Confirming reports appearing in Italian media today, Olympic marathon champion Stefano Baldini has been invited to compete in the ING New York City Marathon in November, organizers of the race said today.

"Stefano has officially been invited to run the ING New York City Marathon and has been given an offer to do so," race director Mary Wittenberg confirmed in a statement today. ""We would be honored to have Stefano join our spectacular field. The door is open to him, but it is his decision to decide whether he joins us this year. His health and well being is first and foremost and we will respect his decision regardless."

In Gothenburg, Sweden, on Sunday, Baldini won the European title for the second time, clocking 2:11:32. With his 2004 Olympic gold and a pair of World Championships bronze medals, the 35-year-old Italian has produced one of the most illustrious marathon careers in the history of road racing. Besides his championship performances, Baldini has run four sub-2:08 marathons, most recently at the Flora London Marathon last April, when he lowered the Italian national record to 2:07:22.

"He is a champion's champion and has proven himself in all styles of racing on different terrain against all of our sport's best," Wittenberg said. "Today the mantle of Italy's great tradition of marathoning again rest on his shoulders as it has the last several years. That great Italian tradition has only grown stronger during Stefano's reign. All that is missing is that New York crown."

Immediately following Sunday's race, Baldini said he wouldn't decide about a fall marathon appearance for at least a week.