For Release: January 12, 1998

Eight-Team Field for 1998 Men's Goodwill Games Basketball To Showcase U.S. Collegians, International Powerhouses

When New York's Madison Square Garden hosts the basketball competition for the 1998 Goodwill Games, that historic venue will welcome some of the most powerful international teams ever assembled, according to Goodwill Games President Mike Plant. The eight-team field was announced today at a press conference jointly sponsored by the Goodwill Games and USA Basketball during the New York Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association monthly luncheon.

Puerto Rico, the defending gold medal champions from the 1994 Goodwill Games at St. Petersburg, Russia, headlines the '98 Games invitation list, along with the host United States. Also joining the field will be teams from Russia, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Lithuania and China.

"This eight-team field will bring some of the most talented and competitive players ever assembled for the Goodwill Games," Plant said. "The international nature of this field is indicative of the growing global relevance of basketball, and we are pleased to showcase these countries in such an historic arena as Madison Square Garden."

Also during the press conference, USA Basketball and the Goodwill Games announced that University of Minnesota Coach Clem Haskins will be the head coach of the United States team. Haskins was the consensus selection for 1996-97 Coach of the Year honors, and ranks second in career wins in Minnesota basketball history. His 1996-97 Golden Gophers recorded a 31-4 mark, and advanced to the NCAA Final Four.

The 1998 Goodwill Games will take place July 19-August 2 in Manhattan and on Long Island. Basketball competition begins July 19 with round-robin play. Semifinals are scheduled for July 23, with the championship game on July 24. Plant said that the groupings of the teams for round-robin play and the tournament schedule will be announced at a future date. All participating countries-except the United States and China-will send their Goodwill Games teams to the 1998 World Basketball Championships, which will take place in Athens, Greece, beginning July 29.

Warren S. Brown, executive director of USA Basketball, spoke highly of the choice to lead the U.S. team into Goodwill Games play.

"The Goodwill Games will be the premiere event for our male college players in the summer of 1998 and USA Basketball is extremely pleased to be able to have someone as accomplished and respected as Clem Haskins coaching our team," Brown said.

On Haskins' selection, Plant said, "Clem Haskins brings some of the best coaching ability and experience available to USA Basketball and the Goodwill Games. We are fortunate that the U.S. team will be under the leadership of a coach of his caliber."

The 1998 USA Men's Goodwill Games team will be selected by USA Basketball's Men's Collegiate committee following trials that will be held May 29- 31, 1998, at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Training plans for the team have not been finalized.

The 1998 Goodwill Games will showcase approximately 1,300 of the world's best athletes from more than 60 countries competing in 15 sports. The competitors, which include numerous world and Olympic champions, will be vying for $5 million in prize money and world record/performance incentives, the largest purse in multi-sport event history. Sports include athletics, basketball, boxing, cycling, diving, figure skating, gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, soccer, swimming, synchronized swimming, triathlon, volleyball (beach), water polo and wrestling.

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 part of the HBO Boxing After Dark series. The 1998 Games mark 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, and the Games are expected to be broadcast to more than 130 countries.

The 1998 Goodwill Games have re-defined "goodwill" and have a new mission, benefiting children. To achieve their mission, the Goodwill Games are working with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and UNICEF International.

Past Goodwill Games sites include Moscow, Soviet Union, 1986; Seattle, Washington, 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 Richard Finn Craig Miller Matt Finnigan

Goodwill Games/Atlanta Goodwill Games/New York USA Basketball USA Basketball

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