A group led by Vin Lananna is planning a Portland bid for the 2016 World Indoor Track & Field Championships

Published by The Oregonian on October 18, 2013

A Nike-backed group that includes former Oregon track coach Vin Lananna actively is planning to make a Portland bid for the 2016 World Indoor Track & Field Championships, two sources close to the situation said.

The British newspaper The Daily Telegraph reported Portland already has submitted a formal bid, with plans to host the event in the Moda Center in March of 2016.

The Daily Telegraph story reported that Portland and the British city of Birmingham would make presentations to the IAAF ruling council in Monaco on Nov. 15.

The sources – both speaking without authorization and who asked not to be identified – had no direct knowledge that a formal application had been submitted, but said that planning was well beyond the preliminary stages.

 "Vin always has wanted to bring a world championships to Oregon, and the thinking was always that it would be in Eugene," one source said. "But Portland has all the infrastructure."