Sydney marathon has been officially promoted to the ranks of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, becoming the seventh city to join the elite series.
The decision will come into effect starting 2025, and the Sydney Marathon will become the first major marathon in the Southern Hemisphere as it joins prestigious races in Boston, New York, Chicago, London, Berlin and Tokyo.
Sydney marathon route takes in some of the most iconic landmarks in Australia’s biggest city, including the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.
In September, a record 20,272 runners completed the race, helping it clear its second consecutive assessment to become an Abbott World Marathon Major.
Abbott World Marathon Majors CEO Dawna Stone was “thrilled” on Sydney marathon becoming the seventh major.
“The team in Sydney has been working towards this day, every day, for more than three years, and to see the improvement in their operations and event experience to the point where we can now call them a major has been deeply impressive,” Stone said.
“We cannot wait to see our community embrace this race as a major and start planning their visits to run the streets of one of the finest cities in the world. Runners, your Sydney star awaits.”
Athletics Australia president Jane Flemming called it a turning point for the sport in Australia.
“This is an extraordinary achievement for Sydney and a transformative moment for Australian athletics,” Flemming said.
“We’re incredibly proud of the journey this race has been on and we are beyond excited for what this means for the future of the sport in Australia.”
After Sydney’s inclusion in Marathon Major series, Abbott World Marathon Majors is looking to expand the series further, with the Cape Town and Shanghai marathons in the candidacy process. The two marathons could join the ranks of majors as early as 2026 and 2027, should they clear the two years of assessments.
The 2025 Sydney Marathon is set to take place on August 31, with more than 33,000 runners expected to take the field.
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According to officials, the major status to Sydney will generate an extra 73 million Australian dollars (48 million USD) in tourism spending in the state over the next three years. Sydney has a population of more than 5 million and is also one of Australia’s most visited cities.
Criteria used to determine candidates in the current evaluation process include every aspect of the runner experience from Expo to race course, the standard of elite athletes recruited, all operational procedures, safety standards and much more. The most recent race to be inducted to the series was the Tokyo Marathon in 2013.
