<p><span id="docs-internal-guid-fd3e36c2-7fff-c133-1f9e-7081ed211d07"></span></p>
<p>Only 6 months left until the most anticipated event of the year! For the first time in history, three world championships will take place in one unforgettable weekend. Trust us, you won't want to miss this. We're pulling out all the stops to make this an experience of a lifetime, so stay tuned for updates and get ready to join us on this journey towards the championships.</p>
<h3>Register now!</h3>
<p>You can register for the mile, 5 kilometers and half-marathon distances of the World Championships in Riga below.</p>
<p><button style="border: none; color: white; padding: 15px 32px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; display: inline-block; font-size: 16px; margin: 4px 2px; cursor: pointer; background-color: #ff873c;"><a style="color: black;" href="https://portal.mikatiming.de/worldchampionshipsriga/SportsProPortal/start.do?type=group&amp;mid=JGDCT1DH2&amp;locale=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Register</a></button></p>

World Athletics Road Running Championships

Only 6 months left until the most anticipated event of the year! For the first time in history, three world championships will take place in one unforgettable weekend.

6 months to go!

<p>Ladies and gentlemen, get ready to flap your wings in excitement because I, the Riga Rooster, have arrived! Inspired by the great Niklāvs Strunke and the Cubism movement of his time, I am proud to represent the World Athletics Road Running Championships.</p>
<p>I am no ordinary bird, let me tell you that. With my head held high, I stand tall as a symbol of this upcoming event, even gracing the official championship's logo! As I strut with one foot on the bank of the Daugava and the other on the opposite shore, I bring people together through the power of sport and friendly competition.</p>
<p>Whether you're a recreational runner or just a fan cheering on your favorite athletes, I invite you to come join the fun at the World Athletics Road Running Championships. Who knows? You might just end up crossing the finish line with a feather in your cap!</p>
<p>Follow my adventures leading up to the event. <strong>See you there!</strong></p>
<p><strong>Remember that registration prices increase as the event approaches, so&nbsp;<a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-road-running-championships/riga23/register">register now!</a></strong></p>

Ladies and gentlemen, get ready to flap your wings in excitement because I have arrived! 

Meet the Riga Rooster!

