From 30 September to 1 October, the capital city of Latvia will host the World Athletics Road Running Championships Riga 23, the most important event for each and everybody. Along with the world’s elite runners, every running and outdoor enthusiast will have the opportunity to join the mass races in the mile, 5 km, half marathon and half marathon relay distances.
“I know people in Riga for whom running is an important part of their life. For some, it is part of their identity. I see a lot of locals going for their daily run in the streets of Riga. By becoming the World Running Capital, Riga creates opportunities for both residents and visitors to celebrate this major sporting event in a healthy and joyful way. We are proud to welcome participants and guests to the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga in late September and early October to compete for medals and celebrate the World Running Championships. I wish a successful run to everyone from Riga! Let the runners from more than 100 countries enjoy the running festival, participate in the events created by our entrepreneurs, culture and sports organisers, get to know the flavours of Latvia and feel the hospitality of Riga!”, says Laima Geikina, Chairperson of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee of Riga City Council.
Riga is also actively preparing for the World Running Championships, with posters already decorating the city’s streets and billboards.
The World Running Championships EXPO will take place on Friday, 29 September from 10.00 to 20.00 at Hanzas Perons, where participants can collect their bibs and feel the pre-event vibes.
On Saturday, 30 September, from 10.00 to 15.00, the Children’s Day at the Freedom Monument will take place, and the EXPO in Hanzas Perons will be open also on this day.
The elite races of the World Championships in Riga will be launched with the Women’s 5 km World Championships, which will start at the foot of the Akmens Bridge at 11.50, and will end with the Men’s Half Marathon World Championships, which will start at 14.15 together with the mass start of the Half Marathon, and also at the foot of the Akmens Bridge.
Programme:
- 10.00 5 km, mass start, Akmens Bridge
- 11.30 Mile, mass start, Art Museum
- 11.50 5 km, elite women, Akmens Bridge
- 12.15 5 km, elite men, Akmens Bridge
- 13.00 Mile, elite women, Art Museum
- 13.10 Mile, elite men, Art Museum
- 13.30 Half marathon, elite women, Akmens Bridge
- 14.15 Half marathon, elite men, mass start and relay, Akmens Bridge
Organisers invite the runners to register before 30 September for the mass start of all distances, where everyone has the chance to run with the world’s fastest on the same track and win the official World Championship medals. Everyone is invited to watch and cheer the race for the medals in the streets of Riga, while the worldwide live broadcast in Latvia will be provided by Latvian television.
Five world record holders will also compete for medals and titles at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga. A total of 56 national teams with 348 elite runners – 151 ladies and 197 men – are registered for the event in Riga.They will compete for championship titles in three World Championships distances: the mile, the 5 km and the half marathon.
Information prepared by: Sindija Grāvere, the Project Coordinator of the External Communication Division of Riga City Council, email: sindija.gravere@riga.lv.
