Last week Nassau County Parks Commissioner John B. Kiernan, former supervisor of the Town of North Hempstead, came to the meeting of a Nassau County Rotary Club to speak about the upcoming Goodwill Games. He opened his remarks by saying that many people have the Goodwill Games confused with the Special Olympics, the Olympics for persons with various disabilities. Since then, when the subject of the games has come up, we have found that many people are confused. In fact, the Goodwill Games are international, multi-sport invitational events that unite the world's best athletes. In 1998, competitors from 60 countries will vie for $5 million in prize money and world record/performance incentives. According to Commissioner Kiernan, he and his counterpart in New York City began applying for the games to be held here in 1991. Once the venue of New York City and Nassau County had been established, the sites for the individual events had to be prepared. As a result of the games, Nassau County now has a world-class state-of-the-art swimming and diving center at Eisenhower Park, built largely with state funding. The games are bringing financial rewards to Nassau hoteliers, retailers and manufacturers, but, at least as important, they create an opportunity for the rest of the world to see what Long Island has to offer in terms of recreation and tourist attractions. At last count there were still tickets available for many of the events. We urge our readers to check the schedule and take advantage of this Úquot;Summer of Good Will.Úquot; Let the Games begin!

Eileen Brennan

(editor's note: Eileen Brennan is the editor of the Manhasset Press, an Anton Community Newspaper.)