Register Guard: City makeover creating a crisp look for Olympic Trials visitors
"The Trials, which is the selection process for the U.S. men’s and women’s track and field teams that will compete in the Beijing Olympics in August, will be covered by an estimated 1,000 media representatives from more than 30 countries.
They’ll document the events at Hayward Field as more than 1,200 athletes take part in the actual competition, while thousands of visitors make their way to the Willamette Valley to watch the drama unfold.
When added together, that translates to about 30,000 hotel-room nights in Eugene, Springfield and surrounding cities for the duration of the Trials, said state Representative Nancy Nathanson, a former Eugene city councilor, who was instrumental in securing state funding.
“This event is the start of something big and lasting,” Nathanson said. “The direct economic benefit is about $18 million ... that’s why it’s so important to make a lasting impression and present the best possible face to everyone from around the world who will be watching." -Register Guard May 23, 2008
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