The Australian city is the first location to join the prestigious list since Tokyo 11 years ago
Sydney has been chosen as the seventh Abbott World Marathon Major.
The Australian city had to meet certain criteria to join the likes of London, Boston, Chicago, New York, Berlin and Tokyo.
The Sydney Marathon is the largest race over 26.2 miles in Oceania and had a record 20,272 finishers at this year’s edition, allowing it to pass its second consecutive assessment.
That means that next year’s event (August 31) will be a World Marathon Major, the first city to make the cut since Tokyo did back in 2013.
Sydney Joins the Abbott World Marathon Majors
“I am thrilled that Sydney will become the seventh Abbott World Marathon Major,” said Abbott WMM CEO Dawna Stone.
“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.
“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.”
The current six star medal will remain in place for those striving to complete the original races.
However, in a few years there could be a nine star medal, with two other marathons — Cape Town and Shanghai — candidates to become World Marathon Majors races.
That could happen as early as 2026 and 2027 if they pass checks over a two-year assessment.
“Becoming the seventh Abbott World Marathon is just incredible for the event, the city of Sydney and State of New South Wales,” said Wayne Larden, race director of the Sydney Marathon.
“We could not have achieved the incredible growth and uplift in delivery to make it into the Majors if it wasn’t for the support of the NSW Government and Destination NSW plus our key partners TCS and ASICS. Our team are first rate and have put in so much work to make this happen. It is really special for all of us.
“This amazing milestone is going to have a profound impact on running in Australia, inspiring the community to become marathoners and do something special for themselves, their families and friends. Community health will benefit alongside a huge increase in fundraising.
“We are so excited to deliver the 2025 event as part of the greatest marathon series on the planet!”
The TCS Sydney Long distance race, which will happen on 31 August 2025, joins six races including the Tokyo Long distance race, the Boston Long distance race introduced by Bank of America, the TCS London Long distance race, the BMW BERLIN-Long distance race, the Bank of America Chicago Long distance race, and the TCS New York City Long distance race as a component of the best long-distance race series on the planet.
The Sydney Long distance race is the biggest long-distance race in Oceania and saw a record 20,272 finishers during its 2024 race on 15 September, permitting it to pass its second continuous evaluation and become an Abbott World Long distance race Major.
Sydney Becomes the Seventh Abbott World Marathon Major
“I’m excited that Sydney will turn into the seventh Abbott World Long distance Race Major,” said AbbottWMM Chief Dawna Stone.
“The group in Sydney has been pursuing this day, consistently, for over three years, and to see the improvement in their tasks and occasion insight to the place where we can now call them a Significant has been profoundly noteworthy.
“We can hardly hold on to see our local area embrace this race as a Significant and begin arranging their visits to run the roads of quite possibly of the best city on the planet. Sprinters, your Sydney star is standing by.”
Sydney will shape part of the excursion towards the following Significant achievement, the new Nine Star award, which will start when two additional races are added to the series; but Sydney finishers can begin counting the race toward their Nine Star in 2025.
Sanlam Cape Town Long distance race and Shanghai Long distance race, which are presently in the bid cycle, could join the series in as soon as 2026 and 2027 separately would it be advisable for them they spend two years of evaluations?
The ongoing Six Star program will stay set up for sprinters endeavoring to finish the first six Abbott World Long distance race Significant races. AbbottWMM has focused on keeping the Six Star decoration which will keep on being granted for this astounding accomplishment in any event, when the Nine Star award opens up.
To assist with celebrating each sprinter’s excursion and race accomplishments, AbbottWMM likewise presented a dedicatory coin for each race and Sydney currently has one.
Wayne Larden, race head of the TCS Sydney Long distance race said: “Turning into the seventh Abbott World Long distance race is only mind-blowing for the occasion, the city of Sydney and the Province of New South Ridges. We could never have accomplished the astounding development and elevate in conveyance to make it into the Majors without the help of the NSW Government and Objective NSW in addition to our key accomplices TCS and ASICS. Our top-notch group has invested a lot of energy to get this going. It is truly unique for us all.
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