The Sydney Marathon has been officially recognised as the seventh member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, joining elite events in Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York. The announcement was made in New York on Monday, culminating a three-year programme to enhance the event.
Race organisers described the elevation as a transformative moment for Australian athletics. Athletics Australia president Jane Flemming said the achievement would inspire countless Australians to take up running. The marathon, a legacy of the 2000 Olympics, began as a test event five months before those Games with 1,200 entrants and has grown steadily since.
Since becoming a candidate in 2022, the Sydney Marathon underwent significant changes. Shorter distance races such as the 10km were dropped, the course was redesigned to reduce slow turns, and the finish was moved to the Sydney Opera House forecourt. Participation surged, with over 25,000 runners taking part in September, a figure expected to reach 37,000 by 2027.
The Abbott World Marathon Majors collectively generate an estimated US$1bn in economic activity. Destination NSW, which funded the bid, projects that the new status will boost visitor spending by $73m over three years. NSW premier Chris Minns welcomed the economic benefits, highlighting Sydney as an unbeatable tourist destination.
Race director Wayne Larden emphasised the wider impact on community health and charity fundraising, stating that the milestone would inspire more Australians to become marathoners. Until Sydney's candidacy, the Melbourne marathon was Australia's largest, attracting 8,100 participants in 2019.
