The Sydney Marathon has become the seventh wonder of the world in athletics thanks to stunning development

Australia’s biggest marathon can now become one of the most prestigious in the world after it became the pinnacle of global distance racing.

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

It joins Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York as major marathons, attracting both the world’s fastest athletes and tens of thousands of runners.

“This is a remarkable achievement for Sydney and a watershed moment for Australian athletics,” Athletics Australia president Jane Flemming said on Monday.

“The Abbott World Marathon represents the very best in marathon running and Sydney joining this elite group is a testament to the dedication, passion and experience of all involved.

“But this achievement will inspire countless Australians to take up running.”

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

After 1,200 people took part in this first long loop around the city, the number of participants slowly grew over the following decades to around 5,000 participants in the wider mixed-distance festival.

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

Short course events, including the popular 10K, were cancelled, the course was redesigned to eliminate low-speed turns and incentives were introduced to increase the number of races.

The finish was also made many times more spectacular by moving it to the Sydney Opera House forecourt.

More than 25,000 people took part in the event in September, and that number is expected to rise to 37,000 by 2027.

Demand for the Abbott Majors always outstrips the size of the field, with Sydney’s nearest neighbour, the Tokyo Marathon, registering around 500,000 applicants each year.

Collectively, the six marathons are estimated to generate US$1 billion in economic activity.

Destination NSW, which funded Abbott’s bid, estimates the new status will increase visitor spending by $73 million over three years.

“New South Wales is an unrivaled hotspot for tourists from around the world and we look forward to welcoming them back next year, delivering a multi-million dollar boost to the economy and an unforgettable experience for runners on one of the most scenic marathon courses in the world,” the Premier said. NSW Chris Minns.

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

“This amazing event will have a profound impact on running in Australia, inspiring the community to become marathon runners and do something special for themselves, their families and friends,” he said.

Until Sydney’s candidacy, the Melbourne Marathon was Australia’s largest marathon, attracting 8,100 runners in 2019.