Goodwill Games

The 1998 Goodwill Games on "The World's Biggest Stage," New York

By many measures, the 1998 Goodwill Games were the most successful to date, blending world-class athletes, sports, and entertainment to benefit youth worldwide. Beginning with a packed crowd at Battery Park City's World Financial Center for the Opening Celebration, which showcased numerous Warner Music Group entertainers, the Games sent a resounding positive message of "goodwill" through world-class sports and entertainment. The sporting competition of the Goodwill Games undoubtedly caught the world's attention, highlighted by a track and field world record in the 4 x 400-meter men's relay, featuring Michael Johnson. The world's best athletes on the world's biggest stage became an appropriate theme for the 1998 Goodwill Games.

More than 20 sponsors joined together in support of the 1998 Goodwill Games. Sponsors found the Games to be a great publicity vehicle. From a television audience in more than 100 countries, to sell-out crowds, to the positive impact on children, the 1998 Goodwill Games left an indelible mark that will linger until the next Games.

Michelle Kwan proved she remains the world's best figure skater, winning the gold medal in front of 13,000 people.
Jackie Joyner-Kersee closed out her illustrious career, winning her fourth Goodwill Games heptathlon gold medal.
In his first full decathlon since winning gold at the 1996 Olympics, Dan O'Brien beat Chris Huffins to claim the Goodwill Games title with a score of 8,755 points, setting a Games record.
Michael Johnson won the 400 meters in 43.76, posting the fastest time of '98 at that time and establishing a new Goodwill Games record. Johnson also anchored the world-record setting 4x400-meter relay team that included Antonio Pettigrew, Tyree Washington, Johnson and Jerome Young. They posted a 2:54.20, earning them a $100,000 world-record bonus.
Marion Jones wowed crowds on two nights, first claiming gold and a new Games record in the 100 meters. Jones came back the next night in the 200 meters and clocked a 21.80, securing her second Goodwill record and gold medal.
On the basketball court, the college "kids" from the U.S. won the gold medal, edging Australia 93-85 in overtime. The win gave Americans their first "non-Dream Team" victory in international tournament play since 1986.
The world's best beach volleyball teams met on the sands of Central Park's Wollman Rink to battle for the Games title. The Brazilians won in both the men's and women's finals.
The king of amateur boxing, Felix Savon, continued his reign at the Goodwill Games as he earned the heavyweight title-again. Savon knocked out the USA's DaVarryl Williamson in the first round of the finals in only 55 seconds.
The two-day track cycling competition featured the VandedromeTM, one of the steepest tracks in the world. Teams from the United States, Russia, Germany, Belgium, the World All-Stars and the Pan-Am All-Stars raced on the tight, high-banked turns. The USA came out the champion with 92 points, while the World All-Stars landed second with 71 points.
In a dramatic wrestling competition, the Theater at Madison Square Garden was a sea of waving flags and banners as four of the world's best teams grappled for gold. The U.S. team took the gold, defeating Russia 16-14 in the final.
The Games became the first international multi-sport event to feature synchronized diving. The Chinese and Russian duos dominated. In individual diving, the Chinese, Russians and Americans took the top spots. Olympic Gold Medalist Dmitri Sautin won gold in the 10m platform and the 3m springboard, and the USA's Laura Wilkinson earned gold in the 10m platform.
Alina Kabayeva of Russia captured the gold in the all-around and in three of four individual apparatus in rhythmic gymnastics, earning the most gold medals of any athlete at the 1998 Goodwill Games.
In Gymnastics all-around, Ivan Ivankov of Belarus won the men's; Dominique Moceanu of the U.S. won the women's gold.
The U.S. women proved why they're the world's No.1-ranked soccer team when they faced Olympic Silver Medalist China in the gold-medal match and came out victorious.
Swimming featured a unique dual-meet format. Teams from the USA, Russia, Germany, China and a World All-Star team competed for the gold. The U.S. women went home with the team gold, the World Team won the silver. In the men's competition, the World Team took the gold, with Russia in second place. Aleksandr Popov, always a fan favorite, again proved his sprinting dominance, posting the fastest time in the 100m and the second fastest in the 50m, behind World Team member Fernando Scherer of Brazil.
Bill May made history as the world's first male synchronized swimmer to compete in a major international multi-sport competition. During the two-day event, May and his partner, Kristina Lum, took the silver medal in the duet performance. The World Champion Russians took the gold medal in the team and duet performances, securing their status as the world's best.
Great Britain's four-time World Champion Simon Lessing was the victor in the men's triathlon, and it was a 1-2 finish for the Aussies in the ladies event. Australia's Loretta Harrop and Michellie Jones took first and second place, respectively, against a field that included the world's best triathletes.
The Russian water polo team defended its 1994 Goodwill Games gold medal by trouncing Spain, 11-5, in the gold-medal match. In the bronze-medal game, the Italians beat the Americans 8-7.