Great North Run organisers' apology over 'unique' 2025 medal mistake

The team behind the Great North Run have apologised after the 2025 edition of the race included a map of Sunderland rather than Tyneside.

- by Echo Reporter

The medal was awarded to all 60,000 participants of the half-marathon, which starts in Newcastle and continues through Gateshead before finishing in South Shields.

The front of the design depicts the Tyne Bridge, an iconic part of the 13.1-mile 'city to sea' route.

However, the back shows a street map of Sunderland, labelled Newcastle, South Tyneside and Gateshead.

Parts of Wearside, including the Stadium of Light, can be seen in the design.

The race's blue finisher T-shirt also has the shape of the River Wear at the core of its design.

Yesterday morning race organisers issued a statement after the design mistake was picked up across social media by runners.

The statement says: "Wear sorry!

"As the eagle-eyed have already spotted, the shape of the river on this year's finisher T-shirt and medal is indeed the River Wear.