�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.