The media are invited to join First Gentleman Dan Mulhern at the sneak preview of the John Hancock All-Star FanFest. This interactive fan experience is the leadoff event for Major League Baseball All-Star Week in Detroit. Mulhern and Detroit's First Lady Carlita Kilpatrick will participate in special presentations to youth organizations Mentor Michigan and Mayor's Time. Prior to the All-Star FanFest, children from Mentor Michigan -- a special project of Governor Granholm and First Gentleman Mulhern -- and Mayor's Time will participate in the Roberto Clemente Life Skills Workshop conducted by John Hancock Financial Services representatives.

Representatives from the Great River Energy Bicycle Festival announced today over 50,000 spectators gathered to visit the Festival and watch the Nature Valley Grand Prix, one of the largest and most challenging professional cycling races in the United States. Nearly 300 cyclists from over 20 countries competed in the Nature Valley Grand Prix, a five day stage race for both men and women professional cyclists.

McFarlane Toys will once again be part of John Hancock All-Star FanFest, an interactive baseball theme park that will open Friday, July 8 and run through Tuesday, July 12 at COBO Conference/Exhibition Center in Detroit as part of 2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Week.

In an effort to improve existing standards and race-related guidelines, the parent company that owns the Ironman Triathlon is launching Global Tri Group Inc. (GTG). The Global Tri Group was formed to enhance events worldwide by standardizing rules/regulations, providing insurance assistance and designing programs to implement drug-testing worldwide.

Eight-and-a-half years and more than a thousand events since Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex officially opened on March 28, 1997, the 220-acre sports complex at Walt Disney World Resort welcomed its One Millionth Athlete on Monday. Desirre Wilkerson (Louisville, Ky.), a 13-year-old girls' volleyball player from the Kentucky Indiana Volleyball Academy (KIVA), was officially honored as the One Millionth Athlete.

Victor Ubogu, former Bath and England rugby player is this month launching VU Sports Club, to form part of VU Limited; specialists in providing unique experiences at premier sporting events worldwide.

On June 16th Governor Mitt Romney, Lt. Governor Kerry Healey, Senate President Robert E. Travaglini along with local athletes, celebrities and representatives of the Boston sports community will kick-off the inaugural celebrity-bowling fundraiser, "Stars & Strikes," at KINGS in Boston, MA. The event will include bowling with an all-star celebrity cast to raise money for the Massachusetts Governor's Committee on Physical Fitness & Sports. Proceeds will benefit EveryBody Move!, a state- wide initiative developed to provide opportunities and increase awareness about the importance of participating in physical fitness and sports activities.

Gathering for an afternoon of soft pretzels, hot dogs and home runs, 40 members the Young Professionals Network (YPN) of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and 40 members from Young Variety, the young professional division of Variety - The Children's Charity of Greater Philadelphia, will partner for the first time to take 80 local children with disabilities for a "Day at the Phillies Game" on Sunday, June 12, 2005 at 1:35 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park.

In its 20th Anniversary season of honoring the nation's elite high school athletes, Gatorade(R) Thirst Quencher, in partnership with Scholastic Coach & Athletic Director magazine, today announced Dani Hofer of Palm Harbor University High School in Palm Harbor, Fla., as the 2005 Gatorade National Softball Player of the Year. The announcement was made live on this morning's edition of ESPN2's Cold Pizza.

Beach Tennis USA, the organization responsible for launching the sport of beach tennis in North America, will hold its third major competitive event in the U.S. when it joins the North American Sand Soccer Championships (NASSC) in Virginia Beach on June 10 - 12, 2005.

The OT 10 Awards black tie dinner, created by OverTime Magazine, will honor some of sports' greatest for their achievements and contributions in both business and philanthropy.

Over 6,000 athletes, coaches, volunteers and family members will join together this weekend as Special Olympics Washington celebrates the annual Summer Games. The Games begin this Friday, June 3rd, with the Opening Ceremonies and athletic competition runs Saturday, June 4th, through Sunday, June 5th. Grand Marshal, Seattle Mariner Bucky Jacobsen, will kick off the Games Friday evening during the Opening Ceremonies at McChord AFB. Governor Gregoire will join the Games on Saturday at Ft. Lewis to present medals to Special Olympics athletes from across Washington.

Gearing up for the July 2 start of the Tour de France and Lance Armstrong's historic final attempt to win a seventh title, Discovery Channel presents an exclusive hour-long special, THE SCIENCE OF LANCE ARMSTRONG, to premiere in primetime in 160 countries and 35 languages on June 27, 2005 at 8PM ET. THE SCIENCE OF LANCE ARMSTRONG, Discovery's fourth "Watch with the World" event, gives viewers unprecedented access to a cultural phenomenon and world-class athlete and the teamwork behind his extraordinary success.

OfficeMax(R) (NYSE:OMX) , one of the nation's largest office supply retailers, is helping Chicagoans celebrate the longstanding rivalry between Cubs and White Sox fans with a Crosstown Classic "What's Your Team?" sweepstakes. One lucky Cubs and White Sox fan will each win the ultimate fan experience including game tickets, throwing a ceremonial pitch at a Cubs or White Sox baseball game, team jerseys, dinner with a team personality, and watching batting practice on-field. OfficeMax also will give away more than 10,000 prizes with instant-win game pieces that will be distributed throughout Chicago during the month of June.

In the face of a looming epidemic of overuse injuries among young athletes, CATZ -- Competitive Athlete Training Zone -- issued a warning to parents about the hidden risks of Summer Sports Camps. Many parents fail to recognize that intensive sport-specific training puts their child at a greater risk of injury. CATZ provided tips to help parents ensure their young athletes remain injury-free during camp the summer. While intensive practice for soccer, basketball, hockey and other team sports can enhance performance and bring great success, it can also lead to trouble for a child's growing body.