The Reno-Lake Tahoe area is under consideration
as a venue for ESPN's Great
Outdoor Games series in 2003.
Jamie Wilkinson of ESPN said the Reno-
Tahoe area is one of several venues under
consideration for the series that has been
hosted by Lake Placid in upstate New York
for the event's three-year history.
A decision,Wilkinson said, is expected in
mid-November.
At Lake Placid this year, he said, the Great
Outdoors Games drew about 57,000 visitors
as well as the television audience.
The on-site attendance this
year was nearly double year-earlier figures
If the Reno area is selected, the ESPN
program would provide a boost to new efforts
to market the region as a mecca for outdoor
sports enthusiasts.
The Reno-Sparks Convention and
Visitors Authority in August rolled out an
advertising campaign, "Reset Your Compass:
360(deg) of Adventure," which targets outdoor
recreation enthusiasts.
The message, RSCVA officials said., is
straightforward: Reno is more than gaming.
That message would be reinforced by the
Great Outdoors Games.
The games follow an Olympic format and
are billed as the world championship of outdoor
sports. Competitive events range from
archery to tree-topping and log-rolling. Also
included is competition for sporting dogs.
The games in New York in mid July drew
athletes from 39 states and five nations.ESPN
devoted 19 hours to airing the games in
late July.
