Goodwill Games

02/23/2001

Marion Jones to Compete in 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia
Comprehensive Goodwill Games Sports Schedule Announced
$20,000 for First Place Athletics Champions

Marion Jones will compete in the 2001 Goodwill Games, she announced today at a press conference at Phillips Arena, in Atlanta, Ga. With six months to go until the 2001 Goodwill Games, Jones and Goodwill Games President, Mike Plant detailed the athletics first place prize money of $20,000 (USD) and the complete schedule for the international, multi-sport event. The men's and women's athletic events will take place Tuesday, Sept. 4, through Friday, Sept. 7, and will be airing in the United States on Turner Network Television (TNT).

Marion Jones with Goodwill Games President, Mike Plant

Jones, whose five medals at the Sydney Olympics set a track and field record, will return to Australia to compete in the 2001 Goodwill Games, which will be held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Jones is the defending Goodwill Games champion in the 100m and 200m, winning the event at the 1998 Games in New York City.

"The 1998 Goodwill Games was an incredible experience for me, and I look forward to competing in the event again this year," said Jones. "My participation in the Games provides me the opportunity to compete against the world's top athletes and also be part of a competition that stresses the importance of sports in our lives."

"We are thrilled that Marion will be participating in the 2001 Goodwill Games, " said Mike Plant, President of the Goodwill Games. "Marion is not only a tremendous force in athletics but also the embodiment of the Goodwill Games' spirit through her shining example of determination."

The 2001 Goodwill Games sports schedule is a comprehensive listing of all games, times, dates and specific event information. Turner Network Television (TNT) will present 83 hours of original programming from the 2001 Goodwill Games, 55 hours (66 percent) of which will

be live. In addition to the 12 straight days of live coverage, TNT will also air an additional 37 hours of encore performance, giving the network a total of 120 hours of competition. In addition to the television coverage on TNT, results from the Games will also be available via real-time scoring on www.goodwillgames.com.

Jeff Pomeroy, Director of Public Relations for the Goodwill Games, Marion Jones and Mike Plant, taking questions from reporters at the press conference

The men's and women's athletics competition will consist of 44 events - 22 men's and 22 women's events. The finals-only format includes the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, mile, 3000m steeplechase, 5000m, 10,000m, 100m hurdles, 400m hurdles, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay, high jump, long jump, pole vault, 20km walk, triple jump, discus, shot put, hammer, javelin, decathlon and heptathlon. In all events, a first place prize of $20,000 (USD) will be awarded. As a new event to international track and field, women's steeplechase is deemed a non-championship event and will receive a first place prize purse of $4,000 (USD). The total athletics prize purse will be determined at a later date.

Additional bonuses will also be extended for various records and personal bests. For a world record in any championship event, a $100,000 (USD) bonus will be given. A 2001 world-best time or mark will garner a $7,500 (USD) bonus. For any national record, a $5,000 (USD) bonus will be given, and, for a Goodwill Games record, a $2,000 (USD) bonus will be given. Any personal-best record will be awarded $1,000 (USD). As a non-championship event, the only bonus in the women's steeplechase will be $25,000 (USD) for a world record. All bonus money is non-wind-aided and non-cumulative.

The Goodwill Games, Aug. 29-Sept. 9, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, will feature 14 sports: athletics, basketball, beach volleyball, boxing, cycling (track), diving, figure skating, gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, swimming, trampoline, triathlon, weightlifting and surf lifesaving. The Goodwill Games were founded by AOL Time Warner Vice Chairman R.E. Turner in 1986 to ensure that the world's best athletes have the opportunity to compete in world-class competition. The five previous Goodwill Games have alternated between the United States and Russia. However, future Goodwill Games will be staged in countries around the world in both winter and summer formats. TNT is the host network for the Goodwill Games. Nine Network Australia will broadcast the 2001 Goodwill Games locally. Goodwill Games, Inc. is a division of Turner Sports, the sports programming and production business unit of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

Contacts:
Jeff Pomeroy (Goodwill Games, Inc.) 404.827.4786
Janet England 2001 Goodwill Games Brisbane, Inc. 07.3233.2045

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