<p><strong>In today&rsquo;s press conference in Riga, Latvia, the president of World Athletics Sebastian Coe announced that by hosting the inaugural World Athletics Road Running Championships, Riga becomes a symbolic world capital of road running in 2023. He invited everyone to the upcoming world running festival in Riga from September 30 to October 1. The World Athletics Road Running Championships will be the most significant athletics and mass sports event in the history of the Baltic States. Running enthusiasts, schoolchildren, and families with kids will be for the first time running alongside elite athletes and world champions.</strong></p>
<p>Sebastian Coe, the president of World Athletics: <em>&ldquo;By hosting the inaugural World Athletics Road Running Championships, Riga is to become a symbolic World Capital of Road Running in 2023. I invite everyone to Riga to take part in world&rsquo;s first global running festival &ndash; World Athletics Road Running Championships Riga 23.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p><img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6409eea5b90b7fc222a42b2d.jpg" alt="" width="100%" /></p>
<h3>A unique experience for Latvia - two world championships in one year</h3>
<p>2023 will be a unique year for Latvia and Riga, where two World Championships will take place. Already in May, hockey fans will be able to follow the World Hockey Championship and the Latvian national team, while at the end of September and the beginning of October, every runner will be able to take part in the World Athletics Road Running Championships.</p>
<p><strong>Riga Mayor Mārtiņ&scaron; Staķis:</strong> <em>"The fact that the first World Athletics Road Running Championship will take place in Riga in the fall is another proof that we in Riga can, want and know how to create and host world-class events. The World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga will be the most important athletics and mass sports event in the history of the Baltic States, as well as one of the leading athletics events in the world in 2023.</em></p>
<p><em>I have decided to personally invite the mayors of the capitals of the member states whose citizens have currently registered the most for the World Athletics Road Running Championships to a friendly run in Riga. This means that we are sending out invitations to the mayors of London, Berlin, Warsaw, Oslo, as well as Vilnius and Tallinn. We hope for the response of the mayors, and we are sure that their positive responses will further attract fan of running to Riga."</em></p>
<p><strong>Aigars Nords, head of the organizing committee of the World Championships:</strong> <em>"By taking on the organization of the World Athletics Road Running Championships, our big goal is to mark Riga on the world running map forever - we will continue to receive dividends from the World Championships over the next years, when marathon tourists from all over the world will continue to flock to the 2023 World Running Capital and Rimi Riga Marathon&rdquo;.</em></p>
<h3>A world championships for all those who are passionate about running</h3>
<p>Neither the World Hockey Championship nor the European Basketball Championship in 2025, no matter how ambitious and nationally important these events are for Latvia,&nbsp; gives the opportunity for everyone to participate. The idea of forming a team of friends to play against the Canadian national team is just impossible, while all runners are allowed and are invited to participate in the same event on the same roads and courses with world-class athletes and Olympians.</p>
<p><strong>Minister of Education and Science Anda Čak&scaron;a:</strong> <em>"The uniqueness of the World Athletics Road Running Championship lies in the fact that, not only in Latvia, but throughout the world, this is the first world championship in which everyone can take an active part not as a supporter, fan or an active observer, but as an officially registered participant."</em></p>
<p>The Minister is pleased that the World Athletics Road Running Championships will also include events dedicated to kids and schoolchildren - small sprint distances and the School Cup for 5 km and mile participants. Similar to the Rimi Riga Marathon, the most athletic Latvian and Riga schools will also be determined in the World Championships.</p>
<p><img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6409ebedb90b7fc222a42b22.jpg" alt="" width="100%" /></p>
<h3>Jelena Prokopcuka passes the baton to the talented Agate Caune</h3>
<p>At the World Athletics Road Running Championships, Latvia will be represented by the "Latvija Pasaulē" team, which was created with the support of DPD Latvija and the advice of the Latvian Athletics Association. The team will also include one of the most talented young stars, Agate Caune, who has already proven herself on the world running scene, achieving both new personal records and taking significant places among the leaders in the European U20&nbsp; championships.</p>
<p>On the other hand, Jelena Prokopčuka, Latvia's best marathoner of all time, has finished her active sports career and symbolically passed the baton to Agate. Jelena will take part in the mass start of the half-marathon together with recreational runners and her running students.</p>
<p><strong>Jelena Prokopcuka, two-time winner of the New York marathon and Latvian record holder in the marathon distance:</strong> <em>"I can officially announce that in this event I will participate in a mass race for the first time! I've retired from big sports, but that doesn't stop me from continuing to inspire! I will help those who will commit to their first half-marathon during the world road running championships in Riga in the fall!"</em></p>
<p>Jelena Prokopcuka will be the main coach of the "My First World Championship" program created by the organizers, and will train participants who are just starting out in running and who really want to compete in the championships.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6409ec51921c450783510413.jpg" alt="" width="100%" /></p>
<h3>Official championships running t-shirt and mascot</h3>
<p>The World Athletics Road Running Championships is a great way to showcase Latvian art and culture to the world and tell about it. The organizers of the Rimi Riga Marathon continue their annual tradition of putting one of the works of Latvian artists specially created for running on the running shirt of the World Athletic Road Running Championships. This time, after evaluating the works of old masters together with the head of the Latvian National Art Museum Māra Lāce, the work "In Spring" by Vilhelms Purvītis, the most important artist in the history of Latvian art, was selected for the official running shirt. On the other hand, the official championship medals will be created, inspired by Niklāvs Strunke's work.</p>
<p>Niklāvs Strunke and the Cubism of his time were also a source of inspiration, creating the official mascot of the World Athletics Road Running Championships - the Riga Rooster. The National Library of Latvia and the Riga Rooster are represented in the logo of the World Athletics Road Running Championships, symbolizing the two banks of the Daugava and uniting them through this running festival and logo. The Riga Rooster will be present at various Latvian and global events and will invite everyone to participate in World Athletics Road Running Championships, in which anyone can be not only a supporter, but also a participant.</p>
<p><img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6409ec78b90b7fc222a42b2c.jpg" alt="" width="100%" /></p>
<h3>Registration for the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga</h3>
<p>You can register for the mile, 5 kilometers and half-marathon distances of the World Championship in Riga below.</p>
<p><button style="border: none; color: white; padding: 15px 32px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; display: inline-block; font-size: 16px; margin: 4px 2px; cursor: pointer; background-color: #ff873c;"><a style="color: white;" href="https://portal.mikatiming.de/worldchampionshipsriga/SportsProPortal/start.do?type=group&amp;mid=JGDCT1DH2&amp;locale=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Register</a></button></p>

Sebastian Coe announced that by hosting the inaugural World Athletics Road Running Championships, Riga becomes a symbolic world capital of road running in 2023.

