Sydney is on track to join the most high-profile marathon cities in the world, with the Blackmores Sydney Marathon officially announced as a candidate for the Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) - the first marathon in Oceania to be nominated.

With some of the most picturesque running routes in the world, set against the stunning backdrop of Sydney's beautiful Harbour and waterways, dramatic coastline and pristine nature, the city will join Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City as one of the top seven marathon cities in the world.

NSW Minister for Tourism and Sport Stuart Ayres said the candidacy acknowledges the Sydney Marathon as a world-class event with one of the most spectacular marathon courses on the planet.

“No city in the world has a better combination of natural beauty, love of sport and iconic infrastructure for hosting a marathon than Sydney. The Sydney Marathon is recognised as one of the world's best marathon events, uniting people of all backgrounds to enjoy an unforgettable running experience. The World Marathon Majors candidacy recognises Sydney as a premier destination to join the great marathon cities of the world, while showcasing Sydney's natural beauty and desirable lifestyle to a global audience,” Mr Ayres said.

“Achieving the status of an Abbott World Marathon Major would cement Sydney's position as one of the world's great sporting event cities. It would attract thousands of visitors to the Harbour City and play a key role in the NSW Government's ambition to make Sydney and NSW the major events capital and premier visitor economy of the Asia Pacific”

The Sydney Marathon is held during Australia's largest running festival, the Sydney Running Festival, and attracts thousands of participants each year who run across the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and finish under the sails of the Sydney Opera House.

A visit to Sydney is not complete without experiencing the city from one of the many walking and running tracks, so whether you're an elite athlete or leisure walker, here are five routes to add to your itinerary:

• Take in the harbour view: Try the 4km Bradleys Head to Chowder Bay trail starting at Taronga Zoo Wharf for impressive views across the harbour and its most famous icons.
• Visit a lighthouse: Only an hour from Sydney's CBD, the Barrenjoey Lighthouse walk offers unforgettable views along the coast. The lighthouse itself is set 91m above sea level at the famous Palm Beach, where Home and Away is filmed.
• Bay or beach – you decide: In the Inner West, hit The Bay Run, a 7km loop around Iron Cove which links Leichhardt, Haberfield, Drummoyne and Russell Lea. Download a map of the run here. In the city's east, run the iconic Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk taking in magnificent clifftop views and beautiful beaches.
• Run between Sydney's two famous surf beaches: The Bondi to Manly walk is an 80km track and is designed to be tackled in smaller sections, over a number of days. Explore Sydney, staying overnight at Sydney's epic coast and Harbour locations along the way.
• Go coastal in the Royal National Park: The Bundeena to Wedding Cake Rock coastal walk is truly a slice of paradise. This walk makes up just one section of the 26km Coast Track that runs along the sandstone cliffs of the Royal National Park.

The Blackmores Sydney Running Festival returns on Sunday 18 September 2022. Marking a special 20th anniversary milestone, thousands of participants will walk, skip, and run across the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, in one of four great races including the Blackmores Sydney Marathon, Blackmores Half Marathon, 10km Blackmores Bridge Run or 3.5km Blackmores Family Fun Run for a truly unforgettable experience.

Register here: https://raceroster.com/events/2022/46926/blackmores-sydney-running-festival

For more information on things to see and do in Sydney visit www.sydney.com. Share your favourite Sydney experiences on social media using #feelnewsydney #ILoveSydney. 

The Sydney Marathon and its candidacy for the Abbott World Marathon Majors series are supported by the NSW Government, through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

Media contact: Hannah Rayment E: hannah.rayment@dnsw.com.au M: 0472 646 176

NOTE TO EDITORS:

Download high-res images and video assets of the Sydney Running Festival, as well as Sydney destination assets, from the DNSW Media Centre here: Media Centre | Destination NSW

About Destination NSW 

Destination NSW is the lead agency, champion and voice for the visitor economy within the NSW Government. Spearheading a whole-of-government approach to visitor economy growth, Destination NSW is responsible for leading the delivery of the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2030 in partnership with government and industry. Destination NSW influences and shapes the visitor economy through strategic research, policy and thought leadership, stakeholder engagement and consultation, commercial partnerships and investment in visitor experiences, business support, marketing and events. Destination NSW is also the major investor in Business Events Sydney (BESydney) for the purpose of securing more international and domestic conventions, incentive travel reward programs, corporate events and exhibitions.