Goodwill Games

For Release: November 8, 1999

Governor George Pataki Marks 100 Days Until First-ever Winter Goodwill Games. Athletes Baiul and Sheer on Hand to Commemorate Event.

New York Governor George Pataki and Goodwill Games officials marked the 100-day countdown to the first-ever Winter Goodwill Games with a press conference at the Albany County Hockey Rink today. Governor Pataki and Goodwill Games President Mike Plant gave a status report on the Games, including the progress of the brand-new, state-of-the-art combined bobsled, luge, and skeleton track.

Joining Governor Pataki and Plant were Charles A. Gargano, chairman, Empire State Development; Ted Blazer, president and CEO of ORDA; Oksana Baiul, Olympic figure skating gold medalist; Gordy Sheer, Olympic luge silver medalist; and Jim Shea, Sr. and Jack Shea, father and grandfather, respectively, of Lake Placid native and skeleton world champion Jimmy Shea. The Sheas are local legends in Lake Placid, where Jack won two gold medals in speedskating in the 1932 Olympic Winter Games and Jim, Sr. was a flag bearer and competitor in nordic combined at the 1964 Olympic Winter Games.

"Lake Placid is the winter sports capital of the world, with a long history of bringing out the best in participants and the thousands of enthusiasts who will once again flock here from around the globe," said Governor Pataki. "The Goodwill Games will rekindle the spirit of sportsmanship and excellence from the 1932 and 1980 Olympic Games, sparking a light that will shine long after the Games end.

"The State's $12.5 million dollar commitment to improving the Olympic facilities has reestablished Lake Placid as a premier international sports venue, and was critical in bringing the Goodwill Games here."

Lake Placid is busily preparing to host this multi-sport event. Work crews have stepped up the pace in constructing Lake Placid's new combined track for bobsled, luge and skeleton, which is on target for completion in December, leaving six weeks for ice preparation and trial runs. When finished, the new state-of-the-art facility will measure nine-tenths of a mile, with more than 20 curves. The track, which will replace the separate bobsled and luge tracks used for the 1980 Olympic Winter Games, would not have been possible without the support of the New York State Government and Governor Pataki, who appropriated $12.5 million in state funds for its construction. In addition to the track, Whiteface Mountain will soon be unveiling a new eight-passenger, heated gondola.

"On the 20th anniversary of the 1980 Winter Olympic Games, ORDA (the Olympic Regional Development Authority) is thrilled to partner with the Goodwill Games," said Charles Gargano. "Lake Placid's legacy, along with the commitment of Governor Pataki, the state and ORDA, makes Lake Placid the ideal location to stage the first Winter Goodwill Games."

"I'd like to thank Governor Pataki and ORDA for their efforts in ensuring the completion of this project in time for the 2000 Winter Goodwill Games," said Plant. "We appreciate his efforts, but more importantly, the athletes will recognize the state of New York's commitment to winter sports when they are in Lake Placid in February."

Baiul, Sheer and Jimmy Shea are three of the seven athletes to be featured in the extensive promotional campaign for the 2000 Winter Goodwill Games on TNT. The campaign also focuses on moguls world champion Ann Battelle, U.S. downhill champion Chad Fleisher, snowboard halfpipe world champion Tricia Byrnes and Sheer's luge partner Chris Thorpe. The campaign launches in the last week of November and exceeds $8 million in value.

These seven athletes, who will be competing in the inaugural Winter Goodwill Games, will be incorporated into all elements of the promotion. The far-reaching campaign will include 3,900 announcements on 15 Turner networks (eight domestic and seven international), which will begin to air in late November and run through the Games. The Turner networks where the spots will be shown include TNT, TBS Superstation, Cartoon Network, CNN, CNN Headline News, Airport Network and CNN/Sports Illustrated. Each spot will be tagged with appropriate sponsor branding.

"I am excited to help spread the word about the Goodwill Games and appreciate the opportunity to be among these great winter athletes competing in Lake Placid," said Baiul. "The fact that I was chosen to represent the Games in their promotional campaign makes me even more determined to bring home the first-ever Winter Goodwill Games gold medal."

Sheer, along with partner Chris Thorpe, will be competing in the men's luge doubles competition. The Lake Placid resident added, "Obviously, the construction of the new track means a great deal to our program. We're excited to be racing in the Winter Goodwill Games. Being a part of the promotional campaign is an added bonus."

The Goodwill Games and their partners at ORDA are organizing the Games. ORDA was established in 1981 under legislation enacted by the State of New York to operate, maintain and promote the 1980 Winter Olympic facilities in the Lake Placid region.

Tickets for the 11-sport event range in price from $5 to $46. Approximately 150,000 tickets will be available for sale for the five-day period. Tickets can be purchased by visiting or calling the Olympic Center Box Office, at 518.523.3330, through Ticketmaster®, at 518.476.1000 or 802.862.5300, and via the Internet, at www.goodwillgames.com or www.tickets.com. Tickets are also available through all usual ORDA ticket outlets.

The Goodwill Games, founded by Time Warner Vice Chairman R.E. Turner in 1986 as a platform to promote international goodwill through world-class competition, have grown to become the premier international, invitational, multi-sport event where athletes come together to put their greatness to the test. The Games are committed to enriching humanity through sport, with a special focus on helping children. The four previous Goodwill Games have alternated between the United States and Russia; however, future Games will be staged in countries around the world in both winter and summer formats. In addition to the Winter Goodwill Games, plans are underway for the 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia. TNT is the host network for both events. Goodwill Games, Inc., is a division of Turner Sports, the sports programming and production business unit of Turner Broadcasting Systems, Inc.

CONTACTS:

Jeff Pomeroy

Goodwill Games

404-827-4786

Amy Phillips

Goodwill Games

404-827-4696

Sandy Caligore

ORDA

518-523-1655x213

Back to News