The stadium depicted on the medal resembles the Allianz Arena stadium located in Munich, Germany, rather than the Allianz Stadium in Sydney – through which the 42.2 km course runs.
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On August 30, about 40,000 runners from around the world will participate in the event, and these medals will be awarded to them.
Speculation about possible confusion began after the official marathon social media account presented the 2026 medal design, inviting followers to “discover the course’s history in the depicted details.”
It further states: “The stunning panoramic view of Sydney inspires life into the course, depicting landmarks that runners will see along the way – starting with the Harbour Bridge and ending with the world-famous Sydney Opera House.”
The exterior of Munich’s Allianz Arena stands out with diamond-shaped “cushions,” while the similarly named Sydney Allianz Stadium has a flatter facade covered with bronze-colored grilles.
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One side of the medal features a gold and indigo pattern created by First Nations artist Ambrose Killian. Forty-two semicircular marks arranged around the circular edge “symbolize each kilometer of the course,” explained the organizers.
A. Killian told the BBC that he is not responsible for the other side of the medal, which depicts famous landmarks along the course. Only here, instead of the Allianz Stadium, the image of the stadium located in Munich was placed.
Sydney was announced as the seventh city to join the Abbott Majors series in 2024, which includes London, Berlin, Boston, Chicago, New York, and Tokyo. Cape Town will become the eighth city when it hosts its first major marathon next year.
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