Riga becomes a symbolic World Capital of Road Running in 2023

<p>As part of our commitment to promoting gender equity in athletics, we are proud to share the pledges made by our partners and key stakeholders. The World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga have pledged to prioritize gender equity in all aspects of their events. This includes encouraging more women to participate in the half-marathon distance through a specially designed coaching program, and providing valuable skills and experiences to our volunteers, 70% of whom are women. We believe that by having women "run" our event in every sense of the word, we can #wegrowathletics and pave the way for a more equitable future.</p>
<p>As we continue to strive for gender equity in athletics, we are excited to announce that several of our partners and stakeholders have made their own pledges to further advance progress in this area. By using their respective expertise, we hope to see significant strides made towards gender equity in all aspects of our field.</p>
<p>One notable example is the commitment made by the World Athletics community to prioritize gender equity in their events. This includes a focus on encouraging more women to participate in long-distance running events through targeted coaching programs, and ensuring that a significant number of their volunteers are women who are provided with valuable skills and experiences.</p>
<p>We strongly believe that these efforts will go a long way in promoting gender equity in athletics, and are proud to work alongside our partners and stakeholders towards this common goal. By amplifying women's voices and creating opportunities for them to thrive, we can create a more inclusive and equitable sporting community.</p>
<p><strong>#wegrowathletics by having women &ldquo;run&rdquo; our event in all senses of the word. World Athletics Road Running Championships Riga 23 pledge to:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Promote gender equity in all our events. While 5km and 10km distances are popular with both genders, we will put emphasis on encouraging more women to take on the half-marathon distance through a specially designed &lsquo;My First World Championships&rsquo; coaching programme.</li>
<li>Provide our volunteers &ndash; 70% of them being women &ndash; with skills and experiences that will motivate them to pursue further opportunities within running.</li>
</ul>
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/64060aaac2167bc62811acca.png" alt="Women in athletics banner" />
<p style="font-size: 0.9em; color: #b2b2b2; text-align: right; margin: -15px 0 0px;">&nbsp;</p>
</div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

As part of our commitment to promoting gender equity in athletics, we are proud to share the pledges made by our partners and key stakeholders. The World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga have pledged to prioritize gender equity in all aspects of their events.

