Major marathon medal contains glaring mistake and organisers have refused to do anything about it

Major marathon medal contains glaring mistake and organisers have refused to do anything about it

Sydney marathon organisers have found themselves at the centre of a major mix-up in the week leading up to the event, with the organisers confirming they will not rectify the issue. The finisher's medal has the incorrect stadium, with the issue only coming to light after the medal was showcased on social media. Munich's Allianz Arena was accidentally engraved onto finishers' medals rather than Sydney's own Allianz Stadium. A spokesman for the Sydney Marathon told 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." TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say He described it as "an unfortunate error" but insisted organisers would not shy away from the gaffe, declaring: "We're not going to run from it." The two stadiums share a naming sponsor but look strikingly different: Munich's arena features a distinctive exterior formed by thousands of diamond-shaped inflatable panels, whereas its Sydney counterpart boasts a smoother profile defined by elongated bronze fins. The double-sided medal does feature genuine Sydney landmarks on its front, with the Opera House and Harbour Bridge — both situated along the 42.2km course — clearly depicted. Its reverse showcases an ornate gold and indigo pattern created by First Nations artist Ambrose Killian, whose work has drawn widespread praise. Killian confirmed to the BBC that he played no part in designing the face of the medal bearing the incorrect stadium. Social media users were quick to identify the architectural discrepancy once the design was publicly shared. Munich's Allianz Arena joined in the fun with a light-hearted Instagram post: "Oh wow, we didn't have that on our bingo card!" The German venue went on to suggest a shared thread between itself and the Sydney Opera House, pointing to their "unique architecture" and noting that "both are worth a visit." Despite the blunder, organisers confirmed that all 40,000 participan