2003 Great
Outdoors Competition
ESPN Selects Reno-Tahoe to Host 2003
Great Outdoor Games International Outdoor Sports Competition
RENO, Nev., Dec. 10, 2002 - ESPN has
selected Reno-Tahoe, America's adventure place, to host the 2003
ESPN Great Outdoor Games presented by Dodge, July 10-13. The
announcement was made today in Reno by Nevada Lt. Gov. Lorraine
Hunt and Michael Rooney, Senior Vice President and General
Manager, ESPN Outdoors.
"Reno-Tahoe will be a great host for the
Great Outdoor Games," Rooney said. "We're looking forward to
sharing the intensity and authenticity of the Games with a new
region, while we again showcase the best outdoors athletes from
around the world with top-quality television coverage."
The fourth annual Great Outdoor Games, in
which top international athletes match up in 20 events across four
sport disciplines, are expected to expose the natural beauty of
the Reno-Tahoe area to a worldwide audience, according to Gov.
Kenny Guinn, who issued a statement praising the Reno Sparks
Convention and Visitor's Authority for reaching the agreement with
ESPN. The events will take place at Reno-Tahoe's Rancho San Rafael
Park, on the Truckee River, and at sites yet to be determined.
"We are thrilled that northern Nevada is
following our lead to brand the state of Nevada as an outdoor
adventure destination," Guinn said. "Landing the ESPN Great
Outdoor Games is validation for the positioning as well as a
tremendous opportunity to get exposure for the unique adventure
experience of Reno-Tahoe."
ESPN President George Bodenheimer said the
agreement is good for both parties and for the outdoors audience.
"We launched the ESPN Outdoors initiative to
serve the 82 million Americans who enjoy outdoor sports every
year," he said. "The Great Outdoor Games is a major component of
our efforts, and we expect that this move to the West will give a
whole new fan base great access and exposure to the event."
RSCVA, CHARTER & DODGE SHARE ESPN'S VISION
FOR EVENT
The Great Outdoor Games come to Reno from
Lake Placid, N.Y., where they attracted crowds of 60,000 to the
2002 Games. Lake Placid estimates that the annual economic impact
for the Great Outdoor Games topped $10 million.
"This partnership is a perfect match," said
Jeff Beckelman, President & CEO of RSCVA. "Reno-Tahoe has a strong
history of event experience that sets the platform for attracting
record-breaking crowds. We applaud ESPN for recognizing Reno-Tahoe
as America's adventure place and we look forward to the mutual
benefits that an event like this creates."
ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC Sports will televise
more than 19 hours of Great Outdoor Games original programming
this summer. Last year's telecasts were the highest-rated and
most-watched ever, increasing viewership by 15 percent on ESPN and
42 percent on ESPN2. In addition, the ABC Sports telecast earned a
1.52 rating, up 19 percent from 2001.
"We're excited about this opportunity to
share the excitement of the Great Outdoor Games with a whole new
fan base in Nevada," said Tom Schaefer, Senior Vice President,
Western Region, Charter Communications. "Charter is committed to
the kind of quality programming that ESPN is known for and we look
forward to joining them in their promotions effort."
"In addition to the RSCVA and Charter, we
will continue in our strong relationship with our presenting
sponsor, Dodge," Rooney said. "Dodge has been on board with the
Great Outdoor Games since they began and we look forward to
sharing the adventure and opportunities in Reno-Tahoe with them.
About ESPN's Great Outdoor Games presented
by Dodge:
The world's top outdoor athletes will gather
at the ESPN Great Outdoor Games in Reno-Tahoe July 10-13, 2003.
The event features one-of-a-kind, head-to-head competition in
timber and target events, sporting dogs, and fishing. While the
free event entertains large crowds on site, the ESPN Great Outdoor
Games also draws a worldwide television audience. More information
can be found at
www.greatoutdoorgames.com.
About the Reno Sparks Convention and
Visitor's Authority:
Reno-Tahoe is America's Adventure Place,
offering over 40 golf courses and the largest concentration of ski
resorts in North America - all within 90 minutes of the Reno/Tahoe
International Airport. Reno-Tahoe is the premier four-season
destination with unlimited outdoor recreation, an abundance of
arts and culture, numerous dining options and 24-hour gaming
excitement. For more information on Reno-Tahoe: America's
Adventure Place log on to
www.renolaketahoe.com or
call 800-FOR-RENO.
Contact:
Jamie Wilkinson
Great Outdoor Games
(334) 551-2457
william.j.wilkinson@espn.com
George McNeilly
ESPN Inc.
(334) 551-2375
george.w.mcneilly@espn.com
Deanna Ashby
Reno Sparks Convention and Visitor's Authority
(775) 827-7750
dashby@rscva.com
