Goodwill Games

Description
The Winter Goodwill Games are an international, multi-sport invitational uniting the world's best athletes.

Location
Lake Placid, New York

Event Dates
February 17-20, 2000 (with an opening celebration on the 16th)

Competitors
An elite field of international athletes invited based on rankings and performances in major international competitions including Olympic Games, World Championships and World Cup competitions.

Current Sports
The Winter Games will feature 11 different sports:
Alpine Skiing, Bobsled, Cross Country Skiing, Figure Skating, Freestyle Skiing, Luge, Nordic Combined, Short Track Speedskating, Skeleton, Ski Jumping, Snowboarding

Prize Money
Competitors will be vying for their share of a substantial prize and performance purse.

Format
In principle, finals-only format with no preliminary or qualifying heats. Some events feature elimination rounds, culminating in a gold-medal final.

Purpose
The Goodwill Games are committed to enriching humanity through sport, with a special emphasis on children. Charities to benefit from the Winter Goodwill Games will be identified shortly.

Organizers
Goodwill Games, Inc. is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the event with the help of the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA). ORDA is a New York State organization.

Television Coverage
TNT will serve as the host broadcaster of the event, broadcasting a total of 16 hours of coverage in the United States.

Past Sites
The 2000 Winter Games are the first Goodwill Games focusing strictly on winter sports. Traditionally, the Games are held in the summer and include mainly summer sports. Previous Goodwill Games have been held in the following cities:

Moscow, Soviet Union, 1986
Seattle, Washington, 1990
St. Petersburg, Russia, 1994
New York, New York, 1998

Lake Placid
Lake Placid is a legendary sports venue, hosting both the 1932 and the 1980 Winter Olympic Games. Construction has already begun on a state-of-the-art combined bobsled and luge facility. The existing structure, which was designed and built for the 1980 Winter Olympic Games, is currently being dismantled to make way for the new track.