Celebrating women, creating opportunities and tackling inequality

<p dir="ltr">We are excited to welcome the <strong>president of the World Athletics, Sebastian Coe</strong>, to Riga for the first time! Not only will you have a chance to meet him during the official press conference of the World Athletics Road Running Championships, but also do not miss an informal &ldquo;Breakfast Mile with Seb&rdquo;, covering the course of the official world championship mile distance in Riga. In honor of Sebastian's visit, every runner in the <a title="Virtual Running Club" href="https://www.rimirigamarathonvc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rimi Riga Marathon Virtual Running Club</a> is invited to run the official championship distances - half marathon, 5 km and mile, participating in the virtual challenge "Road to World Championships".</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>World Road Running Championship will take place in Riga on September 30 and October 1</strong>, for the first time in the world history gathering not just the world's best runners, but also running enthusiasts from more than 100 countries in three distances (Road Mile, 5 km and Half-marathon).</p>
<p dir="ltr">This world running festival will be the largest and the most important public sports event in the history of the Baltic States. We will crown world champions in the road mile (1609 m), five kilometer and half marathon (21.0975 km) distances, as well as offer an opportunity for everyone to participate in mass races and earn unique World Championship medals!</p>
<h1 dir="ltr">Events dedicated to the World Championship:</h1>
<h2><span id="docs-internal-guid-8f5157a9-7fff-eeb6-5da5-bc4eb1529c01">World Championship press conference </span></h2>
<p><span id="docs-internal-guid-8f5157a9-7fff-eeb6-5da5-bc4eb1529c01">March 9 at 13.00, Latvian National Art Museum</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-GB">The Rimi Riga Marathon team, who together with the Latvian Athletics Federation and World Athletics are also the organizers of the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga, will inform about the preparations for the unique running festival at the press conference on March 9. Together with Sebastian Coe, the mayor of Riga Mārtiņ&scaron; Staķis, representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science, Aigars Nords, the leader of the organizing team of the World Championships, Jeļena Prokopčuka, the two-time winner of the New York Marathon, and Latvia's most talented rising star - Agate Caune, will also participate in the press conference.</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-GB">During the press conference, the official mascot of the World Road Running Championships in Riga will be unveiled &ndash; the mascot will represent Riga and the World Athletics Road Running Championship in various events in Latvia and the world. In addition, the official World Athletics Road Running Championships shirt, created in cooperation with the Latvian National Art Museum, will be presented during the press conference.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-d33f0747-7fff-085f-dddf-f4cfb6e5c9b0"></span></p>
<h2 dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-db2bc2aa-7fff-3f9b-17c5-a9b01dd4bbdb">Breakfast Mile with Sebastian Coe</span></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-db2bc2aa-7fff-3f9b-17c5-a9b01dd4bbdb">March 9 at 7.30 from the Latvian National Art Museum</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-1a5d066d-7fff-d55a-bf19-f501b14fcc32">A symbolic informal race covering the world championship&rsquo;s mile distance will be held together with Sebastian Coe on Thursday, March 9, at 7:30 a.m. from the National Art Museum to the Freedom Monument. Everyone is invited for an easy and friendly run with the President. The run will finish with a group photo at the Monument of Freedom.</span></p>
<h2 dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-6dd16e56-7fff-11ad-db1f-b5a85aea7733">Virtual running club challenges "Road to World Championships"</span></h2>
<p><span id="docs-internal-guid-8a49a08c-7fff-4755-55f5-900d2ff9c442"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr">For two weeks, all runners will be able to participate in the Rimi Riga Marathon Virtual Running Club challenge "Road to World Championships", which will offer the opportunity to finish the official World Championship distances - half marathon, 5 km and mile, with the opportunity to win official World Championship shirts and free entries in one of World championship distances. Participation in the virtual Running Club challenges is free, giving you the opportunity to run by taking part in the challenge, anywhere in Latvia or the world.</p>
<h1><span id="docs-internal-guid-9b80f759-7fff-8afd-e1ee-142d37c84a5a">Run with the world, register now!</span></h1>
<p dir="ltr">Take the opportunity to register and participate in the World Athletics Road Running Championships mass races, earning your first World Running Championships medals!</p>
<p dir="ltr">Remember that registration prices increase as the event approaches, so <a title="Register now!" href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-road-running-championships/riga23/register" target="_blank" rel="noopener">register now!</a></p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>

We are happy that in the second week of spring, the president of the World Athletics, Sebastian Coe, is coming to visit us for the first time.

Sebastian Coe is coming to Riga

<p>With a little more than 7 months to go for the inaugural World Athletics Road Running Championships, the mass races have already attracted registrations from running enthusiasts representing 40 countries all over the world.</p>
<p>So what are you waiting for? Register now and secure your place in the first ever World Athletics Road Running Championships!</p>
<p>Set to take place in Riga from September 30 to October 1, 2023, the World Road Running Championships offers three races - the half-marathon, 5 km, and road mile &ndash; providing a chance to earn one or several World Championship medals for runners of all abilities.</p>
<p>With the world's top athletes and running enthusiasts from around the world coming together in Riga, the event promises to be a truly unforgettable experience for all runners involved.</p>
<p>Check out <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-road-running-championships/riga23/courses">the courses</a> and register today!</p>
<p><button style="border: none; padding: 15px 32px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; display: inline-block; font-size: 16px; margin: 4px 2px; cursor: pointer; background-color: #ff873c;"><a style="color: white; text-decoration: none;" href="https://portal.mikatiming.de/worldchampionshipsriga/SportsProPortal/start.do?type=group&amp;mid=JGDCT1DH2&amp;locale=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Register</a></button></p>

We’ve got runners from 40 countries already! Are you one of them?

With a little more than 7 months to go for the inaugural World Athletics Road Running Championships, the mass races have already attracted registrations from running enthusiasts representing 40 countries all over the world.

So what are you waiting for? Register now and secure your place in the first ever World Athletics Road Running Championships!

Set to take place in Riga from September 30 to October 1, 2023, the World Road Running Championships offers three races - the half-marathon, 5 km, and road mile – providing a chance to earn one or several World Championship medals for runners of all abilities.

With the world's top athletes and running enthusiasts from around the world coming together in Riga, the event promises to be a truly unforgettable experience for all runners involved.

