A bill expected to provide enough state funding to honor Gov. Kate Brown’s pledge of $40 million for the 2021 World Outdoor Track & Field Championships squeaked through the Oregon House on Friday.
The bill passed by a vote of 37-18. It needed 36 votes to pass. It now heads to the Senate.
The measure would keep in place the state’s elevated lodging tax. The bill’s passage overcame vocal opposition from advocates for affordable housing and critics of the salaries of executives of Travel Oregon,. Revenue raised by the tax goes first to Travel Oregon, which is expected to pass it on to Oregon21, local organizing committee for the World Outdoor Championships.
The World Outdoor Championships are scheduled next year from Aug. 6-15 at the University of Oregon’s rebuilt Hayward Field in Eugene. More than 200 countries are expected to participate.
This will be the first time the World Outdoor Championships have taken place in the U.S.
Here is The O’s story on the bill’s passage and issues raised in debate.
And here is the R-G story: Bill for state funding of the World Outdoor Championships passes the Oregon House.
OK, more links:
Associated Press sportswriter Eddie Pells wins an award from the Associated Press Sports Editors for his coverage of former Nike Oregon Project coach Alberto Salazar’s four-year ban from the sport.
Mo Farah says he has suffered emotionally and financially from the fallout from Salazar’s ban. (Sky Sports)
Trip to Ireland boosted marathoner Emily Sisson, one of the favorites at the next week’s U.S. Olympic Trials. (ESPN)
Which old guy has has the best shot at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials -- Dathan Ritzenhein, Bernard Lagat or Abdi Abdirahman? (LetsRun.com)
Better nutrition fuels Stephanie Bruce’s bid at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. (Women’s Running)
Minnesota teen heads to Atlanta for the U.S. Olympic Trials. (Runner’s World)
Christian Coleman is the guy to beat in the 100 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials. (Track & Field News)
Sports Illustrated takes a retrospective look at the great Jackie Joyner-Kersee.
Yulimar Rojas soars to the women’s world indoor triple jump record with a mark of 50-7 1/2 (15.43). (ESPN)
Rojas seizes the moment. (World Athletics)
Triple jumper Quanesha Burks is back, and she has big goals. (DyeStat)
USATF selects triple jumper Tori Franklin as athlete of the week. (USATF)
Boosted by his performance at the USATF Indoor Championships, sprinter Marvin Bracy targets the Olympics. (DyeStat)
Peter Bol edges training partner Joseph Deng in the 800 at the Sydney Track Classic. (World Athletics)
South Dakota’s Chris Nilsen breaks the collegiate pole vault record that had been held by Mondo Duplantis. (USTFCCCA)
Decathlete Mitch Modin uses this vlog to take viewers through another practice session and demonstrates proper hurdling form.
UP Pilots get the weekend off to a strong start in Seattle. (UP website)
Washington’s Angel Nkwonta takes down her own school record in the weight throw. (Paul Merca)
Western Oregon enjoys a good first day at the GNAC Indoor Championships. (WOSC website)
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The links package from Track & Field News.
The news links from RunnerSpace.com.
-- Ken Goe
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