"Today, the world lost a true champion in every sense of the word with the passing of Al Oerter - a four-time Olympic Gold Medal winner whose contributions off the field were as important as his enduring legacy on it," said Mayor Bloomberg. "Born in Queens, Al was a true friend to New York City whose generosity of spirit was unparalleled. I had the pleasure of knowing Al before I became Mayor through our work together at the Randall's Island Sports Foundation, where he was elected to the Hall of Fame. At Randall's Island, Al played a vital role in the development and funding for the capital campaign for Icahn Stadium and helped rededicate the island's famous discus thrower statue. He was also an invaluable supporter of our bid for the 2012 Olympics. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Cathy and his family on this sad occasion. From now on, when New Yorkers pass the iconic discus thrower statue on Randall's Island, they should remember the life and contributions of Al."

"Our thoughts are with the Oerter family as we mourn the loss of a true giant of the sporting world," said Deputy Mayor Doctoroff. "After he dominated track and field with his Herculean discus throws, Al remained a consummate spokesperson for the sport of track and field, the Randall's Island Sports Foundation, and an advocate for the accessibility of the sport to inner-city children. Not only was he a founding member of our Circle of Olympians, he was an inspiration to our entire effort for the 2012 Olympics; we could not have advanced as far as we did without Al's constant support and guidance."