We’ve got runners from 40 countries already! Are you one of them?

<h4>The <strong>World Athletics Road Running Championships, which will have its premiere in Riga, the capital city of Latvia, on September 30th and October 1st, 2023, starts collaboration with the SuperHalfs half-marathon series, comprising the leading half-marathon running events in Lisbon, Prague, Copenhagen, Cardiff and Valencia. The collaboration aims to reach out to runners globally and encourage them to take part in the mass races of the inaugural World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga later this year.&nbsp;</strong></h4>
<p><strong><img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/63db825b04550c71a06a9194.png" alt="" width="940" height="785" /></strong></p>
<p>The organizers of the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga (WRRC Riga 23) are certain that the collaboration with the SuperHalfs half-marathon series will not only help recreational runners across the globe discover the opportunity to be part of the World Championships in Riga, but also help boost the revival of the mass running events in general. Riga is preparing to welcome thousands of recreational runners from at least 100 countries to the World Athletics Road Running Championships, and the communications support from SuperHalfs will certainly help achieve this goal.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Sa&scaron;o Belovski, managing director of SuperHalfs, comments:</strong> <em>"Riga is incredibly fortunate not only to host the inaugural World Athletics Road Running Championships and mass races, but also to offer runners the opportunity to take part in three mass races over the championships weekend &ndash; half-marathon, 5km, and road mile. At SuperHalfs, we are all about encouraging runners to participate in beautiful running adventures, and the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga will undoubtedly be a truly unique and unmissable experience in 2023!"&nbsp;</em></p>
<p>The SuperHalfs half-marathon series was established in 2020, bringing together five picturesque half-marathon races across Europe &ndash; Lisbon, Prague, Copenhagen, Cardiff and Valencia &ndash; allowing thousands of runners to experience the joy of running, traveling and adventure all at once.&nbsp; Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the community of SuperHalfs runners continues to expand, attracting thousands of runners globally. The collaboration between WRRC Riga 23 and SuperHalfs will involve communications support through all of SuperHalfs and member races&rsquo; channels highly recommending running at the World Championships in Riga.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Aigars Nords, the head of the Local Organizing Committee of World Athletics Road Running Championships:</strong> <em>"The biggest challenge for us as the organizers of the inaugural World Athletics Road Running Championships is to help recreational runners realize and get used to the idea that anybody can participate in a mass race at the world championships. We believe that our collaboration with SuperHalfs will help us get this message across Europe and the whole world, and persuade running enthusiasts to come and test themselves in Riga in 2023"</em></p>
<p>Furthermore, the World Championships in Riga will offer a suitable distance for everyone &ndash; from Kids&rsquo; festival with several thousand little ones running to Road Mile, 5km and Half-Marathon. Just like in the SuperHalfs series, it will also be possible to earn a Hall of Fame recognition by receiving all three of the official participation medals - all you have to do is finish all three distances!"</p>
<h3><strong>Registration for the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga</strong></h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">Take the opportunity to participate in the World Championship Road Running mass races, earning your first World Road Running Championship medals!</p>
<p>Any recreational runner can register for the road mile (1609 m), 5 kilometer and half-marathon distances of the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga!</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><button style="border: none; padding: 15px 32px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; display: inline-block; font-size: 16px; margin: 4px 2px; cursor: pointer; background-color: #ff873c;"> <a style="color: white; text-decoration: none;" href="https://portal.mikatiming.de/worldchampionshipsriga/SportsProPortal/start.do?type=group&amp;mid=JGDCT1DH2&amp;locale=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Register</a> </button></p>

The World Athletics Road Running Championships, which will have its premiere in Riga, the capital city of Latvia, on September 30th and October 1st, 2023, starts collaboration with the SuperHalfs half-marathon series.

