1998 Goodwill Games Explained

1998 Goodwill Games
Size:	200px
Host City:	New York City, New York
Country:	USA
Nations:	60
Athletes:	1500
Previous:	Saint Petersburg 1994

The 1998 Goodwill Games was the fourth edition of the international sports competition the Goodwill Games, which were created by Ted Turner in reaction to the political troubles surrounding the Olympic Games of the 1980s. The competition was held in and around New York City in the United States from July 19 to August 2, 1998. Approximately 1,500 athletes from more of 60 countries participated, competing in 15 sports.^[1]

The United States topped the medal table of the games with 41 gold medals and 132 medals in total. In second place was Russia, with 35 gold medals and 94 medals in total. Cuba finished in third place, with 8 gold medals and 17 medals in total.

Athletes who won gold medals at the 1998 Goodwill Games include Michelle Kwan, Dominique Moceanu, Michael Johnson, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Dan O'Brien, Félix Savón, Jenny Thompson and Alexander Popov.^[2] Approximately 1,500 athletes from more of 60 countries participated, competing in 15 sports.^[1]

Two world records were broken at these Games, one by the American relay in the 4×400 meters in athletics, and the other by South African swimmer Penny Heyns in the 50 meters breaststroke.^{[3] [4]} The event is also notable for a training accident involving Chinese gymnast Sang Lan, which injured her spinal cord and left her partially paralyzed.

Venues

Some events were held in New York City, while many were held in nearby suburbs in Long Island, including Uniondale.^[5]

• Central Park (triathlon finish)
• Madison Square Garden (basketball)
• Mitchel Athletic Complex (athletics, soccer)
• Nassau County Aquatic Center (diving, swimming, synchronized swimming, water polo)
• Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum (figure skating, rhythmic and artistic gymnastics)
• New York Harbor (triathlon start)
• The Theater at Madison Square Garden (boxing, wrestling)
• Wagner College Stadium (cycling)
• Wollman Rink (beach volleyball)

Participating nations

The following nations were invited to the games:^[6]

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Medal table

width=50	Place	width=200	Nation	width=50		width=50		width=50		width=50	Total
1		41	49	42	132
2		35	29	30	94
3		8	5	4	17
4		7	7	6	20
5		5	4	4	13
6		3	3	10	16
7		2	6	2	10
8		2	5	2	9
9		2	2	5	9
10		2	1	1	4
11		2	0	1	3
12		2	0	1	3
13		2	0	0	2
14		1	5	4	10
15		1	3	5	9
16		1	1	0	2
17		1	0	1	2
		1	0	1	2
		1	0	1	2
20		1	0	0	1
		1	0	0	1
		1	0	0	1
23		0	2	2	4
24		0	2	1	3
25		0	2	0	2
26		0	1	5	6
27		0	1	1	2
		0	1	1	2
		0	1	1	2
30		0	1	0	1
		0	1	0	1
		0	1	0	1
		0	1	0	1
	World All-Stars (Cycling)	0	1	0	1
35		0	0	1	1
		0	0	1	1
		0	0	1	1
		0	0	1	1
		0	0	1	1
		0	0	1	1
		0	0	1	1
		0	0	1	1
		0	0	1	1

References

• Sports Illustrated

Notes and References

1. Web site: Goodwill Games Fact Sheet . March 11, 2022 . Goodwill Games . https://web.archive.org/web/20001218010500/http://www.goodwillgames.com/98site/general/venue.fact.sheet.html . 18 December 2000 . dead.
2. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/goodwillgames/1998/news/1998/08/02/goodwill_future/ Moving on: Despite red ink, Games head to Brisbane and maybe Lake Placid
3. Web site: Enfants de la guerre froide, les Goodwill Games cherchent encore leur public . March 11, 2022 . Therin . Frederic . August 29, 2001 . . . Paris . French .
4. Bell, Daniel (2003). Encyclopedia of International Games (pgs. 164–168). McFarland and Company, Inc. Publishers, Jefferson, North Carolina. .
5. Web site: Goodwill Games 1998: Sports and Venues . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120816015824/http://www.goodwillgames.com/sports/venues.html . 2012-08-16 .
6. Web site: Potential Participating Countries . March 11, 2022 . June 4, 1998 . Goodwill Games . https://web.archive.org/web/20010112160300/http://www.goodwillgames.com/98site/sports/countries.html . 12 January 2001 . dead.