Goodwill Games good to go, despite snow

February 17, 2000
Web posted at: 7:02 p.m. EST (0002 GMT)

LAKE PLACID, New York (CNN) -- The inaugural Winter Goodwill Games are ready to get under way in upstate New York, as long as there isn't too much snow. Nearly 2 feet of snow has fallen in the Lake Placid area since Monday, ruining what had been near-perfect conditions on the downhill ski course on Whiteface Mountain.

VIDEO CNN's Gary Tuchman talks with some athletes and previews the games. Windows Media 28K 80K

Lake Placid, a picturesque village in the Adirondack Mountains, is also where the Winter Olympics were held in 1932 and 1980.

The 450 Goodwill Games athletes -- including Olympic gold medalists Dorothy Hamill, Brian Boitano, Katarina Witt and Oksana Baiul -- will participate in 11 winter sports from Thursday through Sunday, competing for more than $647,000 in prize money.

Proceeds will be donated to charity.

The winter games, which also are scheduled to be staged in 2003, 2005 and 2007 by Turner Sports, are an extension of the Summer Goodwill Games created in 1986 by CNN founder Ted Turner.

For more US news, myCNN.com will bring you news from the areas and subjects you select.

Goodwill Games

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.