Now well into their fifteen day run throughout the New York metropolitan area, the fourth Goodwill Games features close to 1,500 athletes from 66 countries competing in 15 different sports.

For the athletes themselves, the games afford the opportunity not only to best their respective fields, but also to vie for a share of the more than $5 million in prize money -- an enticement not offered them when competing in the older and far more famous quadrennial Olympic Games.

Then, too, there is the finals-only format, making each event all the more competitive and all the more a perform-at-your-peak-or-go-home-empty-handed affair.

What that's meant for the fans thus far, most of whom have come from within an hour's driving distance of Nassau's three venues for the games, is that they're getting to see -- no hype here -- the very best competing against the very best.

"I think things are going very, very well," said County Legislator John J. Ciotti as he stood among a throng of reporters and camera people Tuesday night.

Ciotti and his fellow legislators, Roger Corbin, Edward Mangano, and Bruce Blakeman, represented just a handful of the 9,756 souls who poured into the rebuilt Mitchel Athletic Complex that evening to cheer such track and field sensations as Michael Johnson, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Kenya's Tegla Loroupe, and Trinidad's Ato Boldon.

"Without question, the success of the games has far surpassed our expectations," the legislator continued.

"While we've been very pleased that thus far everything is running smoothly, the main thing is that the crowd is having fun."

He added, "I really think that this is the beginning for Nassau County. I really do."

The Goodwill Games were founded in 1986 by media magnate Ted Turner.

At the time the United States and the Soviet Union were bitterly engaged in the Cold War, and as a result of their differences, they and a number of their respective allies either boycotted or partially boycotted Olympic games in 1976, 1980, and 1984.

The Goodwill Games, then, were Turner's attempt to try his own hand at a kind of "running shoe detente."

Initially a joint venture between the Atlanta-based Turner Broadcasting System and the Russian government, previous games were held in Moscow (1986), Seattle, Washington (1990) and in St. Petersburg, Russia (1994).

With the Cold War now relegated to the library stacks and the new, democratically-elected Russian government unable to stomach the $50 million deficits the games have historically produced, the games are now the sole property of Turner Broadcasting, a subsidiary of the Time Warner empire.

That change has inspired other changes, mainly in regard to the over-all philosophy of the games.

Without the Cold War to fuel international rivalries, "goodwill" has been re-defined by the games' organization to mean "goodwill toward children."

To fulfill this new mission, the Goodwill Games are working with several domestic and international charities, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and UNICEF International.

That change in the Games' thrust has also inspired a change in philosophy in terms of how to market international athletics.

The new emphasis is on presenting world class athletes in competition while eliminating the Games' historic deficits through more aggressive marketing.

In an attempt to both boost their television ratings and increase the number of spectators in the stands, several sports have been eliminated this year, including archery, canoeing, and team handball.

At the same time, three new sports have been added: women's soccer -- which came into its own at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics -- free-style wrestling and water polo.

In order to conform to the tastes of television audiences, figure skating and gymnastics have been scheduled for prime time; eight days of gymnastics, five of figure skating, none of them overlapping.

In all, some 47 hours of the Games will be broadcast between 8 and 11 p.m.

Many, among them Bobby Kersee, husband and coach of Jackie Joyner-Kersee, think such forethought has been far too long in coming.

"The problem, historically, for track and field, has not been that it's not a great sport, or that it doesn't have great athletes and media coverage. The problem has been that we've been slow to realize that this is an entertainment vehicle and should be marketed as such," he said.

"Track and Field [for instance], has to concentrate on being more fan-friendly and corporate-friendly... Jackie has done her job. Carl [Lewis] has done his job and brought exposure to the sport.

"But it's all of our responsibilities to market ourselves better."

Such sentiments are music to the ears of officials in Nassau County, who are now trying to market the 287 square mile region as a "sports fan's paradise."

In this, its first immersion into big-time, Olympics-styled competition, the county is playing host to nine sports: track and field, swimming, diving, water polo, synchronized swimming, figure skating, gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, and soccer.

The remainder of the Goodwill Games events are being presented in Manhattan (basketball, boxing ,wrestling, beach volleyball and the triathlon) and at Staten Island's Wagner College (velodrome cycling).

The three venues being utilized in Nassau are the newly rebuilt Mitchel Athletic complex, the Nassau County Goodwill Games Swimming and Diving Center, and the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Though fewer than half the 600,000 tickets put up for sale prior to the games was sold by opening day, July 19, venues now pressed to capacity suggest that as the games have continued, they've done a tremendous walk-up business.

In fact, on Tuesday night, one couldn't even park in lots designated for the track and field competition; instead motorists were advised to park at the Nassau Coliseum and shuttle bus to the athletic field.

"There's no question, this has been a terrific event," said the Nassau Legislature's Presiding Officer, Bruce Blakeman, Tuesday. "Everyone that I've spoken to associated with the games has told me how much they love our facilities and how well things have been coordinated here.

"This has really showcased what we can do here on Long Island."

Blakeman's words were seconded by heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield, who was on hand at the Mitchel Athletic Complex Tuesday night at the request of his friend, Michael Johnson, and who ultimately got to bestow the Gold Medal upon his fleet-footed friend after the running of the 400 meter race.

"Oh, it's been great," Holyfield said. "And from what I've seen, very well-organized. The traffic coming here tonight, in particular, was very smooth.

"In fact," the champ offered sheepishly. "I have to admit that I got lost on the way here, but the Nassau County Police were very helpful in getting me turned around and to the facility."

Looking over his shoulder at the crowd in the stands, Holyfield added, "an event like this.... it's good for the people."

Agreed Naime Smith, "It's probably the best thing that ever happened to Long Island."