LOS ANGELES, CA — In a combined announcement in Los Angeles, Suva, and New York City, Mark Burnett, Founder and Executive Producer of Eco-Challenge; Steve Yaqona, Chief Executive of Fiji Visitors Bureau and Gordon Beck, SVP Sports and Production at USA Network; stated today that Eco-Challenge 2002 would take place in Fiji.

Fiji is a land of duality, with both majestic tropical beauty and harsh rugged adventure. In October 2002, seventy-five, four-person, international teams will converge on the exotic islands of Fiji. They will explore and race through 500 kilometers of Fiji's most impressive and untouched terrain by bushwhacking through dense jungles, mountain biking on rugged trails, paddling down jungle rivers, trekking on ancient pig hunting trails to remote villages, climbing fixed ropes up raging waterfalls and exploring the uninhabited islands. In an evolution from years past, the 2002 Eco-Challenge will increase its problem-solving expeditionary nature, challenging competitors with more team decision-making and navigation.

Mark Burnett, Founder and Executive Producer of Eco-Challenge, expounded on his vision for 2002, "My goal as we move forward is to turn Eco-Challenge into a mix of an Indiana Jones adventure, a Lewis and Clark expedition and a modern day competition. Competitors will need to be innovative as they emerge from the jungle not to find boats waiting, but instead to find wood, ropes, cloth and the tools needed to manufacture boats of their own choosing. Instead of detailed topographic maps, they will be required to make their own sketch maps in order to navigate through the remote jungles and mountains. The unexpected is what should be expected on this journey. Eco-Challenge truly is an expedition with a stopwatch."

From impenetrable jungles to jagged limestone cliffs to stunning turquoise lagoons, Fiji is both a paradise and a fascinating study in contrasts. Only 100 of the 333 islands which make up Fiji are inhabited, and it was only a century ago that Fijians were considered the world's fiercest cannibals. Today the people are among the world's friendliest, but are still deeply committed to their tribal cultural heritage.

Eco-Challenge is the world's premier Expedition Race, attracting the best expedition athletes from around the world. Each year it is held in a different remote region of the world. Previous Eco-Challenge races have taken place in Utah, New England, British Columbia, Australia, Morocco, Argentina, Malaysian Borneo and New Zealand. Fiji will mark the 9th annual global competition.

The Eco-Challenge will be staged in Fiji with the full support of the Fiji Visitor's Bureau. Steve Yaqona, Chief Executive of Fiji Visitors Bureau, stated, "I am so excited for the rest of world to see the amazing landscape of Fiji, and the beauty of the country and its people. Hosting Eco-Challenge 2002 will open up the eyes of the world to all that Fiji has to offer, and our affiliation with the event greatly complements the Bureau's brand Fiji efforts to bring Fiji to the forefront of the international markets."

USA Network will air Eco-Challenge New Zealand, a six-hour series from April 21-24 2002, at 8:00pm EST/PST. USA Network ranks in the top 3 most-watched cable networks among TV households in the United States, and is shown in 85 million homes.

Gordon Beck, SVP Sports and Production of USA Network stated, "Mark Burnett continues to raise the bar in adventure television. The changes we are likely to see in this next step in the evolution of Eco-Challenge should only help enhance the cycle of human drama that makes the TV show so compelling."

The sports event will also air on AXN, Columbia TriStar International Television's (CTIT) international home of premiere action and adventure programming. AXN is presently seen in over 40 countries, reaching over 60 million households across Asia, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East. Additionally, CTIT will also manage the international licensing of the sports event to free broadcasters.

Competitor on-line registration for Eco-Challenge Fiji will open on February 25, 2002 at exactly 10am PST. For more information log onto www.ecochallenge.com.

The Eco-Challenge name and logo are registered trademarks of J. Mark Burnett and may not be reproduced. Eco-Challenge(R), The Expedition Race(TM), Expedition Racing(TM) and Expedition Competition(TM) and all associated logos and service marks are all trademarks or registered trademarks of J. Mark Burnett in the United States and/or other countries.

USA Network, owned and operated by USA Cable, a division of USA Networks, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:USAI) Entertainment unit, is cable television's leading provider of original series and feature movies, sports events, off-net television shows and blockbuster theatrical films. USA Network is available in 78% of all U.S. homes, and is seen in more than 80 million U.S. homes. The USA Network Web site is located at www.usanetwork.com.

— Posted by Ari Cheren, MountainZone.com Staff