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The Sydney Marathon scheduled for next Sunday has again put the city on the map, but maybe not the right map.
When organisers of the TCS Sydney Marathon unveiled the official 2026 medal that is engraved with the major landmarks along the 42.2 km course past the Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and St Mary’s Cathedral, marathon runners spotted a detour that could add substantial distance … and time.
Instead of including Sydney’s Allianz Stadium on Moore Park Road, Centennial Park, they included the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, some 16, 404 km away.
To be fair, they do share some similarities: Both are round, large and designed to disguise their size. Munich’s stadium is made from inflated plastic panels, while Sydney’s Allianz Stadium was designed to resemble a cloud.
News of the error has made headlines around the world. The BBC reported that one week out from the world-renowned Sydney Marathon, organisers faced questions about whether designers etched the wrong city’s stadium on the participation medal.
On Morning Coffee Run, a popular social media account, the error attracted hundreds of comments and likes. Host James Dunn said it was a major mess up. “Oh dear this is bad … Because someone Google-searched the wrong thing and got the Allianz Arena rather than the Allianz Stadium, which is in Sydney,” he said.
The German Allianz Arena responded with humour. “Oh wow, we didn’t have that on our bingo card! 😂 Perhaps they tried to find something else they had in common: Allianz Arena_____Sydney Opera House. Unique Architecture ______ Both are worth a visit!”
The error was uncovered after organisers unveiled its official 2026 medal, urging the public to look closely to “find the story of the course in the details”.
It is the second major blooper to embarrass organisers of a marathon. Runners at the 2012 Edinburgh Marathon were embarrassed when presented with what appeared to be a penis-shaped medal.
Organisers of the Sydney Marathon said the markings around the edge represent each kilometre of the course, while the eight circles on the back represent the World Marathon Majors.
“A beautiful Sydney skyline brings the course to life, featuring the landmarks runners will experience along the way — starting with the Sydney Harbour Bridge and finishing at the world-famous Sydney Opera House,” the Marathon’s official account said.
Starting in North Sydney and then crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, an estimated 100,000 – 150,000 people are expected to watch the race.
This masthead sought a response from the Marathon’s organisers. An automatic reply said: “This year, we are expecting a record 40,000 participants on the start line, alongside unprecedented interest from media, partners and stakeholders. Race week will also see new entertainment precincts, live sites and performances across the city, as well as initiatives supporting local businesses.”
Julie Power is a senior reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.From our partners
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