending topic on social media. The error was first pointed out when the medal was unveiled earlier this week, featuring the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, etched onto the hardware instead of Sydney’s Allianz Stadium, alongside major landmarks that the participants will encounter on the course. It was an unfortunate error, though it’s certainly given everyone something to talk about this weekend, mostly in good humour.” Some 40,000 runners are expected to take part in the event on August 30, which organisers said was shaping up to be the “biggest and best”.
The course start line celebrates the “heritage” of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games marathon before participants run past other major landmarks, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Centennial Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens, and a finish at the iconic Sydney Opera House. Organisers confirmed that with the event one week away, these would be the medals that finishers receive. See you in Sydney,” read the caption of the post shared on Sunday.
Sydney will be the halfway point in the World Major Marathon lineup after the Tokyo, Boston and London marathons took place earlier this year, with the 42.2km (26.2 miles) race yet to be staged in Berlin, Chicago and New York. The medal was designed by First Nations artist Ambrose Killian and is meant to celebrate “Sydney’s place on the world stage and the achievement of every participant who crosses the finish line”, according to the organisers. Killian clarified in an Instagram story that he had “no involvement in the design or production” of the reverse side of the medal — where the mistake was etched — and only contributed artwork for the lanyard and front side of the medal.
Paris 2024 gold medallist Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands and Ethiopia’s Hailemaryam Kiros were crowned last year’s winners, each setting a course record in their race of 2:18:22 and 2:06:06, respectively.
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