The Budapest Sport Office (BSI) is preparing an astonishing 3.5 tons of finisher medals for the jubilee 40th SPAR Budapest Marathon Festival, set to become the largest mass-participation sporting event in Hungary’s history. The official medal for this landmark occasion pays tribute to Budapest’s iconic architecture.
To fittingly celebrate the October 11–12 jubilee edition, the Festival will award special finisher medals whose design language reflects Budapest’s unique architectural atmosphere.
At the heart of the design stands Fisherman’s Bastion, one of the city’s most beloved and recognisable landmarks. The choice is no coincidence: the race route showcases some of the capital’s most beautiful areas, including UNESCO World Heritage sites, for which Fisherman’s Bastion serves as a worthy emblem. The detailed depiction is framed by delicate, Hungarian-style ornamental motifs. The aim is not only to recognise athletic achievement, but also to provide a tangible keepsake of the city—so that, upon crossing the finish line, runners can take a piece of Budapest home with them.
“We chose a symbol that speaks to both our history and the city’s magic. We trust that everyone who receives it at the finish will wear it with pride—as a memento of their achievement and an unforgettable running experience in Budapest,” said Árpád Kocsis, Managing Director of the Budapest Sport Office.
All finishers across the Festival’s distances will receive a medal featuring Fisherman’s Bastion, with variations in size and finish to reflect the different levels of performance. The largest and most intricately crafted medal will go to individual finishers of the classic marathon distance, while runners of the shorter races and relay events will receive distinct, distance-appropriate designs.
In total, organisers are preparing nearly 3,500 kilograms of individually designed finisher medals for what promises to be the most attended mass-participation sports event ever held in Hungary.
