Eugene in the mix for Golden League status...

According to the web site insidethegames.com, the IAAF is looking to expand the number of meets in the Golden League series starting in 2010.

London and Lausanne are the two meets expected to be added to the current Golden League meetings, which currently include Oslo, Rome, Zurich, Paris, Berlin, and Brussels.

IAAF sources also indicate that they want to expand the Golden League to venues in North America, the Middle East, and Asia, with Eugene, Doha, Qatar, and Beijing the most likely candidates.

A group including Sebastian Coe, the two-time Olympic 1500 metres champion and now the chairman of London 2012, is due to meet in the first week of next month to discuss a feasbility report on the new circuit they hope to launch next year.

Among the issues are to be discussed are the inclusion of meetings in London, Lausanne and Stockholm as well as events in China, the Middle East and the United States as part of the IAAF's plans to make the sport more attractive globally and market it worldwide.

It is also believed that three major groups, including a leading European media company, are in discussions with the IAAF about bankrolling the new high-profile multi-million pound circuit.

The Statesman-Journal of Salem, Oregon reports that adding Golden League status to the Prefontaine Classic would increase the amount of prize money that could be offered and make it easier for meet director Tom Jordan to attract non-Nike athletes such as superstar sprinter Usain Bolt of Jamaica to Hayward Field.

To read the insidethegames.com story, click here, and to read the Statesman-Journal story, click here.