The inaugural Winter Goodwill Games, which ended
Sunday, were "far from the hottest sports ticket of the
year," but they produced "good-enough television that
founder Ted Turner announced plans to keep the Winter and
Summer Goodwill Games going," according to USA TODAY's Karen
Allen. Turner: "I'll do it again and I plan to keep doing
it." Allen wrote that the Goodwill Games "have never been
an outright profitmaker" and Turner said he expects a "small
loss" on the Games' $30M budget (USA TODAY, 2/21). Turner:
"The budget for these games is $30 million. A single NFL
game would cost us $38 million" (Albany TIMES UNION, 2/20).
In Albany, Tim Reynolds wrote that the inaugural Games "went
about as smoothly as any first-time international sports
event ever has" (Albany TIMES UNION, 2/21).
GAMES ON: Turner announced that Calgary will be the
host city for the 2005 Winter Goodwill Games, but added that
the bid process for the 2003 Winter Games is "ongoing." In
Albany, Reynolds & Callen wrote that Sarajevo is the
"frontrunner" for 2003, but "several logistical issues must
be worked out before Turner commits" (Albany TIMES UNION,
2/21). The DESERET NEWS' Jason Swensen reported Salt Lake
City as "one of three communities in the running" to host
the 2003 Games, along with Sarajevo and Lillehammer (DESERET
NEWS, 2/20). In Toronto, Allan Maki wrote that Calgary was
awarded the 2005 Games "after insisting that curling and
hockey be included in the Games lineup" (GLOBE & MAIL,
2/21). Turner, on Calgary: "They've hosted the Winter
Olympics, they've got the equipment and all the venues that
are necessary and the expertise and it's real close by and
we know they'll do a terrific job" ("Goodwill Games," TNT,
2/19). In Calgary, Nova Pierson wrote that Calgary will
cover most of the Games' C$30M cost through sponsorships, TV
revenues and ticket sales. The Games are projected to have
a C$160M economic impact on the city (CALGARY SUN, 2/21).
LENO'S BARB: NBC's Jay Leno on Turner's "Goodwill
Games" and his divorce from Jane Fonda: "Don't confuse (the
Goodwill Games) with Ted and Jane's divorce. That's the
Get-her-out-of-my-will Games" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 2/18).
