USA Track & Field – News – USATF solicits bid cities for 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials

INDIANAPOLIS – USATF this week will distribute a Request for Proposals (RFP) to host the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for the men’s and women’s marathon.

USATF prefers bids that will again unite both the men’s and women’s Olympic Trials at one site.

The 2012 Olympic Trials in Houston marked the first time the men and women competed at the same site for Olympic Team marathon berths. The event featured 375 athletes competing and a 2-hour, race-day broadcast nationally on NBC.

Held the day before the 40th running of the Chevron Houston Marathon, the 2012 Olympic Trials drew an estimated 40,000 spectators and created an additional economic impact on the city estimated at $20 million. Media coverage included 120 media outlets and 700 credentials media members.

“The 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials united our elite long-distance running community as a whole, in a single spotlight, which elevated the entire event,” said USATF CEO Max Siegel. “We received very positive feedback from our athletes, the USOC and stakeholders.

We hope to expand upon this model to make the Marathon Trials a unified celebration of the sport in the same way that the Track & Field Olympic Trials serve the track & field community.”

Proposals are due August 1, 2013. Interested bidders should contact USATF Director of Events Jim Estes