For Release: April 28, 1998

Goodwill Games Unveil Inaugural Kids Program, Junior Goodwill Games

"World's Greatest Athlete," Dan O'Brien, hosts announcement

Against the youthful backdrop of Warner Brothers and Cartoon Network characters, the Goodwill Games today unveiled their inaugural children's initiative - the Junior Goodwill Games. Olympic decathlon champion Dan O'Brien, the program's main spokesperson, hosted the launch, which showcased the Junior Goodwill Games' sports menu; local and sectional competition information; sponsor support; and the involvement of over 120 cable operators nationwide. The new program is expected to reach nearly 1 million children through individual competitions in track and field, swimming, and basketball.

"No previous kid's sports program matches the scope of the Junior Goodwill Games," said Michael Plant, Goodwill Games president. " In its totality, the program is truly one of the largest grassroots endeavors ever tackled by Time Warner and Turner Sports. It also ties in perfectly with our new mission of benefiting children. We consider this to be our torch relay."

Supporting O'Brien's leading role will be Olympic gold medal swimmer Jenny Thompson, named as spokesperson for the swimming events; and Atlanta Hawks guard Steve Smith, who will serve as spokesperson for basketball. All three athletes will appear in national print and television advertising, as well as present awards at the Junior Goodwill Games finals during the 1998 Goodwill Games in New York this summer. O'Brien and Thompson will also be competing in the Goodwill Games.

"I wish there was a program like this when I was a kid. It's a fun and unique opportunity to positively influence kids through sports and I take great pride as spokesperson," said O'Brien. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the finalists, who will compete in the same venues as Olympic and world champions." The Junior Goodwill Games feature competition in three sports: track and field, swimming, and basketball. The track and field portion includes three events: a 50-yard dash, a standing broad jump and the "extreme" discus throw. Swimming participants will compete in a 25-yard sprint and basketball is an individual shooting competition.

Universal Marketing Associates is administering the program, which kicks off on May 15. At the local level, state coordinators have arranged competitions at over 3,000 sites in the 48 contiguous United States. More locations may be secured before the May 15 launch date. For competition information, kids and parents should call their state coordinator or 1-800-260-0618 (through May 15).

Top scorers from local competitions will advance onto the sectionals at approximately 120 locations around the country. The sectional competitions will be sponsored by TBS Superstation and cable systems in various markets.

The top finishers from sectional competitions will be regionally and nationally ranked, and the top scorers will advance to the finals in New York. Each of the three finals is scheduled to take place during regular Goodwill Games competition. The track and field final is scheduled for Tuesday, July 21 at the Nassau County Mitchel Athletic Complex; the basketball final will take place at the historic Madison Square Garden on Friday, July 24; and the Nassau County Goodwill Games Swimming and Diving Center will host the swimming final on Friday, July 31.

In addition to exposure from cable operators, the Junior Goodwill Games will be promoted by the award-winning Sports Illustrated For Kids magazine. Promotional and advertising support will appear in the publication and each participant at the local level will receive the official souvenir Junior Goodwill Games booklet, also produced by SI for Kids. Kids will only receive the official souvenir booklet by participating in the Games.

Three of the sponsors for the 1998 Goodwill Games have taken special interest in the Junior Goodwill Games. Johnson & Johnson, sponsor of all four aquatics events at the Goodwill Games, is also sponsoring the swimming portion of the Junior Goodwill Games as part of their national SAFE KIDS campaign. Snapple, the official beverage of the 1998 Goodwill Games, is sponsoring Junior Goodwill Games Track and Field. Canon, sponsor of the track cycling competition, is the sponsor of Junior Goodwill Games Basketball.

The 1998 Goodwill Games will showcase approximately 1,500 of the world's best athletes from more than 60 countries competing in 15 sports. The competitors, which include numerous Olympic and world champions, will be vying for $5 million in prize money and world record/performance incentives, the largest purse in multi-sport event history.

TBS Superstation, the Games' host network, will televise 45 hours of prime-time coverage of the 1998 Goodwill Games. CBS will televise 10 hours of weekend, afternoon coverage. In addition to appearing on TBS and CBS, boxing will be televised on HBO as a part of the Boxing After Dark series. The 1998 Goodwill Games are the first time a sporting event has appeared on all three levels of television distribution. Turner Sports is the host broadcaster and is coordinating all aspects of the production. Internationally, the syndication rights are being sold by Warner Bros. International Television Distribution.

The Goodwill Games are hosted through a combined effort between Goodwill Games, Inc. and the participating sports federations, in conjunction will the appropriate state, city and county governmental agencies. Goodwill Games, Inc., a division of Turner Sports, is responsible for all aspects of the event.

CONTACT:
Michael Lewellen,Goodwill Games/Atlanta	404/827-4786
Amy Phillips, Goodwill Games/Atlanta	404/827-4696
Richard Finn, Goodwill Games/New York	212-484-7647