Contact: Rita Radostitz, Communications Director
Track Town USA
Email: [email protected]
(541) 221-9760
TrackTown.net

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 Monday, March 30, 2009

EUGENE OR.  The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Award for Sport and the Environment will be awarded to the Local Organizing Committee for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track and Field and the Oregon Track Club for their environmental and sustainability efforts during Eugene 08.

Vin Lananna, Eugene 08 Co-Chair and University of Oregon Associate Athletic Director and Director of Track & Field will accept the award on behalf of the Oregon Track Club along with Barbara Kousky, one of the Eugene 08 Project Managers. The award will be presented this evening by Lambis Nikolaou, Vice President of the International Olympic Committee, during the 8th Conference on Sport and the Environment in Vancouver, B.C. which was organized by Tomas Sithole, the Director of the IOC International Cooperation and Development.

The sustainability initiatives during Eugene 08 were a combined effort of the Cities of Eugene and Springfield, Lane County, the University of Oregon, State of Oregon government officials and hundreds of volunteers.

“We are thrilled Eugene 08 is being recognized for our environmental and sustainability efforts,” said Lananna.  “We share the IOC and USOC’s commitment to the goals of creating environmentally sustainable sporting events.”

According to the IOC, the Sport and the Environment Award “will be awarded every two years, and will acknowledge and further encourage the implementation of good environmental practices by the Olympic family in the field of sport. One Award will be given to each of the continents: Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania.”  The Oregon Track Club was selected as the first winner from the Americas.

The criteria for the award included:
Design and/or construction of sport facilities;
Protection and enhancement of biodiversity or cultural heritage through sport;
Environmental education or raising sports community awareness on environmental and sustainability issues;
Management of sport events, facilities or clubs;
Media coverage and production of material to promote sustainability in sport;
Initiatives incorporating sustainable sport practices.

More information on the award can be found at "http://www.wcse2009.com/"

During the 2008 Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field at Hayward Field, a number of sustainable efforts were made, including using all electric power from Green Energy sources, a solar powered stage at the Eugene 08 Festival, bike valet service, significant use of a bus shuttle system, and a massive recycling and composting effort which resulted in a Lane County Special Event “Trashbuster” Award.  These efforts also were also recognized by Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski through the “Oregon Sustainability Special Project Award” presented by Secretary of State Bill Bradbury at the Oregon Business Plan Leadership Summit, and now have resulted in this global award by the International Olympic Committee.

Eugene will also host the 2009 U.S. National Championships for Track & Field June 25-28 at Hayward Field. Tickets are now on sale at www.goducks.com. For more information visit www.tracktown.net.

# # #