Goodwill Games discontinued

Ted Turner

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- The Goodwill Games -- the sporting event that CNN founder Ted Turner created in 1985 to bring together the Soviet Union and United States -- have come to an end.

The news was announced Thursday in a little publicized, one-page statement.

"I am proud of all the Goodwill Games accomplished and appreciate the contributions of everyone who helped make it a success," Turner said in the statement.

The Goodwill Games, a division of Turner Sports and a business unit of Turner Broadcasting System, were formed by Turner at the height of the Cold War after the United States and Soviet Union traded boycotts in 1980 and 1984. The first Goodwill Games were held in Moscow, Russia, in 1986.

Basketball competition during the 1998 Goodwill Games

TBS chairman and CEO Jamie Kellner said executives decided to discontinue the Goodwill Games business operations after determining "that our viewers will be better served by re-allocating the resources necessary to pull off the Goodwill Games into other sports opportunities."

Kellner added, "The Goodwill Games successfully brought together athletes from the U.S. and the Soviet Union, and we applaud Ted Turner for his vision and efforts."

The final Goodwill Games were held this year in Brisbane, Australia, the first time the event was held outside Russia or the United States. Previous games were held in Moscow (1986); Seattle, Washington (1990); St. Petersburg, Russia (1994); New York (1998); and Lake Placid, New York (2000).