Kiraly, Johnson and Smith to Lead U.S. Beach Volleyball Contingent Into Battle Against World's Top Teams at Central Park's Wollman Rink

For Release: April 14

Kiraly, Johnson and Smith to Lead U.S. Beach Volleyball Contingent Into Battle Against World's Top Teams at Central Park's Wollman Rink, April 14, 1998

Olympic champion Karch Kiraly, pro beach tour star Adam Johnson and five-time world champion Sinjin Smith, plus the No. 1-ranked women's team of Lisa Arce and Holly McPeak, are among the volleyball sensations competing for the United States against teams from 10 countries at the Goodwill Games Beach Volleyball competition in Central Park's Wollman Rink, July 22-August 2. The competition, which consists of men's and women's doubles events, features $200,000 in prize money.

"The caliber of teams and talent that will be showcased at the beach volleyball competition are of the highest level, " said Goodwill Games President Mike Plant. "The athletic competition, against the backdrop of Central Park's Wollman Rink, will provide spectators with a very unique and exciting sports atmosphere."

The format consists of the best teams from the top seven countries in the world, plus one wild-card entry. The U.S. is represented by two teams in the men's and women's competitions as a result of the wild-card entries. Competition pairings and schedules will be announced at a later date.

Teams competing in the men's competition, taking place July 22-26, include: the current No. 1-ranked Brazilians Para and Guilherme, 1997 World Champions; Norwegians Jan Kvalheim and Bjorn Maaseide, 1994 Goodwill Games Champions; Eduardo Martinez and Martin Conde of Argentina; Swiss brothers Martin and Paul Laciga, 1997 Argentina Open Champions; Canadians John Child and Mark Heese, `96 Olympic bronze medalist; Australians Julien Prosser and Leo Zahner; and the American teams of Sinjin Smith and Ricci Luyties and wild-card entry Karch Kiraly and Adam Johnson.

Teams in the women's competition, taking place July 29-August 2, include: Brazil's Adriana Behar and Shelda, `97 World Championship bronze medalists; Lisa Arce and Holly McPeak of the U.S., `97 World Championship silver medalists; Germany's Maike Friedrichsen and Danja Musch; Pauline Manser and Kerry-Ann Pottharst of Australia; Italy's Laura Bruschini and Annamaria Solazzi; the Czech Republic's Sona Dosoudilova and Eva Celbova; Canadians Kristine Drakich and Guylaine Dumont; and the wild-card American entry of Karolyn Kirby and Liz Masakayan, defending 1994 Goodwill Games Champions.

"We are extremely pleased to sanction this event that represents the most important Beach Volleyball competition in 1998, " said Dr. Ruben Acosta, FIVB President. "These teams truly define an exceptional, international competition."

The 1998 Goodwill Games, scheduled for July 19-August 2 in the New York metropolitan area (Manhattan, Nassau County and Staten Island), 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 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.

The 15 sports are: 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 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.

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 and Time Warner, Inc., is responsible for all aspects of the event.
CONTACTS:
Michael Lewellen
Goodwill Games/Atlanta
404/827-4786
Amy Sasser
Goodwill Games/Atlanta
404/827-4545
Richard Finn
Goodwill Games/New York
212/484-7647