PORTLAND'S MASTER GAMES EXPECTS 25,000 ATHLETES

          The "sites are set" for the World Masters Games, in
     Portland, OR, August 9-22, 1998, and "most of the major
     sponsors have signed on, helping offset" $13.5M in expenses,
     according to Abby Haight of the Portland OREGONIAN.
     Organizers will spend the next year "marketing the event"
     and finding the 15,000 to 20,000 volunteers needed. 
     Organizers "expect" 25,000 athletes and the Games "are
     expected to pour" $113M into the local economy.  Haight
     noted ESPN "will broadcast some" of the competition and that
     Nike's title sponsorship "helped lend credibility" to the
     event.  As of now, sponsorship agreements have been signed
     with PepsiCo, United Airlines and Westin Hotels in addition
     to local sponsors such as Portland Brewing Co. and Fred
     Meyer (Portland OREGONIAN, 8/10).