SPORTS ILLUSTRATED TO COMMEMORATE 50^TH ANNIVERSARY WITH NATIONWIDE CELEBRATION OF SPORTS IN AMERICA

The Franchise’s Most Ambitious Initiative Will Touch All 50 States

New York, July 28, 2003 — Sports Illustrated (SI) will commemorate its 50^th anniversary with a dynamic, yearlong nationwide celebration of sports in America, it was announced by SI President Bruce Hallett and Managing Editor Terry McDonell.

America’s Sports Illustrated: 50 Years, 50 States, 50 Sports , a wide-ranging multimedia program, is the most ambitious initiative in the history of the franchise. The grassroots effort launched in July 2003 and continues through July 2004. (SI’s official 50th anniversary date is August 16, 2004.)

The program features:

• 50 weekly state-specific sections in the magazine
• Four special 50^th anniversary double issues
• The Toyota Presents Sports Illustrated’s 50^th Anniversary Tour
• A comprehensive interactive web presence on SI.com
• A community sports outreach program with America’s YMCA and the National Recreation and Park Association (the professional association of parks and recreation agencies) to enhance the quality of sports in America’s communities
• Plus, NBA great David Robinson , has been named Sports Illustrated’s 50th Anniversary Ambassador of Sports and will serve as the spokesperson for the anniversary celebration. Robinson, who ironically wore No. 50 during his career, will have an integral role in the 12-month celebration, which kicked off in Newport, Rhode Island on July 11, 2003.

By the end of the yearlong celebration, America’s Sports Illustrated will have visited all 50 states.

Toyota is the presenting sponsor of the Tour; Starter and Best Buy are the program sponsors.

"We have had the rare privilege of documenting American sport for the past 50 years and our anniversary gives us the opportunity to celebrate the role of sports as a force for good in our country," said SI President Bruce Hallett. "During this yearlong odyssey we

want Americans to see us standing on the sidelines in all 50 states, cheering for their efforts and saluting their enormous accomplishments."

SI will feature a weekly editorial section focusing on one of the 50 states. Each special section will celebrate a sport or sporting event unique to that state, as well as an accompanying essay by a well-known native or SI writer from the state and a wide range of facts, figures and photographs highlighting the most memorable moments and personalities that have defined that state’s sports landscape.

"Sport has always been a major catalyst in building a sense of community and nowhere in our culture have American values come together more strongly than around sports," said SI Managing Editor Terry McDonell. "Sports Illustrated will use all of its resources to present a 50-week picture of sport in America. I hope our readers will have fun with it and I’m sure we’ll hear back from them about how we profiled their home state."

The four special double issues will document the state of sports when the magazine launched in 1954 (issue date: July 14-21, 2003), feature SI’s most memorable covers (November 10, 2003) and great photography (April 26, 2004), as well as highlight the current status of Sports in America (July 12-19, 2004).

Mirroring the state-specific sections in the magazine, the Toyota Presents Sports Illustrated’s 50^th Anniversary Tour will touch communities nationwide by visiting many of the sporting events featured in the magazine as well as a variety of other locations.

Launched in Newport, Rhode Island, on Friday, July 11, 2003, and headed to California for a dramatic closing event in July 2004, the Tour will crisscross the country, beginning in the nation’s smallest state and ending in its most populous. With stops ranging from regattas and rodeos to downhill skiing and mountain biking, the Tour will reach more than 2.5 million people over the course of the year.

The grassroots sports experience will cover nearly 45,000 square feet and will include:

• Toyota Field, an enclosed theater that will feature an original film highlighting the greatest sports moments of the past 50 years as selected by the editors of SI. David Robinson, SI’s 50th Anniversary Ambassador of Sports, will narrate the film. Also included in Toyota Field is the Picture Yourself on the Cover , where visitors can pose against a backdrop of Toyota’s NASCAR Show Truck and receive a free commemorative photograph produced by Canon.
• Best Buy "Best Seat in the House, " which will showcase the latest consumer electronic innovations for catching your favorite teams. Partnering with Best Buy to equip the Best Buy Best Seat in the House are Bose Corporation, Philips Electronics, Sharp Electronics and Toshiba.
• Starter will display the following three elements: an exhibit profiling the Starter All-American Teen from each state; the Starter/Shaq Dunkman, an interactive basketball experience; as well as other baseball, basketball, football and soccer challenges.

• Sports Illustrated For Kids 25-yard dash, an activity zone where kids of all ages can participate in fun relays and races.
• A designated autograph area where athletes will be on hand for photos and signings. The Tour’s footprint will also highlight the past 50 years in sports through the eyes of the magazine, including some of its most memorable covers and great photography.
• Live entertainment, including acts from the Best Buy Concert Series , as well as athletic performances and other special appearances will be featured on the Tour’s main stage. Participants from local YMCAs and parks and recreation programs will also be a part of the main stage activities.

SI.com will take an interactive editorial journey throughout the year with customized state features, daily polls, trivia, contests and archival content that includes classic covers, photos and stories.

