TrackTown USA, the local organizing committee for the 2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships, delivered a progress report to the IAAF Council in Monaco last week.

The five-person team provided updates on several initiatives planned for the six-day meet, which will be held in the U.S. for the first time ever, July 22-27, at Hayward Field.

“We are continuing to work towards making this event a success,” TrackTown USA President Vin Lananna told the Council. “There is a sense of confidence and excitement for Oregon 2014 with some exciting new innovations.”

Most recently, the Eugene-based LOC has been promoting the event on a variety of social media platforms, in addition to more traditional print and broadcast media throughout the state.

Plans are in place for televised spots during the upcoming Winter Olympics and Super Bowl, as well as promotional campaigns directed at several U.S. track and field meets this spring and summer.

There will also be a countdown clock in downtown Eugene, and a statewide billboard presence.

The presentation team told the Council that it was “progressing smoothly” in working with national partners and suppliers for the event in conjunction with the IAAF’s official sponsors.

They also have hundreds of volunteers already signed up to support efforts in communications, protocol, athlete services, community programs, ceremonies, sustainability and accessibility.

One of the LOC’s most exciting innovations for the World Junior Championships is the launch of the University of Oregon student ambassador program.

To date, over 200 students, representing over 50 countries, have applied to link the national federations with the UO campus.

Also in the works: plans for VIP accommodation and transportation; an athletes’ village with access to the UO theatre, coffee shops, dining halls

Prior to the meet, there will be a world-class academic conference focusing on a drug-free sport.

As an exclamation point to the report, the Council was briefed on the Run TrackTown concept, in which the LOC will connect the dots between youth, community and elite runners via an all-comer’s meet, a 5K run, a high-performance track meet, and the Eugene Marathon on the morning of the final day of competition.

By all accounts, the progress report was met with high praise by the Council, which will make a site visit to Eugene in April, followed by an outing in early June for the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.