Sydney Marathon medal mistakenly displays Munich's Allianz Arena
By Harry Sekulich – Reporting from Sydney
Published 1 hour ago
The organisers of the Sydney Marathon laughed off a production mistake that etched Munich’s Allianz Arena onto the finish‑line medals, instead of the city’s own Allianz Stadium. The slip became obvious when the race’s official social‑media posts unveiled the medal design earlier this week.
“A little too much international flavour has found its way onto the back of the finishers’ medal, with an incorrect depiction of the stadium,” a spokesperson said, adding that it was “an unfortunate error.” The erroneous engraving shows the German arena, famous for its diamond‑shaped inflatable cushions, while the Sydney venue has a flat façade topped with long bronze fins.
The organisers confirmed that runners will receive the “beautiful” medal despite the mistake. "It’s certainly given everyone something to talk about this weekend, mostly in good humour," they said.
The German stadium’s own Instagram account jokingly noted the mix‑up, teasing in shared captions: "Oh wow, we didn’t have that on our bingo card!" and compared "Allianz Arena – Sydney Opera – Unique Architecture – Both are worth a visit!".
The reverse side of the medal features a gold and indigo motif designed by First Nations artist Ambrose Killian, praised for its intricate pattern. Killian confirmed he had no involvement in the front side’s design.
About 40,000 participants are expected to complete the 42.2 km (26.2‑mile) course on 30 August, following more than 120,000 ballot entries. Organisers highlighted record participation and fundraising success for this year’s event.
