Get ready for some extreme Goodwill on snow and ice.
The first winter edition of the Goodwill Games, an international sports event styled after the Olympics, is planned for 2000, most likely in Lake Placid, N.Y., Turner Sports president Harvey Schiller said.While the four summer versions of the games have focused on traditional sports, the winter debut will get a little funky to try and attract a younger, edgier audience.
"There probably will be some extreme events included," Schiller said. "Maybe some of the bobsled or luge teams will go down the track backward."
It's more likely that the Goodwill schedule will include events along the lines of ice climbing, snow bicycling and super-modified shovel racing. While not Olympian, they are surefire ratings boosters, especially in the much-sought-after audience of males in their teens and 20s.
Other sports on the program include Alpine skiing, figure skating, speedskating, bobsled, luge and at least one cross-country ski event, according to Schiller.
Dates have not been set, but Schiller said the event probably would span 6-7 days, 2-3 days longer than originally planned because of the addition of more sports.
A Winter Goodwill Games has been talked about for several years. Schiller, in a telephone interview from his Atlanta office Thursday night, said a final decision would be made shortly.
Schiller said the go-ahead would wait until Goodwill Games president Mike Plant returned from an overseas vacation.
Lake Placid, host city of Winter Olympics in 1932 and 1980, was the "probable" site, "but there are other possibilities in the mix," Schiller added.
The other potential host cities were not identified. Lillehammer, Norway, where the 1994 Winter Olympics were held, was Schiller's target when Schiller first mentioned a Winter Goodwill Games several years ago.