1998 Goodwill Games Establish Optimal Performance Program with World Record Incentives for Track and Field Competition

For Release: December 5, 1997

1998 Goodwill Games Establish Optimal Performance Program with World Record Incentives for Track and Field Competition

A three-tier, optimal performance program with world record incentives for the 1998 Goodwill Games athletics competition was jointly announced today by Michael Plant, Goodwill Games president, and Craig Masback, chief executive officer of USA Track & Field, at USAT&F's Annual Meeting in Dallas, Texas. The program marks the first time in Goodwill Games history that all athletics participants are awarded for their performances. The 1998 Goodwill Games are scheduled July 19 - August 2 in Manhattan and Long Island.

"This historic program clearly establishes the 1998 Goodwill Games' athletics competition as one of the top track and field meets of the year. It also further signals both organizations' commitment to the growth and professionalism of the sport," said Plant, Goodwill Games president and vice president of sports properties for Turner Sports, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS).

"Under the guidance of the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) and USAT&F, athletics is making great strides, and this level of recognition for these athletes has been long overdue. As one of the marquee events at the 1998 Goodwill Games, we look forward to seeing the world's best athletes on the world's biggest stage, striving for record-breaking performances at every level of track and field," said Plant.

The three tiers-Platinum, Gold Plus and Gold-award all eight individuals per event in the Games' finals-only format. The tier system is based on each event's marketability in the United States as determined by the Goodwill Games. Athletes will also be awarded additional bonuses for the following: 1998 World Best Time/Mark (outdoors) - $3,000; National Record - $1,500; Goodwill Games Record - $1,250; and Personal Best - $1,000.

"The Goodwill Games' incentive program for all participants sets a precedent for athletics events around the world. USAT&F completely supports paying prize money at major meets," said Masback. "With this incentive structure, we anticipate the 1998 Goodwill Games will feature the best track and field performances in the U.S. since the Atlanta Games. "

The total prize purse for each Platinum event is $100,000, with the first- place finisher earning $40,000 and the eighth-place finisher receiving $5,000. The men's 100m, 400m and the decathlon, as well as the women's 100m and heptathlon, highlight this summer's Goodwill Games athletics events and are included in the Platinum level. Athletes breaking a world record in the Platinum tier are eligible to receive a $100,000 bonus.

The Gold Plus tier includes the majority of the Goodwill Games athletics events: men's and women's 200m, 800m, mile, 5,000m, 10,000m, 400m hurdles, 4x100 relay, 4x400 relay and both the long and high jump. In addition, the men's 3,000m steeplechase, the 110m hurdles and the pole vault, along with the women's 400m and 100m hurdles are designated as Gold Plus events. The total purse for each Gold Plus event is $45,000. Gold medalists will receive $20,000 with the opportunity for a world record bonus of $100,000. The relay prize money will be distributed equally to the relay team members.

A $50,000 world record bonus with a $17,500 total prize purse has been established for the Gold events: men's and women's triple jump, discus, shot put, hammer and javelin. Competitors in the men's 20km walk and the women's 10km walk and pole vault are also eligible for Gold-level incentives.

Goodwill Games' invitations for track and field athletes are based on the following criteria: All 1996 Olympic Games individual event gold medalists All 1997 Outdoor World Championship individual event gold medalists 1994 Goodwill Games individual event gold medalists All World No. 1 ranked athletes in 1997 All 1998 U.S. Outdoor Championship individual event champions, or highest non-pre-invited athletes Other top USA athletes (chosen after the 1998 U.S. Outdoor National Championships and subject to competition field availability), based upon results from the 1998 U.S. Outdoor National Championships, 1997 World Championships, 1997 U.S. Outdoor National Championships and the 1996 Olympic Games Other top international athletes on the world performance list (following the 1998 U.S. Outdoor National Championship and subject to competition field availability)

Olympic and world champions Michael Johnson, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Dan O'Brien are the first track and field athletes to confirm their participation in the 1998 Goodwill Games. All three will be challenged to break their own world records. Johnson holds the 200m world record of 19.32 set at the 1996 Olympic Games. A ten-year world-record holder in the heptathlon, Joyner-Kersee registered an unprecedented 7,291 points at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. O'Brien looks to the Goodwill Games to better his decathlon world record of 8,891 points set in Talence, France in 1992.

Past Goodwill Games sites include Moscow, Soviet Union, 1986; Seattle, Wash., 1990; and St. Petersburg, Russia, 1994.

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

CONTACTS:

Michael Lewellen Goodwill Games -
Atlanta 404/827-4786

Eileen Sexton Goodwill Games -
Atlanta 404/827-5624

Richard Finn Goodwill Games -
New York 212/484-7647

Pete Cava U.S. Track & Field 317/261-0478,
ext. 316

*1998 Goodwill Games Athletics Tier Groupings:

Platinum: Men's 100m, 400m, decathlon Women's 100m, heptathlon

Gold Plus: Men's 200m, 800m, Mile, 3000m steeplechase, 5000m, 10,000m, 110m hurdles, 400m hurdles, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay, high jump, long jump, pole vault Women's 200m, 400m, 800m, Mile, 5,000m, 10,000m, 100m hurdles, 400m hurdles, 4 x 100 relay, 4 x 400 m relay, long jump, high jump

Gold: Men's 20 km walk, triple jump, discus, shot put, hammer, javelin Women's 10 km walk, triple jump, pole vault, discus, shot put, hammer, javelin,3000m Steeplechase**

*Goodwill Games, Inc., reserves the right to switch a Platinum event with a Gold Plus event, up until July 1, 1998, based upon final entries.

**Prize money reduced due to unofficial IAAF status.

1998 Goodwill Games Athletics Competition Prize Money Structure:

Platinum

Total Purse per event: $100,000

World Record per event: $100,000

1st Place: $40,000

2nd Place: $20,000

3rd Place: $10,000

4th Place: $7,000

5th Place: $6,500

6th Place: $6,000

7th Place: $5,500

8th Place: $5,000

2

Gold Plus

Total Purse per event: $45,000

World Record per event: $100,000

1st Place: $20,000

2nd Place: $10,000

3rd Place: $5,000

4th Place: $3,000

5th Place: $2,500

6th Place: $2,000

7th Place: $1,500

8th Place: $1,000

2

Gold

Total Purse per event: $17,500

World Record per event: $50,000

1st Place: $6,000

2nd Place: $4,000

3rd Place: $2,500

4th Place: $1,500

5th Place: $1,250

6th Place: $1,000

7th Place: $750

8th Place: $500

**Women's 3000m steeplechase (an unofficial IAAF event) prize money is as follows:

$2,000

$1,000

$750

$500

$300

$200

$150

$100

Only additional bonus of $1,000 for an all-time world best mark.

Additional Bonuses***

1998 World Best Time/Mark (outdoors): $3,000

National Record: $1,500

Goodwill Games Record: $1,250

Personal Best: $1,000

***non-wind aided; non-cumulative (i.e., receive money from only the highest bonus.)