Sydney marathon joins likes of New York, London and Tokyo as ‘major’ event

Australia’s biggest marathon is now set to become one of the world’s most prestigious after being elevated to the pinnacle of global distance events.

The Sydney marathon was confirmed as the seventh member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors in New York on Monday, culminating a three-year program to improve the event.

It joins Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York as marathon majors, drawing both the world’s fastest athletes and tens of thousands of destination runners.

“This is an extraordinary achievement for Sydney and a transformative moment for Australian athletics,” Athletics Australia president Jane Flemming said.

“The Abbott World Marathon Majors represents the very best in marathon running, and to have Sydney join this elite group is a testament to the dedication, passion and expertise of everyone involved.

“But it is an achievement that will inspire countless Australians to take up running.”

The Sydney Marathon is a legacy of the 2000 Olympics and was first held as a test event five months out from the Games.

After 1,200 entrants took part in that first long lap of the city, it grew slowly over the following decades to about 5,000 participants in a wider festival of mixed distances.

The event has turned on its head since once it became a candidate to join the Abbott Majors in 2022.

Shorter distance events including the popular 10km were ditched, the course was revamped to take out low-speed turns and incentives rolled out to encourage higher race numbers.

The finish was also made many times more spectacular, shifting to the Sydney Opera House forecourt.

More than 25,000 took part in September, and that number is expected to grow to 37,000 by 2027.

Demand for entry into the Abbott Majors always exceeds field size, with Sydney’s closest neighbour – the Tokyo Marathon – oversubscribed by about 500,000 applicants annually.

The six marathons are estimated to generate US$1bn in economic activity collectively.

Destination NSW, which funded the Abbott bid, estimates the new status will boost visitor expenditure by $73m over three years.

“NSW is an unbeatable hotspot for tourists across the globe and we look forward to welcoming them next year, providing a multi million dollar boost to the economy and an unforgettable experience for the runners on one of the most scenic marathon courses in the world,” NSW premier Chris Minns said.

Sydney Marathon race director Wayne Larden said community health and charity fundraising would also be major beneficiaries.

“This amazing milestone is going to have a profound impact on running in Australia, inspiring the community to become a marathoner and do something special for themselves, their families and friends,” he said.

Until Sydney’s candidacy began, the Melbourne marathon was Australia’s largest marathon, attracting 8,100 runners for its 2019 event.