World Athletics Road Running Championships collaborates with SuperHalfs race series to drive mass participation

<p dir="ltr">The World Athletics Road Running Championships Riga23 will feature three exciting courses for runners of all levels. The Half-marathon, 5 km, and mile races will not only serve as the showcase event for the world's elite road runners as a World Road Running Championship for each distance, but will also be open to the general public as a mass race. For the first time ever, featuring a Road Mile distance to the World Road Running Championships!</p>
<p dir="ltr">Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, these courses offer a unique opportunity to test your limits and experience the thrill of competition on the world stage. So mark your calendars, lace up your shoes, and get ready to hit the road in Riga! Get to know your first World Championships course (or courses) further below!</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Half-Marathon - Sunday, October 1, 2023</h2>
<p>The half-marathon distance no doubt is the toughest distance at the World Road Running Championships Riga23, but with consistent training and a dedicated training plan, it is definitely achievable for most people. With about 2-3 months of consistent running, building up your endurance and stamina, and following a training plan that is tailored to your needs and goals, you can be ready to tackle the half-marathon distance at the World Road Running Championships Riga23.</p>
<p><a title="WRRC Riga23 Half-marathon course" href="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/638898632f10c239a4c8c9ea.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/638898632f10c239a4c8c9ea.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="750" /></a></p>
<p>The mass race starts at 11:35, October 1, 2023.</p>
<p dir="ltr">For more information about the Half-Marathon course,&nbsp;<a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-road-running-championships/riga23/courses/half-marathon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">visit here</a>!</p>
<p dir="ltr">Check out the rest of the courses as well - the 5 km and the Road Mile. Wouldn&rsquo;t it be great to run all of them in Riga?&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">5 km - Saturday, September 30, 2023</h2>
<p>The 5 km distance is a popular choice among recreational runners as it is a manageable distance for almost everyone. However, it is also a highly competitive distance for elite runners, offering exciting races and fast times. The 5 km distance is a great option for runners of all levels to test their abilities and push their limits.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a title="WRRC Riga23 5k course" href="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/638732403a5b52188dc2f361.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/638732403a5b52188dc2f361.jpg" alt="5 km Course Map of the World Road Running Championships Riga23" width="750" height="750" /></a></p>
<p dir="ltr">The mass race starts at&nbsp;13:10, September 30, 2023.</p>
<p dir="ltr">For more information about the 5 km course, <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-road-running-championships/riga23/courses/5-km" target="_blank" rel="noopener">visit here</a>!</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Road Mile - Saturday, September 30, 2023</h2>
<p dir="ltr">The World's first-ever Road Mile Championship is an event not to be missed on the last day of September, in the heart of Latvia, the largest country in the Baltics.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Regardless of whether you are a beginner or experienced runner, the mile distance is fun and challenging for everyone - from families with children, seniors, and veterans to elite runners, from whom we may expect a <strong>new world record</strong>. It's a great distance for anyone looking for an exciting run in the heart of Riga, the largest city in the Baltic region! Note that we will finish at the Freedom Monument!<a title="WRRC Riga23 Mile course" href="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6387341a9758b3e219d5d23f.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6387341a9758b3e219d5d23f.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="750" /></a></p>
<p dir="ltr">The mass race starts at 10:00,&nbsp;September 30, 2023.</p>
<p dir="ltr">For more information about the Road Mile course, <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-road-running-championships/riga23/courses/road-mile" target="_blank" rel="noopener">visit here</a>!</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Run with the World, register now!</h2>
<p dir="ltr">The World Championship, which was once only available to elite athletes, is now available to everyone! Take the opportunity to register and participate in the World Championship running mass races, earning the first World Running Championship medals!</p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><a style="display: inline-block; border: none; color: white; padding: 15px 0; text-align: center; font-size: 24px; margin: 4px 0; cursor: pointer; background-color: #9d6ee9; width: 100%; text-decoration: none;" href="https://worldathletics.org/en/competitions/world-athletics-road-running-championships/riga23/register">Register now!</a></h2>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

Discover the Courses of World Road Running Championships Riga23. World Road Running Championships Riga 2023.

