“This is yet another feather in our cap when it comes to landing major amateur sports events which brings people and money into our community,” said County Executive Gorski during a recent news conference.

The Junior Olympics track and field championships, the world’s largest youth track-and-field event, will attract more than 6,000 athletes and 10,000 family and friends to Greater Buffalo.  The event is expected to produce more than 10,000 hotel room nights.

“Hosting a prestigious athletic event like the USA Track and Field Junior Olympics will continue to position Buffalo among the top sites for amateur athletic events,” said Richard Geiger, president and CEO Greater Buffalo Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The CVB worked on this bid for the past year and spearheaded the successful cooperative community effort to attract the games to Buffalo. 

“There was a unique partnership created between the Niagara Association of Track and Field, Erie County Legislature, University at Buffalo, and the Greater Buffalo Convention & Visitors Bureau that made it happen,” said Ron Graham, Chairman of Youth Athletics, Niagara Association of Track and Field. 

“Without our fine facilities and the unique partnership we would not have been able to mount such a successful bid, a bid which resulted in an overwhelming vote for Buffalo on the first vote,” concluded Geiger.

The games will be held at the State University of New York at Buffalo Stadium from July 23-30, 2000.