Event held at "World's Fastest Track" in Washington Heights

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today joined USA Track & Field CEO Craig Masback for the welcoming ceremony of the USA Track and Field (USATF) Indoor National Championships at the Armory Track and Field Center in Washington Heights. This marks the first time that the National Championships have been held in New York City since 1993. Also attending were President of USA Track & Field Bill Roe, President of the Armory Foundation Dr. Norbert Sander, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding Daniel Doctoroff, Commissioner of the NYC Sports Commission Kenneth J. Podziba, and President of the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Terry Lane.

"It is my pleasure to welcome back the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships to the 'Sports Capital of the World,'" said Mayor Bloomberg. "The National Championships are a great example of the type of world class sporting event that we can attract to New York City. I am especially pleased that it will showcase the redeveloped Armory Track and Field Center, which will be the home of the National Track and Field Hall of Fame. USA Track and Field's support of Dr. Sander and the Armory Foundation will inspire thousands of our city's children to succeed on and off the track."

"The City of New York has been a tremendous partner for USA Track & Field," USATF CEO Craig Masback said. "Bringing the Indoor Championships to the Armory is an important step in enhancing our presence in New York, which has become a home-away-from home for our organization. City Hall, the Armory Foundation, NYC2012 and the New York Road Runners helped us to bring our National Track & Field Hall of Fame to the Armory and our 2001 USA Marathon Championships to the New York City Marathon. We look forward to continued collaboration with Mayor Bloomberg's office and all of New York City in years to come."

The USATF Indoor National Championships, the world's oldest indoor track and field championships, has been hosted by only eight cities since 1888. New York City's Madison Square Garden hosted most of the events between 1906 and 1993. The 2002 championships are the final stop of USATF's Golden Spike Tour. Some of the elite talent visiting New York City for this event include world record holder Regina Jacobs, gold medalists Allen Johnson and Gail Devers, and Olympian Dawn Ellerbe of the New York Athletic Club.

The Armory Track and Field Center has played an important role in New York City's rich track and field heritage. Many of the greatest athletes in the history of track and field, including Olympians Bob Beamon, Mal Whitfield, Diane Dixon, Derrick Adkins, and Al Oerter competed on the Armory's old wooden track. Today, the Armory boasts one of the world's fastest tracks and will be the permanent home of the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.

Dr. Norbert Sander said, "We welcome Mayor Mike Bloomberg to the National Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Armory, a safe haven for 350,000 students a year and important economic engine contributing upwards of $16 million dollars directly to the city's economy annually. We are on the move at the Armory. The coming National Track & Field Hall of Fame will bring in an additional 100,000 visitors and another $13 million in sales revenues."

A national hub for High School Track & Field, the Armory currently hosts 90 meets annually, with between 500 and 5,000 competitors per meet. Nearly 50 New York City high schools without their own facilities use the Armory Track and Field Center for regular track practice. Student-athletes, ages 14 - 18, come from 260 cities in 36 states to participate in nationally ranked track and field meets.

"New York City has been the stage for so many wonderful athletes to compete and strive to achieve their Olympic dreams, including Jesse Owens, Carl Lewis, and Mary Decker Slaney, said Deputy Mayor Doctoroff. "It is only fitting that New York City, a US Candidate City for the Summer Games of 2012, is hosting the Indoor Championships as our Olympians of tomorrow pursue their dreams."

NYC2012 is the committee leading New York City's bid to become the United States Bid City for the 2012 Olympic Games. The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) will select one city to represent the U.S. on November 3, 2002.

"We're delighted to bring back the Indoor Championships to the Big Apple and to once again have the opportunity to highlight the Armory Track & Field Center which is now considered the world's fastest track," said Sports Commissioner Kenneth J. Podziba.