Sydney Marathon organisers not running away from ‘unfortunate’ medal error

What the report says

Sydney Marathon organisers are facing attention after a medal design mistake showed Munich’s Allianz Arena instead of Sydney’s Allianz Stadium among the race landmarks. The error was noticed after the medal was unveiled earlier in the week and quickly spread on social media, according to Al Jazeera.

In a post on Instagram, organisers acknowledged the mix-up and said they would not “run from it,” describing it as an unfortunate error that has nevertheless become a talking point ahead of the event. They also said the finished medals would still be used for runners who complete the race.

The marathon is scheduled for August 30 in Sydney, with about 40,000 runners expected. Organisers say the course will highlight the city’s Olympic and waterfront landmarks, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Centennial Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens and a finish near the Sydney Opera House. The race is also part of the World Marathon Majors series, placing Sydney in line with major city marathons in Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York.

The medal was designed by First Nations artist Ambrose Killian, who said on Instagram that he was not involved in the reverse-side design or production where the mistake appeared. The incident has drawn extra attention to the race, but organisers said the medal remains a souvenir of the achievement rather than the artwork itself.