<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>332389</docID> <postdate>2024-11-04 08:41:46</postdate> <headline>Sydney Marathon joins likes of New York, London, Tokyo</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-332390" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20240915130293180993-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="601" /></p> <caption>The Sydney Marathon has been confirmed as the seventh member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors. (Steve Markham/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Luke Costin</strong> in Sydney</span></p> <p><strong>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.</strong></p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>"This is an extraordinary achievement for Sydney and a transformative moment for Australian athletics," Athletics Australia president Jane Flemming said on Monday.</p> <p>"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.</p> <p>"But it is an achievement that will inspire countless Australians to take up running."</p> <p>The Sydney Marathon is a legacy of the 2000 Olympics and was first held as a test event five months out from the Games.</p> <p>After 1200 took part in that first long lap of the city, it grew slowly over the following decades to about 5000 participants in a wider festival of mixed distances.</p> <p>The event has turned on its head since once it became a candidate to join the Abbott Majors in 2022.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>The finish was also made many times more spectacular, shifting to the Sydney Opera House forecourt.</p> <p>More than 25,000 took part in September, and that number is expected to grow to 37,000 by 2027.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>The six marathons are estimated to generate $US1 billion in economic activity collectively.</p> <p>Destination NSW, which funded the Abbott bid, estimates the new status will boost visitor expenditure by $73 million over three years.</p> <p>"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.</p> <p>Sydney Marathon race director Wayne Larden said community health and charity fundraising would also be major beneficiaries.</p> <p>"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.</p> <p>Until Sydney's candidacy began, the Melbourne Marathon was Australia's largest marathon, attracting 8100 runners for its 2019 event.</p> </body>