USA Track & Field on Friday announced that four cities - Carson/Los Angeles, CA; Columbus, OH; Eugene, OR; and Sacramento, CA - are finalists to host the 2008 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials.

Organizations submitting the bids to host the Olympic Trials in their respective cities are Anschutz Entertainment Group (Carson/Los Angeles); the Greater Columbus Sports Commission; the Oregon Track Club; and the Sacramento Sports Commission and Sacramento Regional Sports Education Foundation.

The largest national championship track meet in the world, the U.S. Olympic Trials hosts more than 1,000 athletes as they compete for the right to represent Team USA at the Olympic Games. More than 350,000 fans attended the last two the Olympic Trials, and at each edition of the meet, more than 1,000 members of the media from around the world cover the event while hundreds of volunteers and officials provide support.

"The U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials is one of the classic events in all of sports," said USATF CEO Craig A. Masback. "Having four strong finalists for such a large event is indicative of the interest, value and prestige of the Olympic Trials."

2008 bid process

Bids from the four cities will be evaluated by the USATF Site Selection Committee. The timeline to choose a city will be completed by mid- October.

The 2008 Olympic Trials will be held June 27-July 6, 2008. The 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, will be held August 8-24, 2008.