July 28, 2022

Dear University of Oregon community members,

With the epic ten-day run of the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 now complete, I am filled with gratitude, pride, and awe. I am so impressed by the way in which students, faculty, staff, and our neighbors came together to welcome the world and showcase the very best of the University of Oregon, Eugene, and Oregon during the championships.

More than 18 million TV viewers in the US—the most ever for a World Athletics Championship—and one billion worldwide watched the competition at Hayward Field and around Autzen Stadium. For 10 days viewers witnessed our beautiful campus and heard about the outstanding academic, research, student experience, and athletic excellence at the UO. Tens of thousands of visitors experienced Hayward Magic and received a very warm UO welcome as they attended the competition in person.

The University of Oregon is receiving accolades and praise from all corners of the globe about our contributions to the championships. I have personally heard from community members, partners, colleagues, organizers, state lawmakers, and world leaders expressing their appreciation for all that we did to make this event a huge success.

There are so many individuals who worked for months and years to make this event a success—far too many to name individually. Nearly every division, school, and college contributed either directly or indirectly to the success of WCH Oregon22. There are the staff who provided water, power, keys, transportation services, technology, housing, dining, and custodial services to fans, athletes, and coaches; the students who served as envoys, volunteers, sport journalists, ambassadors, and more; the faculty members and deans who provided expertise during two panel discussions on athlete mental health and women leadership in sports; those representing the breadth of sport and wellness expertise engaging global thought leaders and industry experts; the researchers and students who leveraged the opportunity to conduct scientific data collection about air quality, riverfront land, and human performance; the individuals who helped with exhibits, events, and opportunities across campus from our museums, student union, and recreation center; the experts who provided athletic, logistical, safety, and security support to welcome visitors to our campus and facilities as well as our colleagues whose buildings were used for the event. The list goes on and on.

I appreciate everything everyone did: from direct contributions while working and volunteering, attending the events and participating in UO and Eugene activities, being patient through disruptions brought by all the fanfare, to welcoming guests and being gracious hosts to our visitors.

I encourage you, if you have not already, to visit the UO’s championships website to read about all of the many ways in which the University of Oregon shined in the global spotlight. The world has seen our beautiful campus and community, heard about outstanding academic and research excellence, and experienced our legendary track and field history legacy. What a spectacular achievement!

I appreciate you beyond words and am so proud of the University of Oregon you showed the world. Thank you again. And, Go Ducks!

Michael H. Schill
President and Professor of Law