FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2006 WSSA WORLD SPORT STACKING CHAMPIONSHIPS
ON ESPN

Telecast to air Monday, August 21st


Deerfield Beach, FL – July 31, 2006
– Don’t miss the one-hour ESPN telecast of the 2006 WSSA World Sport Stacking Championships on August 21st, 2006. In case you haven’t heard about the new competitive sport that’s sweeping the nation, sport stacking is the fast-action sport of coordination and speed that’s already practiced by millions of kids worldwide. For the first time ever, ESPN will offer an inside look at the skill and determination it takes to be a sport stacking champion.

This year’s tournament, sanctioned by the World Sport Stacking Association (WSSA), brought together over 1,100 of the fastest sport stackers from around the world.  Representing five foreign countries and 21 states, sport stackers of all ages competed in a variety of individual timed events, doubles and relay matches in hopes of coming out on top and maybe even setting a new world record.

“We are thrilled to be at the forefront of this exciting new sport,” said John Lasker, director, new media content, ESPN. “Sport stacking is something you have to see to believe, and once we saw it, we knew we wanted to share it with kids and sports fans everywhere.”

Sport stacking (formerly called cup stacking) is an emerging individual and team sport where participants up stack and down stack 12 specially designed cups (Speed Stacks®) in pre-determined sequences at lightning speed. In addition to being fast and fun, this unique sport promotes hand-eye coordination, ambidexterity, focus, concentration, team skills and sportsmanship. Sport stacking is currently part of PE curriculums in about 11,000 schools around the world.

In August, the official equipment of the WSSA – the Speed Stacks StackPack™ – will be available at retail for the first time ever, thanks to Play Along®, a division of JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK). Soon everyone will be able to learn how to sport stack at home and see how they “stack up” against the best in the world. Visit www.speedstacks.com for more information.

 

About ESPN
ESPN, Inc. is the world’s leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company featuring a portfolio of over 50 multimedia sports assets. The company is comprised of seven domestic television networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPNU, ESPN Today), ESPN and ESPN2  HD simulcast services, ESPN Regional Television, ESPN International (networks, syndication, radio, web sites), ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Enterprises, ESPN Zones (sports-themed restaurants), and other growing new businesses including ESPN360 (Broadband), Mobile ESPN, ESPN on Demand, ESPN Interactive and ESPN PPV.  Based in Bristol, Ct., ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., which is an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.  The Hearst Corporation holds a 20 percent interest in ESPN.

About the World Sport Stacking Association (WSSA)
The WSSA promotes the standardization and advancement of sport stacking worldwide. This association serves as the governing body for sport stacking rules and regulations and provides a uniform framework for sport stacking events; sanctions sport stacking competitions and records. For more information, visit www.worldsportstackingassociation.org.

About Play Along
Play Along, a division of JAKKS Pacific, Inc., manufactures, markets and distributes some of the most recognizable and popular children's toy lines in the world, including Care Bears®, Cabbage Patch Kids®, Doodle Bear®, and Sky Dancers®. In addition to classic toy lines, Play Along is introducing the world to the new competitive sport of sport stacking and Speed Stacks, the official equipment of the World Sport Stacking Association. The company's products can be found at mass merchant, specialty and gift retailers on a worldwide basis.  For more information about the Play Along product line, visit www.playalongtoys.com.

About JAKKS Pacific, Inc.
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK) is a multi-brand company that designs and markets a broad range of toys and consumer products. The product categories include: Action Figures, Art Activity Kits, Stationery, Writing Instruments, Performance Kites, Water Toys, Sports Activity Toys, Vehicles, Infant/Pre-School, Plush, Construction Toys, Electronics, Dolls, Dress-Up, Role Play, and Pet Toys and Accessories. The products are sold under various brand names including JAKKS Pacific™, Play Along®, Flying Colors®, Creative Designs International™, Road Champs®, Child Guidance®, Pentech®, Trendmasters®, Toymax®, Funnoodle®, Go Fly a Kite®, Color Workshop®, JPI™ and Plug It In & Play TV Games™. JAKKS and THQ Inc. participate in a joint venture that has worldwide rights to publish and market World Wrestling Entertainment video games. For further information, visit www.jakkspacific.com.

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Speed Stacks® ©2005 Speed Stacks, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Play Along® & ©2006 Play Along, a division of JAKKS Pacific, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 

CONTACT:
Jen Bernstein
Play Along
954-596-2210
jbernstein@playalongtoys.com

Tilea Coleman
ESPN media contact:
860-766-3438
tilea.coleman@espn.com


 

     

Play Along® & ©2008 Play Along, a division of JAKKS Pacific, Inc. All Rights Reserved.