Tribute to the Decathlon Planned for 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials

Tribute to the Decathlon Planned for 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials

All living American gold medalists will help celebrate the 100th anniversary of the decathlon.



Eugene, Ore. – (June 15, 2012) ­­–– The opening ceremonies of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track and Field will include a tribute to the centennial anniversary of the modern decathlon. The decathlon ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. on Friday, June 22.



Jim Thorpe, winner of the first 10-event Olympic gold medal in 1912, will be represented by two of his sons – Bill and Richard – and will be honored posthumously alongside the six living American gold medalists in the decathlon: Milt Campbell (1956), Rafer Johnson (1960), Bill Toomey (1968), Bruce Jenner (1972), Dan O’Brien (1996) and Bryan Clay (2008).



“We’re tremendously excited to honor members of the Thorpe family, along with all the living U.S. Olympic gold medal decathletes at Hayward Field,” said Vin Lananna, co-chair of the TrackTown12 Local Organizing Committee. “The Opening Ceremony is going to be a fantastic celebration of the unrivaled success Team USA has had in the decathlon.”



About TrackTown12

TrackTown 12, the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field competition and free, 10-day, 20-acre interactive fan experience, will take place in Eugene, Ore. from June 21 to July 1, 2012. The U.S. Olympic Trials competition is the largest national championship track meet in the world and will select the athletes to represent Team USA at the London Olympic Games in 2012. The TrackTown12 fan experience is produced by SportsOne, a leading national sports and entertainment marketing agency based in Beaverton, Ore. SportsOne also produced the fan experience at Eugene08, the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field. For the extensive sustainability efforts in 2008, the Oregon Track Club and the Eugene08 LOC received the International Olympic Committee’s inaugural Sport and the Environment Award for North America in March 2009. For more information on the U.S. Olympic Trials, visit www.TrackTown12.com.