06/07/2001

Figure Skating World Champion Michelle Kwan to Participate in 2001 Goodwill Games
Kwan to Defend 1998 Goodwill Games Gold Medal

World Champion Michelle Kwan will kick off her Olympic season at the 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia, officials announced today. It will mark the third Goodwill Games appearance for Kwan, who won the event in 1998 and took home silver in 1994. The figure skating competition will take place Sept. 5-Sept. 8, with an exhibition of champions event on Sept. 9 at the Brisbane Entertainment Center. The figure skating exhibition of champions event will close the 2001 Goodwill Games.

"The Goodwill Games hold extremely fond memories for me," said Kwan, the four-time World Champion and five-time National Champion. "Participating in the 1994 Games gave me the confidence to compete on an international level, and winning in 1998 capped off an incredible year for me. I look forward to being a part of this year's Games and defending my title."

The ladies figure skating competition will be an Olympic-style format, consisting of a short program and free skate. Up to twelve women will compete in Brisbane. The overall skating competition also includes men's, pairs and ice dance competitions. A total of 56 of the world's best ice skaters, 28 men and 28 women, will compete during the four-day event. The ladies, men's and pairs events will feature a short program and free skate while ice dance will feature the original dance and free skate competition.

Competitors for the figure skating event will be determined by the 2001 World Championships results and other international competitions. Invitations to compete will be extended to eligible skaters, including athletes from Canada, China, France, Japan, Russia and the United States. The entire list of figure skaters competing in the 2001 Goodwill Games will be announced at the end of the month, along with the figure skating prize purse.

"Kwan's participation sends the message that the world's best figure skaters will be in Brisbane," said Mike Plant, president of Goodwill Games, Inc. "We look forward to the high level of excitement and anticipation she will bring to the competition."

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.

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