Rincon Casino Opens

PARADISE ISLAND, THE BAHAMAS - The Ocean Club resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas and Michael Jordan hosted a star-studded field for the inaugural Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational (MJCI) January 11-14, 2001.

World-class athletes from across the sports spectrum participated including Charles Barkley, John Elway, Wayne Gretzky, Roger Clemens and Julius Erving. These athletes were challenged by celebrity golfers such as Stephen Baldwin, Michael Bolton, Don Cheadle, Janet Jones and Aidan Quinn.

MJCI guests were treated to a fun-filled weekend of festivities at the Ocean Club and Atlantis, Paradise Island resorts. The weekend's entertainment highlight was a soulful, Saturday night performance by three-time Grammy nominee, Jill Scott. The MJCI featured a total of 36 celebrity golfers from the worlds of sports and entertainment, as well as amateur participants, including event sponsors and representatives of the Bahamian corporate and local community competing in two separate events. The event consisted of a two-day Celebrity-Am, pairing one celebrity with three amateurs and a two-day �Celebrity Pairs.''

The players competed for a total purse of $200,000. Up to $500,000 will be given to charity including $300,000 in charitable donations for the Ronald McDonald Houses of North Carolina and for the local Bahamian cancer society.

NBC-TV will air the fun-filled, four-day charitable golf event on January 20, 2001 from 4:00 to 5:00 pm EST. Sponsors for the MJCI included Gatorade, Palm, JORDAN Brand and Ultimate Bid.

As part of Sun International's $100 million renovation and expansion of the Ocean Club resort, in addition to the Ocean Club Golf Course, the property now includes 50 new oceanfront rooms and suites for a total of 107 guest accommodations, and Dune, Jean Georges Vongerichten's first island restaurant.