Sydney Marathon Becomes 7th Race in World Majors Series

A boat sails down in front of the Opera House on a rainy morning in Sydney on November 2, 2024. (AFP)
A boat sails down in front of the Opera House on a rainy morning in Sydney on November 2, 2024. (AFP)
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Sydney Marathon Becomes 7th Race in World Majors Series

A boat sails down in front of the Opera House on a rainy morning in Sydney on November 2, 2024. (AFP)
A boat sails down in front of the Opera House on a rainy morning in Sydney on November 2, 2024. (AFP)

The Sydney marathon will become the seventh event of the World Marathon Majors series from next year.

World Marathon Majors announced Monday that the Sydney event, which had over 20,000 finishers in its last running in September, had been successful after a three-year candidacy process to join a series of elite events that includes New York, London, Berlin, Boston, Tokyo and Chicago in 2025.

Sydney is the first city in the southern hemisphere to be included as a major and its marathon route takes in some of the most historic landmarks in Australia’s biggest city, including the Harbor Bridge and the Opera House.

Kenyan athlete Brimin Misoi and Ethiopia’s Workanesh Gurmesa surged to record-breaking victories at this year's Sydney marathon in September.

The next Sydney marathon will take place on Aug. 31.



Man City Have the Spirit to Weather the Storm, Dias Says

Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola gives instructions to Manchester City's Portuguese defender #03 Ruben Dias from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 1, 2024. (AFP)
Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola gives instructions to Manchester City's Portuguese defender #03 Ruben Dias from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 1, 2024. (AFP)
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Man City Have the Spirit to Weather the Storm, Dias Says

Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola gives instructions to Manchester City's Portuguese defender #03 Ruben Dias from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 1, 2024. (AFP)
Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola gives instructions to Manchester City's Portuguese defender #03 Ruben Dias from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 1, 2024. (AFP)

Manchester City have the character to come through the rough patch of form that saw the defending champions slump to a fourth straight Premier League defeat at Liverpool on Sunday, defender Ruben Dias said.

Goals from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah gave leaders Liverpool a 2-0 win at Anfield which left City 11 points behind Arne Slot's side in fifth place.

City, who lost four league games in a row for the first time since 2008, are winless in their last seven matches in all competitions, a run that includes six defeats and a 3-3 draw at home against Feyenoord in the Champions League.

They have conceded 19 goals during the winless streak, shipping four in matches against Tottenham Hotspur and Sporting. Prior to the slump they had conceded 11 in 14 games.

"I will not talk about the little details but focus on the bigger picture," said Dias, who was at fault in the lead up to Liverpool's second.

"That is, even though it was a difficult moment I did see a lot of character and I did see the fans behind us and that is the only way we are going to go through it."

City, who have won six of the last seven Premier League titles, have been hit hard by injuries to key players such as Rodri, Mateo Kovacic and John Stones but manager Pep Guardiola has been able to guide the side through injury crises in previous seasons.

"This is just part of our legacy. We have won so much and still we are where we are and this happens," Dias added.

"We have been able to be versatile, adapt and keep on moving forward and thinking one game at a time... That is what we need to get back to."