RIGA - The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has awarded Gold Label to the Lattelecom Riga Marathon, recognizing the annual event in the Latvian capital as one of the world's leading road races, organizers of the Riga Marathon said on Thursday.

The Riga Marathon has now become the only marathon in Northern Europe to join the world's most prestigious marathon league which also includes such internationally renowned distance running competitions as the marathons in Berlin, Tokyo, London, Boston, New York, Prague, and others.

Aigars Nords, race director of the Lattelecom Riga Marathon, said that the IAAF Gold Label was a wonderful gift on Latvia's upcoming centenary.

Upon assessing the Riga Marathon 2018, IAAF representatives found that the mass running event met the highest quality standards and deserved to be designated as Gold Label Road Race starting 2019.

The 2019 calendar of Gold Label Road Races has yet to be approved, but it is expected that it will feature over 30 marathons across the world, including the Riga Marathon.