Track and Field is Inherently a Global Sport and Accepting of All

By Scott Bush, DyeStat Editor

The Oregonian's Ken Goe caught up with Prefontaine Classic meet director Tom Jordan this week, speaking in detail about the effects of President Donald Trump's recent immigration order.

The outspoken Jordan celebrated his event's long history of including athletes of all nationalities and religions, with the focus always being to put on the best show for fans and creating a world-class environment for the athletes. 

Jordan told Goe, "I'm not particularly concerned about the Prefontaine Classic right now. I'm concerned about what this policy says about America."

With athletes like Mo Farah and Lopez Lomong speaking out against Trump's policy, we're reminded how global of a sport track and field is. Few sports can match track and field's global reach, with athletes from around the world coming together seemingly week after week in the summer, competing head to head, with all things equal when stepping on the track. 

Regardless of your political beliefs, what makes track and field special is that it's not dominated by only a couple of countries. A global collection of athletes, with a global audience and a global series of events is to be celebrated, never torn down.