Uma Krishnamoorthy takes a photograph of himself as he crosses the finish line during the first running of the Chattanooga Marathon on Sunday, Mar. 6, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn. City officials will use this weekend’s Chattanooga Marathon to try to woo USA Track & Field representatives to the Scenic City.
Chattanooga is one of four cities bidding for the 2020 Olympic Team Trials marathon, and track and field representatives who have a say in the decision will be in the city for the event.
“There’s many county departments, city departments, nonprofits, volunteers groups, private organizations who are on the same page producing a quality event together as one team,” Chattanooga Sports Committee President Tim Morgan said. “That’s the key that we’re trying to demonstrate this weekend. They’re going to see the environment that Chattanooga has created.They’re going to see the engagement of our community.”
The event would add to the city’s growing number of major outdoor events, but city officials have other plans to bring in an Olympic event, even if USA Track & Field doesn’t choose Chattanooga.
There are other Olympic trials events that haven’t been placed such as boxing, weightlifting, wrestling and others. The sports committee has been in conversations with some of those bodies to see if Chattanooga could potentially host one of the events.