Goodwill Games Ceases Operations

After 16 years, encompassing five Summer and one Winter Goodwill Games that included nearly 20,000 athletes from 100 countries, dozens of world records and countless memories, the Goodwill Games have ceased operations.

The brainchild of founder Ted Turner, the Goodwill Games began in 1986 in the host city of Moscow, Russia as a way to ease tensions during the Cold War through friendly athletic competition between nations. With the end of the Cold War, the Games' focus shifted toward youth initiatives. Using sports as a way to better young people's lives, the Goodwill Games raised millions of dollars for charity.

The Goodwill Games would take place in Seattle, WA (1990), St. Petersburg, Russia (1994), New York City, NY (1998), Brisbane, Australia (2001) and a Winter Goodwill Games in Lake Placid, NY in 2000.

The athletes that have appeared in the Games over the years are a who's who of international stars in their respective sports. They include the likes of Carl Lewis, Sergei Bubka, Marion Jones, Felix Savon, Oscar de la Hoya, Tim Duncan, Oksana Baiul, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Michael Johnson, Ian Thorpe, and the list goes on and on. The camaraderie and friendships developed at this multi-sport event, as well as the memories of a great sporting competition will last a lifetime.