Launched on July 9, 2003, the centerpiece of SI.com’s 50th anniversary coverage is an animated flash map designed to provide users with an interactive presentation of sports history for each of the 50 United States. SI.com also provides information and continuous updates about the magazine, anniversary tour, community sports outreach programs and sponsors.

Sports Illustrated and its affiliates, YMCA of the USA and the local parks and recreation agencies have formed a perfect partnership to enhance the quality of sports in America’s communities by combining the resources of a for-profit organization, a charitable organization and a group from the public sector.

• Consumers will be offered a unique opportunity to purchase a six-month subscription to either SI or Sports Illustrated for Kids for just $10. In return, SI will donate 100% of the subscription revenue to the subscriber’s local Y. The offer will be available on the Tour or via the Internet at SI.com or YMCA.net.

• Through local parks and recreation agencies, 50 Sports Illustrated Sportstowns – one from each state – will be selected, recognized in the magazine, honored with a special ceremony and presented with a cash grant. Through a formal application process, the National Recreation and Park Association and SI will choose one Sportstown in each state based on a variety of criteria that demonstrate a community’s commitment to facilitating and enhancing quality sports. Communities will be judged in the following categories: philosophy, policy/procedures, education and training strategies, youth development strategies, community commitment to parks and recreation resources, innovations for community development, and scope of programming.

America’s 2,540 YMCAs are collectively the nation’s largest not-for-profit community service organization and charity. They serve 18.9 million people of all faiths, races, ages and incomes, including 9.3 million children, and are the largest providers of child care. YMCAs offer a broad range of programs including youth leadership, youth sports and volunteerism. Basketball, volleyball and racquetball were all invented at American YMCAs, which were also pioneers in modern aquatics. Financial assistance is available. YMCA of the USA is the organization’s national resource office.

The National Recreation and Park Association is a nonprofit professional and citizen association dedicated to advancing parks, recreation, and environmental conservation efforts that enhance the quality of life for all people. Headquartered in Ashburn, Virginia, NRPA supports the work of public, private, and non-profit park and recreation concerns in the areas of youth development, lifelong health, quality sports and environmental stewardship.

Sports Illustrated’s 50th Anniversary Ambassador of Sports

David Robinson’s career highlights include winning two NBA titles (1999 and 2003), playing in 10 NBA All-Star Games, winning two Olympic Gold Medals and being named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history. Off the court, David and his wife Valerie created the David Robinson Foundation, and he has donated more than $9 million toward the establishment of The Carver Academy (TheCarverAcademy.org), an independent school designed to serve a culturally and economically diverse community of pre-kindergarten through fourth-grade students in San Antonio. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, the No. 1 selection of the 1987 NBA Draft passed on two basketball seasons to serve in the U.S. military. In light of Robinson’s ongoing dedication to his country and community, the NBA’s community service award now bears his name.

About Toyota Motor Sales (www.toyota.com)

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) U.S.A., Inc is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota in America. Toyota is America’s fourth largest carmaker and manufactures more than one million cars per year in North America. Toyota ADRs are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: TM). Established in 1957, TMS oversees operations of more than 1,390 Toyota and Lexus dealerships in 49 states. With approximately 6,700 employees, Toyota Motor Sales and its subsidiaries also are involved in distribution logistics, motor sports R&D and the general aviation industry.

Best Buy (www.bestbuy.com)

Best Buy Stores, owned and operated by Minneapolis-based Best Buy Co., Inc., is the nation’s leading specialty retailer of technology and entertainment products and services. Best Buy was founded in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1966. Best Buy Stores reach an estimated 300 million consumers per year through more than 550 retail stores in 48 states and online at BestBuy.com. For more information about Best Buy, visit the virtual pressroom at http://onlinepressroom.net/bestbuy.

Starter (SI.com/All-American Teen)

Starter is one of the most recognized and highly marketed brands in retail today. Through its ongoing commitment to provide innovative athletic & performance products at an unexpected value, Starter continues to maintain substantial loyalty with consumers everywhere.

In addition to the above corporate partners, Starwood Resorts & Hotels has joined SI’s 50th Anniversary as the Tour’s hotel sponsor. Bose Corporation, Philips Electronics, Sharp Electronics and Toshiba have joined Best Buy to equip the Best Buy Best Seat in the House. Canon is also a supplier on the Tour.

Jack Morton Worldwide has designed, constructed and will operate the Toyota Presents Sports Illustrated’s 50th Anniversary Tour. Jack Morton creates experiences that help the world’s leading companies improve performance, increase sales and build brands. The experiential brand communications and event marketing agency integrates live events, branded environments and interactive experiences to engage and transform employee, business and consumer audiences. Headquartered in New York, Jack Morton has a staff of over 600 employees in locations throughout the United States, Europe and Asia-Pacific. The company is part of the Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (NYSE: IPG), and operates within IPG’s Interpublic Sports and Entertainment Group, comprised of best in class IPG companies from the world of sports and entertainment.

Allison Keane
Sports Illustrated
(212) 522-5542
 
Rick McCabe
Sports Illustrated
(212) 522-1375
 
Sheryl Spain
Sports Illustrated
(212) 522-6905
 
Nicole Bradley
Edelman
(212) 704-8153