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This contest will crown "the world's greatest traveler". Wondering if we as a group shouldn't sponsor our own candidate.

"Around And Around They Go, Where They Stop No One Knows?
50 Global Adventurers Take A Blind Date With The World"

Contact: Pamela L. Finmark
GreatEscape Foundation
310.264.1983
[email protected]

Kyoto, Japan (August 7) - Ever fantasize about racing around the
world? Then GreatEscape2002: The Global Scavenger Hunt is your
passport to make your dreams come true and possibly win $100,000!

Beginning October 18th, and over the next three weeks, 50 intrepid
global adventurers will take an incredible Blind Date With The World
(travelers won't know their destinations until they're onboard a 747
over the International Dateline) and visit at least 10 countries on 4
continents in the 2nd Annual travel competition that will crown "The
World's Greatest Travelers" in New York City on November 10th, 2002.
They'll be traveling from Los Angeles to New York - the long way!

Outside Magazine calls The Global Scavenger Hunt "...one of the most
amazing trips in the world!" NPR's "Savvy Traveler" host Dianna Nyad,
thinks that GreatEscape2002 "...is just such a great idea!" And
nationally syndicated Pierre Wolf of "Pack Your Bags," agrees saying
that the competition is "The most remarkable travel adventure I've
ever heard of...truly, a one of a kind global event. This is what travel
should be all about!"

"It is like Survivor, The Amazing Race, and the Eco-Challenge all
rolled into one except with much more cultural interaction," is how
one previous competitor, Marvin Schmidt of Canada, explained his
participation in the 1st Annual global competition that combines the
style of the 19th Century Grand Tours with the jet-setter reality of
21st Century travel. But the Amazing Race and Survivor reality shows
are strictly for amateur wannabes and armchair voyeurs. This real
world travel adventure is for the truly travel savvy among us who
crave authentic adventure, genuine exotic travel, intimate cultural
immersions, real competition and world-class fun.

Sure it took Magellan over three years to do it and Jules Verne's
Phileas Fogg character 80-days to do it. Amelia Earhart would have
made it in about 45 days. It takes the Space Station just 38 minutes
to do it. And it will take those in GreatEscape2002 just 23 days to do
it. The "it" they share, is circumnavigating the globe! And by the
time one daring Team (2 travelers per Team) competing in The Global
Scavenger Hunt finish the hundreds of exotic cultural scavenges and
crosses the finish line, all 25 Teams will have collectively walked,
bicycled, flown, boated and ridden camels, elephants, ox-carts and
rickshaws, over a million miles! But there are more than clues to
uncover and $100,000 in prizes to win. There are lives to be changed.

The 2nd Annual travel adventure is helping to raise funds toward a
$1 million goal for humanitarian groups like: Doctors Without Borders,
UNICEF, CARE, Mercy Corps International, International Special
Olympics and the World Monuments Fund.

"Our cultural immersion will move Teams away from having their noses
stuck in guidebooks and get them engaged in the human connection of
travel," says William D. Chalmers, travel book author and the event
organizer, "It's from those personal interactions and intimate
experiences that we grow. That's what GreatEscape2002 is all about:
having our travelers trust strangers in strange lands."

"GreatEscape2002 is all about having our travelers trust strangers in
strange lands," says William D. Chalmers, the events organizer, "Some
have called our annual event the 'Olympics of Travel', some refer to
it as 'A Blind Date with the World' because our travelers won't have
any foreknowledge as to where they're going until they're onboard a
747 bound for parts unknown, some have even called it a 'Magical
Mystery Tour'. I liked that one."

"The Global Scavenger Hunt has certainly captured the attention of
some of the world's best travelers and that's what we are creating--a
truly international travel adventure competition." And Chalmers, as
the winner of a previous around-the-world race and a travel book
author should know, organizing this annual travel competition has
become a dream come true. "I would love to participate, but setting up
this annual event is equally challenging. We're attracting world-class
contestants." National Geographic Adventure magazine recently knighted
Chalmers the "world's greatest traveler." (April 2002)

Travelers are asked to either raise or pay at least $7,900 to the
GreatEscape Foundation to enter the Fall 2002 event. Fees include all
international airfare, 23-days in first class hotels and about 40% of
meals. (Portions of the fee may be tax-deductible and travelers are
asked to please consult their tax advisor.) All interested travelers
should contact the GreatEscape Foundation at 310.281.7809 or visit the
world famous commercial-free travel website at www.GreatEscape2002.com.

Truly the "Olympics of travel adventure," Teams will earn points by
completing a series of cultural-oriented scavenges in each of the 10
exotic international destinations. A true cultural immersion, the
event is designed to be a rally rather than a flat out race to test
the wildly diverse Teams ability to combat not only jetlag, but
language difficulties, Team dynamics, cultural differences, inevitable
logistical snafus and the ever present heat of competition.

Participants of the first event enjoyed the thrill of the competition,
the mystery aspect, the cultural immersion, the food and the hotels.
Here's what a few competitors said of their experience competing in
The Global Scavenger Hunt travel adventure:

Carol Branson of Indianapolis: "...the awesome quantity of art - in
churches, temples & museums...and the smiles of the peoples."

Victoria Rivers of Vancouver: "...the concept of not knowing my
destinations was a wonderful experience, and finding random items in
markets all over the world was one of my favorite parts of the
scavenger hunt. My charade skills have been fine-tuned!"

Joan Havard of Austin: "...the thrill of the hunt was exciting...I'm not
ready for it to end!"

Michael Hickmon of California: "Riding an elephant and climbing to the
center of the pyramid were my favorite experiences...the scavenges where
we learned about cultural differences were the most interesting. I now
know that I can go anywhere..."

Willi Massinger of Key West: "The ease of air travel was great...the
hospitality events were simply super!

David Matichuk of Edmonton: "It was exactly how I thought The Global
Scavenger Hunt would be...global, challenging and adventurous. A great
competition."

Travelers and adventurers participating in GreatEscape2002 will be
limited to using public transportation only while solving clues in
country. "Public transportation makes a foreign environment seem,
well, more foreign!" continues Chalmers, "The Teams will get more than
some snapshots, a sunburn and souvenirs, they'll replenish their
memory banks with exciting and exotic experiences. I suspect, like the
Eco-Challenge for physically fit marathon trekkers, that
GreatEscape2002 will be the ultimate cocktail hour competition among
travelers. More than just a travel and competition however, Teams will
be helping to raise a million dollar goal for some wonderful
humanitarian organizations."
__________________________________________________ _______

For additional press-related information, including: obtaining travel
photos, Press Kits, e-Press Kits, a video news release (VNR),
information about covering the event, setting up interviews with past
and future contestants and/or the events organizer, or any other
media-related questions, please contact:

Pamela L. Finmark
GreatEscape Foundation
310.264.1983
[email protected]
513 Wilshire Blvd., Ste 364
Santa Monica, CA 90401 - USA