The Courses of World Road Running Championships Riga23

<h3>The inaugural World Athletics Road Running Championships, which will take place on 30 September and 1 October 2023, in Riga, will be the most significant public sporting and athletics event in the history of the Baltic countries.&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>This unique global running festival, which will crown the world mile, 5km and half marathon champions, will see tens of thousands of amateur runners from at least 100 countries competing alongside elite runners.&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>With 365 days to go, <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-road-running-championships/riga23/register" target="_blank" rel="noopener">any recreational runner who is ready for a challenge can register for any of the official mass races</a></span> of the World Championships in Riga and earn a unique medal from the&nbsp; World Athletics Road Running Championships.</h3>
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<p><img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6335c1092077eb233b99b947.jpg" alt="From the left side: Mayor or Riga Mārtiņ&scaron; Staķis, two-time New York City Marathon winner Jeļena Prokopčuka, Director of Competition and Events for World Athletics Jakob Larsen, General Secretary at Latvian Athletics Association Dmitrijs Miļkevičs, Head of the Organising Team of the WRRC Riga 23 Aigars Nords, Executive Advisor for the WRRC Riga 23 Paul Hardy." width="2500" height="2000" /></p>
<p><em>From the left side: Mayor of Riga Mārtiņ&scaron; Staķis, two-time New York City Marathon winner Jeļena Prokopčuka, Director of Competition and Events for World Athletics Jakob Larsen, General Secretary of the Latvian Athletics Association Dmitrijs Miļkevičs, Head of the Organising Team of the WRRC Riga 23 Aigars Nords, Executive Advisor of the WRRC Riga 23 Paul Hardy.</em></p>
<p><br />World Athletics nominated the Rimi Riga Marathon team and the Latvian Athletics Association to host the championships in July of 2021. The organisers are certain that the championships will promote athletics and public fitness, as well as become a significant base for Riga and Latvia&rsquo;s international recognition. The championships are supported by Riga City Council, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, and the Rimi Riga Marathon.&nbsp;</p>
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<h4><strong>World Athletics President Sebastian Coe commented:</strong> <em>&ldquo;We aim to shape the first World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga as the ultimate road running experience for both the elite and recreational runners. The new format of the championships will help our sport by showcasing the power of road running and mass participation, inspiring younger generations, and driving sports tourism. We expect a record international attendance and are very much looking forward to welcoming the fans of running to Riga, the capital of Latvia, in 2023.&rdquo;</em></h4>
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<p>The World Championships will feature not only the greatest running stars, but also amateur running enthusiasts from Latvia, the Baltics, and the world. Organisers are preparing to host up to 30,000 running tourists from at least 100 countries in Riga, and are also hoping for a very active Latvian participation in all mass races&nbsp;</p>
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<h4><em>&ldquo;The fact that the new championship format allows any running enthusiast to earn a real World Championships medal seems almost unbelievable. In what other sport would this be possible? Only in running! That&rsquo;s why the first World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga are a dream come true for the local organising committee &mdash; the Championships in this format will play a crucial role in popularising athletics and will give Riga a chance to shine on the world running stage, strengthening its reputation as a premier running destination,&rdquo;</em> <strong>adds Aigars Nords, Head of the Organising Team of the World Athletics Road Running Championships Riga 23.</strong></h4>
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<p>Organisers have already launched an expansive campaign and slogan &mdash; &ldquo;Riga: World Capital of Running&rdquo; &mdash; in Riga&rsquo;s most significant tourism markets to attract marathon tourists and ensure that first World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga in October attract a record number of overseas runners.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Registration for the World Road Running Championships in Riga</h2>
<p>Hopefuls can register for the mass races in Riga in the mile, 5km and half marathon races from today in the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-road-running-championships/riga23/register"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>registration</strong></span></a> section. As usual, it will cost less for those who register early, while the participation fee will increase closer to the event.&nbsp;</p>
<p>A festive atmosphere will be created throughout the city with the involvement of the Latvian Song and Dance Festival, which celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2023. The organisers of the championships have collaborated successfully with the festival in the past, so, with the involvement of hundreds of choir singers and dancers, runners at the World Championships will once again be greeted by the Song and Dance Festival.</p>
<p><button style="border: none; color: white; padding: 15px 32px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; display: inline-block; font-size: 16px; margin: 4px 2px; cursor: pointer; background-color: #ff873c;"><a style="color: white;" href="https://portal.mikatiming.de/worldchampionshipsriga/SportsProPortal/start.do?type=group&amp;mid=JGDCT1DH2&amp;locale=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Register</a></button></p>
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The inaugural World Athletics Road Running Championships, which will take place on 30 September and 1 October 2023, in Riga, will be the most significant public sporting and athletics event in the history of the Baltic countries. 

Mass registration opens for the inaugural World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga

<h2>Logo launched for WRRC Riga 23</h2>
<p>The logo for these World Championships has also been launched today and will maintain the format of World Athletics Series events.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The main part of the logo features two important symbols of Riga: the rooster from the top of St. Peter&rsquo;s Church, representing the right side of the Daugava River; and the spire of the National Library, representing the left side of the Daugava. The Championship courses will also visit both banks of the river, represented in the unifying of the two iconic symbols from each Daugava bank.</p>
<p>World Athletics Series event identities usually include the host city combined with the year. RIGA 23 has been modelled on the iconic RĪGA city border sign. In this form, RIGA 23 has already started its journey around the world&rsquo;s classic marathons, with the aim of attracting a record number of marathon tourists to Riga in 2023.</p>
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<p><img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6335bbf77e33d0542f6db1c3.png" alt="" width="1200" height="366" /></p>
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The logo for these World Championships has also been launched today and will maintain the format of World Athletics Series events. 

