When the 1998 Goodwill Games bow in Nassau County this July 19 through August 2, the Villages of Garden City and Westbury stand to experience an economic boom, thanks to their railroad stations being designated a hub for transporting spectators and athletes to various area arenas.

Though the television advertising for the two week-long event has stressed the games' proximity to New York City, nine of fifteen of the events will actually take place in Nassau, with all of the water-related events, from diving to water polo, being held at the new aquatic center in Eisenhower Park; track and field events being staged at Hofstra University; Soccer to be played at the Mitchel Field Sports complex; and figure skating and gymnastics competitions to be run at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

In order to transport people to and from the events, organizers and officials from the county have decided that the Westbury, Hempstead and Garden City train stations will serve as primary transportation connection points, with Long Island Bus serving as the connection between the stations and the facilities.

According to County Legislator Rich Nicolello, local business organizations are already gearing up to take advantage of the potential windfall.

"I've been in touch with [a number of local business leaders], and from what I understand, they've made arrangements with Long Island Bus to have information booths set up to help inform those traveling to the games about local businesses and restaurants, as well as related events the BID is sponsoring to complement the Goodwill Games."

"Actually, it is a joint undertaking, with both the BID and the chamber trying to get people into town," said Frank Telese, president of the Westbury Chamber of Commerce, of that community's effort. "From what we understand, there will be three sets of shuttle buses departing from each of the railroad stations, and what we are hoping is that in between rides, they can be enticed to come into our town."

Depending on the shuttle schedule and how much time there actually is between spectators' arrival at the train station and the actual event they are attending, Telese said the biggest push will be to get people to patronize local eateries."