'We're not going to run from it': Sydney Marathon laughs off medal errorRunners will receive a medal at the 2026 Sydney Marathon with an engraving of a German stadium.1 hr agoWorld

'We're not going to run from it': Sydney Marathon laughs off medal error.

Key points

• After more than 120, 000 ballot entries, some 40, 000 runners will take part in the event on 30 August.
• "Perhaps they tried to find something else they had in common: Allianz Arena — Sydney Opera — Unique Architecture — Both are worth a visit!"
• Recognisable Sydney landmarks feature on the double-sided medal, including the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
• While Sydney's similarly named Allianz Stadium has a flatter facade smoothed with long bronze fins, munich's Allianz Arena is sculpted by thousands of diamond-shaped inflatable cushions.
• The reverse side of the Sydney Marathon medal demonstrates a gold and indigo pattern designed by First Nations artist Ambrose Killian, widely commended for its ornate pattern.

Notably, the organisers of Sydney Marathon have laughed off a mistake which saw a German stadium etched on to medals for participants, saying "we're not going to run from it".

Questions arose after the event's official social media account unveiled the design of this year's medal earlier in the week. It had mistakenly etched Allianz Arena, based in the German city of Munich, instead of Sydney's Allianz Stadium.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Sydney Marathon informed the BBC: "A little too much international flavour has found its way onto the back of the finishers medal, with an incorrect depiction of the stadium." It was "an unfortunate error, " they went on.

Recognisable Sydney landmarks feature on the double-sided medal, including the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. It are part of the 42.2km (26.2 mile) course.

Users on social media noticed the shape of the stadium engraved on the medal appeared to be carved in the wrong likeness.

Sydney Marathon confirmed runners would receive the medal depicting the incorrect city's stadium, noting: "It's a beautiful medal, and now a little more unique."

"It's certainly given everyone something to talk about this weekend, mostly in good humour."

Germany's Allianz Arena additionally poked fun at the mistake, writing on Instagram: "Oh wow, we didn't have that on our bingo card!"

Meanwhile, the reverse side of the Sydney Marathon medal demonstrates a gold and indigo pattern designed by First Nations artist Ambrose Killian, widely commended for its ornate pattern.

He confirmed to the BBC that he was not involved in designing the other face of the medal engraved with the wrong stadium.

After more than 120, 000 ballot entries, some 40, 000 runners will take part in the event on 30 August. Organisers praised record participation and fundraising for this year's event. Sydney Marathon medal mistakenly depicts Munich stadium. Great North Run medals show wrong city and river. Crikey! Sydney Marathon medal depicts wrong stadium.

For now, ' We' re not going to run from it' : Sydney Marathon laughs off medal remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.