Logo launched for World Athletics Road Running Championships Riga 23

<p>With a campaign targeted at the most important Riga tourism markets and the slogan 'Riga &ndash; World Capital of Running', the organisers of the Rimi Riga Marathon intend to attract a record number of marathon tourists to the Latvian capital in 2023.</p>
<p>A tour of European classic running events combined with an international campaign should attract at least 30,000 marathon-tourists to two major running events of Riga &ndash; the Rimi Riga Marathon in May 2023 and the first World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga in October 2023.</p>
<p>"Just like the Rimi Riga Marathon in May, the first World Athletics Road Running Championships, which will crown the world&rsquo;s half-marathon, five-kilometre and road mile champions in October, will provide an opportunity for every running fan to be able to run alongside the world's elite runners," said Aigars Nords, Race Director of the Rimi Riga Marathon and Head of the Local Organising Committee of the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga.</p>
<p>"We will start the registration for the World Road Running Championships distances in two weeks, and I think that runners from all over the world will take advantage of the unique opportunity to take home unique World Championship medals. We start the international campaign of Riga&rsquo;s 2023 events a year before the World Championships, because we want the name of Riga, the world's running capital, to be heard far and wide, and we want to see Riga overflooded with international runners again."</p>
<p>The first stop of the 'Riga &ndash; World Capital of Running' campaign this weekend is the Copenhagen Half-Marathon, which with 25,000 runners is one of the most popular running events not only in Northern Europe, but also in the world. From September 22 to 25, Riga will present itself in Berlin, where one of the world&rsquo;s most important marathons will take place with almost forty thousand participants. The campaign will continue in the autumn of 2022 and in the spring and summer of 2023 with further promotion of 'Riga &ndash; World Capital of Running' and the participation in important running events.</p>
<p>Dressed in Latvian national folk costumes, the organisers will present Riga with giant letters &ldquo;RIGA 23&rdquo; in both Copenhagen and Berlin. Mini-versions of the letters can be seen in a symbolic photo on Brīvības Street in Riga before leaving.</p>

Organisers of the World Athletics Road Running Championships Riga 23 go on tour

Riga – world capital of running in 2023

<p>World Athletics has accepted Riga&rsquo;s bid to host the 2023 World Road Running Championships.</p>
<p>This will take place in a new format for the first time, and will include both the 5km and half marathon world championships, gathering world-class elite athletes and running enthusiasts from around the world. Riga won its bid to host the World Athletics Road Running Championships over 12 other cities worldwide.</p>
<p>The application to host the 2023 edition in Riga was put together by the Rimi Riga Marathon team in collaboration with the Latvian Athletics Association, Riga City Council, the Ministry of Education and Science and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</p>
<p>"We have been dreaming about the chance to organize these running world championships in Riga for a long time, so the news that the World Athletics Board had decided on Riga as host for the championships fulfilled a long-held dream," said Aigars Nords, Head of the Riga World Athletics Road Running Championships organising team.</p>
<p>"We want the 2023 World Championships to serve as a significant step towards popularising running and athletics, inspire the next generation, and allow Riga to shine on the world running stage. The World Championships, which will have a new format in Riga for the first time, will strengthen Riga in the long term as a location for leading international running events."</p>
<p>"We are of interest to the world not just because of our geography, history, architecture, charm and investment opportunities, but also for our talent at organising significant world sporting and cultural events," said Mārtiņ&scaron; Staķis, Mayor of Riga. "I thank our team who were able to convince World Athletics of Riga&rsquo;s advantages in hosting the World Athletics Road Running Championships, and I cannot wait for 2023 when the championships will take place in Riga in their new format for the first time."</p>
<p>The 2023 World Athletics Road Running Championships will take place in Riga at the end of September or the start of October. More detailed information on the 2023 championships will follow.</p>

Riga’s bid to host the 2023 World Road Running Championships has been successful

Riga to host 2023 World Athletics Road Running Championships

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