This week, Eugene is hosting representatives from the International Association of Athletics Federations, track and field's governing body. They are reviewing progress for July's World Junior Championships, being held in the United States for the first time.
Abby Hoffman is a four-time Olympian and a member of the IAAF Council. She says this visit is focused on logistics, such as coordinating with the U of O to house and feed an estimated 1,600 athletes.
Hoffman: "Overall I think our assessment is, it's kind of like the weather today, everything's, to this point, working out really well."
The United States has never hosted an IAAF championship. Hoffman says, speaking as a Canadian as well as a representative of the organization:
Hoffman: "We feel that it's really important for the future development not only of athletics or track and field internationally, but in the U.S.A., that these kind of events take place in the U.S."
Track Town USA has also been awarded the 2016 World Indoor Competition, which will take place in Portland. The World Junior Championships is July 22nd to 27th.
