With less than a month until the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 come to the University of Oregon, campus is bustling as preparations and activities shift into high gear.
The event, also known as WCH Oregon22, runs from July 15-24, with most of the competition centered around Hayward Field and the Autzen Stadium complex. This is the first time the event will be held in the U.S. or on a college campus.
Twenty thousand supporters, volunteers, and spectators are expected to visit campus each session, bringing a global audience to the university. An international event of this scale brings both impacts and opportunities.
“This is an incredible opportunity to showcase to the world the university’s outstanding research, teaching and impact,” said Carlyn Schreck, assistant vice president for presidential initiatives, who is helping to coordinate with the organizers of the championships. “Research, summer classes and university business will continue during the event, so we are encouraging employees and students to stay informed about the campus impact and activities."
Event preparations are visible with the construction of temporary stands and a broadcast media compound. Many campus parking lots are being used to prepare for WCH Oregon22 and will be closed or restricted during the event. Vehicle access passes will be required to use reserved parking spaces and some roads. The Transportation Services website provides additional information about affected parking lots and parking alternatives.
As early as June 28, roads on and around campus will be closed or have restricted access. Affected roads include Agate Street, East 18th Avenue, East 15th Avenue, East 13th Avenue, University Street, Moss Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Road race events, including the Uplift Oregon 5K public run, will take place around the Autzen Stadium complex and affect roads in the area.
The local organizing committee, Oregon22, outlines traffic impacts on the Know Before You Go webpage.
During the event anyone coming to campus is encouraged to use alternatives to personal vehicles, such as bikes, LTD buses or the WCH Oregon22 shuttle.
The Eugene campus and Autzen Stadium event footprint maps on the UO’s WCH Oregon22 website show buildings and outdoor spaces that will be used as part of the event.
Some public buildings, such as the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, Museum of Natural and Cultural History, and the dining venues in the Erb Memorial Union will remain open. Other buildings will have limited access.
UO students and employees may be required to use ID cards to enter buildings during regular business hours. Before coming to campus, individuals should check specific buildings for hours and access information.
Though campus is affected, WCH Oregon22 is creating academic and research opportunities for UO students, faculty members and staff.
The work of UO researchers has a global stage in fields including air quality, sustainability, human performance, product design and sports medicine. Students in the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center and School of Journalism and Communication are gaining professional experience covering the event in paid positions. The envoy program provides cross-cultural experiences connecting student participants with the 200 visiting delegations.
Leading up to the event, the university continues to provide campus news, impacts, resources and research information through email updates and the UO’s WCH Oregon22 website. Campus-related questions can be submitted through the UO’s event web form.
Event updates, including ticketing and competition timetables, can be found on the World Athletics Championships website.
—By Amy Shadell, University Communications