SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Olympic gold medalist Ashton Eaton will speak to the Oregon state Senate on Thursday.

Senate President Peter Courtney's office says Eaton is expected to thank senators for their support of Oregon's Olympic athletes and the track-and-field trials in Eugene. The state paid $550,000 to help the City of Eugene with security costs for the 2012 Olympic trials.

Eaton will speak for a few minutes at the beginning of the Senate session, during a time typically reserved for a prayer or invocation.

Eaton graduated from Mountain View High School in Bend and went to the University of Oregon. He won gold in decathlon in the 2012 Olympics and set a world record in the Olympic trials.