In brief
Sydney will join the ranks of world-renowned marathons, enhancing global competition for runners.
As participants celebrated the completion of the New York City Marathon, excitement brewed for a new milestone in the running world. The Sydney Marathon has officially been designated the seventh World Major Marathon, alongside established events in New York, London, and Berlin, according to an announcement made on Sunday. This prestigious title was granted after the marathon topped over 20,000 finishers in its 2024 event held in September, following a comprehensive three-year evaluation.Dawn Stone, CEO of Abbott World Marathon Majors, praised the Sydney team for their dedication and improvements in event execution. Sydney marks the first addition since Tokyo joined in 2013, expanding the elite circle of marathons that now offers a 'Seven Star' finishers program for those who complete all seven events, with aspirations for future expansions to include cities like Cape Town and Shanghai.Participation in the Sydney Marathon has surged, with the New South Wales government reporting entries increasing from 5,000 in 2022 to 25,000 in 2024. Anticipation is high for the 2025 event scheduled for August 31, with expectations for around 33,000 runners to participate, solidifying Sydney’s status in the global marathon scene.
