Portland to Host World Track Championships in 2016
The World Indoor Track and Field Championships are coming to Portland's Oregon Convention Center in March of 2016. The event, which is expected to draw more than 600 athletes and more than 8,000 spectators, is sponsored by Nike and the International Association of Athletics Federations. The three-day meet typically features athletes from more than 200 countries, from Austria to Zambia. The event is also expected to draw a worldwide television audience of more than 1.3 million viewers. This will be just the second time the event has been held in the United States. The first World Track Championships were held in Indianapolis in 1987.
About the World Track Championships
Begun in 1987, the World Indoor Track and Field Championships are held every two years and feature 13 events for male athletes and 13 events for female athletes. Similar to the Olympic Games, the first, second and third-place finishers are awarded medals.
The 2016 event will include more than contests over three days, such as a fan festivals, concerts and other off-track events.
About the Oregon Convention Center
Opened in 1990, the Oregon Convention Center is located along the Willamette River in the heart of Portland. A new 200 meter IAAF-certified track is being built at the center, which will be used for 13 events.
Oregon, the corporate headquarters for Nike, is already the training home for many of the world's best track and field athletes. Organizers are excited to be hosting the event in 2016, just a few months before the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.