We are undertaking an assessment process of three races who are official candidates to join the series. This is a multi-year process that requires each race to pass AbbottWMM’s criteria for two consecutive years before they can become Abbott World Marathon Majors
The Chengdu Marathon was announced as a candidate race in May 2019. The race has attracted runners from over 54 countries and regions, becoming an emerging power in the marathon race series in China.
Chengdu is located in the center of the Sichuan Province, southwestern China. It is the capital of Sichuan Province and is home to 16 million people.
It's also the scientific and technological center, trade center, financial center, and transportation and communication hub of Southwestern China. Chengdu is a famous historical and cultural city.
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is also very popular among international tourists which is less than 10km drive from downtown.
The conservation project has been very successful since 1980s with the number of giant pandas growing from just six to more than 100.
Chengdu will be hosting the World Games in 2025, as part of the citiy's acceleration in pace to develop a sports-tourism friendly environment.
The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon was officially confirmed as an Abbott World Marathon Majors candidate race in August 2021.
It is the first African race to obtain AbbottWMM candidate status.
Cape Town is a port city on the tip of South Africa’s southwest coast that is overlooked by the world-renowned Table Mountain, an official New7Wonder of Nature. It is consistently rated as one of the world’s most beautiful cities and most popular tourist destinations - renowned for its exquisite natural beauty, sweeping vistas, beaches, family friendly activities and some of the best restaurants in the world.
The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon has been growing in popularity for the better part of the last decade, with its route offering spectacular ocean scenery and mountain views, while passing many of the City’s great attractions from its famous street art to its iconic historical features - including City Hall, where Nelson Mandela delivered his first public speech as a free man in 1990.
The TCS Sydney Marathon is a World Athletics Platinum Label event and is the sole remaining participant legacy of the Sydney 2000 Olympic games.
Sydney announced its candidacy for the Abbott World Marathon Majors in 2022 and achieved its first evaluation pass in 2023. The marathon course takes runners across the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and also features notable sights such as Circular Quay and Centennial Park, before a finish in front of the world-famous Sydney Opera House.
The race is the largest marathon in the continent of Australasia having seen exponential growth since becoming a candidate to join the Abbott World Marathon Majors.
