IAAF awarded the '21 world championships to Eugene in April '15 without a formal bid processGETTY IMAGES
The TrackTown USA organizing committee is "standing by the successful bid" for the '21 World Outdoor Track & Field Championships after reports surfaced that U.S prosecutors have "issued grand jury subpoenas in connection with a wider corruption investigation," according to Ken Goe of the Portland OREGONIAN. TrackTown USA CEO Michael Reilly in a statement said, "Our role was to put the best bid forward. We are proud of our bid and stand by it." The IAAF awarded the '21 World Championships to Eugene in April '15 "without a formal bid process." The Justice Department is "exploring possible racketeering, money laundering and fraud charges" in connection with Doha, Qatar's successful '19 bid for the world outdoor championships and Eugene's successful bid in '21. Concerns about Eugene's '21 bid are "not new." TrackTown President Vin Lananna "spearheaded Eugene's successful bid." He repeatedly has said that there was "nothing untoward about it." Lananna has noted that it was "not unprecedented for the IAAF to award a world championships without a formal bid process" (Portland OREGONIAN, 2/1). In N.Y., Rebecca Ruiz in the original front-page piece notes U.S. prosecutors have "issued grand jury subpoenas in a far-reaching investigation" of international sports organizations including FIFA, the IOC and the USOC -- as well as the people who have "successfully lobbied to host top global competitions." According to the subpoena, among the specific sports marketing companies that "prosecutors are scrutinizing" is Helios Partners, a firm that has "lobbied global sports officials to award high-profile events to particular cities and countries." Helios "helped Russia secure" the '14 Sochi Games and the coming '18 Russia World Cup. Ruiz notes France’s national financial prosecutor’s office has been "investigating the track and field governing body and its choices of Eugene and Doha" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/1).
NOT IN THE LOOP: In Oregon, Chris Hansen in a front-page piece reports it is "unknown if TrackTown USA has been contacted by Justice Department officials, and an email asking TrackTown USA for clarification went [unanswered]" yesterday. Some of the organizations that were part of Eugene’s '19 bid presentation to the IAAF said that they "haven’t been contacted by Justice Department officials regarding the investigation." Univ. of Oregon Foundation President & CEO Paul Weinhold, whose foundation is guaranteeing the funding of the '21 World Championships, said, "Never been contacted by anybody. Not even a phone call, not even an email. Nothing. Zero" (Eugene REGISTER-GUARD, 2/1).
