Sydney Marathon organisers have apologised for an “unfortunate error” after fans spotted a blunder in the medal design for the event.

Around 40,000 runners are set to take part in next Sunday’s race around the Harbour City.

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And when they cross the finish line after 26.2 miles they will get their hands on an eye-catching medal.

It features an Indigenous design on the front, with the back showing off several famous Sydney landmarks.

However eagle-eyed fans quickly spotted a mistake after the design was released earlier this week.

One of the buildings included on the medal is not actually in Sydney, but in Munich, Germany.

Both cities boast stadia sponsored by Allianz, with Sydney’s Allianz Stadium home to the Roosters, Sydney FC and the NSW Waratahs.

However the stadium featured on the medal is not the one based in Moore Park, but instead Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena, a football ground.

The error quickly circulated online and has gained traction with media reports across Europe, including the BBC.

The official Allianz Arena Instagram page made light of the gaffe, writing in a post: “Oh wow, we didn’t have that on our bingo card!”

While influencer James Dunn, in a video captioned ‘Sydney Marathon major mess up’, said in a video caption: “Oh, this is bad.

“So this is the Sydney Marathon Medal. And this, this is celebrating all the lovely Sydney sites. You’ve got the Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge … and the Allianz Arena in Munich.

“Because someone Google searched the wrong thing and got the Allianz Arena rather than the Allianz Stadium, which is in Sydney. Oh dear.”

Organisers of the Sydney Marathon also took to Instagram to issue a statement.

“In just a few days we will welcome thousands of interstate and international participants to the TCS Sydney Marathon, alongside the many locals lining up in their own backyard,” it reads.

“The event has achieved record participation and record fundraising, and will see record crowds out cheering our runners through our spectacular city. We can’t wait.

“You may also be aware that a little too much international flavour has found its way onto the back of the finishers medal, with an incorrect depiction of the stadium.

“We’re not going to run from it, it was an unfortunate error, though it’s certainly given everyone something to talk about this weekend, mostly in good humour.

“With the event a week away, this is the medal our finishers will receive. It’s a beautiful medal, and now a little more unique.

“What it represents does not change. Behind every one of these medals is months of early mornings, long runs and quiet determination, and having it placed around your neck at the Sydney Opera House is a moment our participants will never forget.
“Whether it’s a first marathon or a seventh Major, every person who crosses that line has earned something no detail in the artwork could ever take away.”

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