[2] Anna Kournikova Partners with Athlete Direct to Launch Official Web Site; The Internet's Most Searched Athlete Launches Kournikova.com.

NEW YORK--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Nov. 15, 1999--

18,000 Web pages now down to one!

A staggering number, but true. WTA superstar Anna Kournikova is featured on more than 18,000 Web pages according to a Yahoo! search.

So Kournikova, the Internet's most searched athlete(a), will launch www.kournikova.com, her first-ever official Web site, via Athlete Direct on Tuesday, Nov. 23, in an effort to create one comprehensive site.

"There are thousands of Internet pages which feature Anna. We felt a need to direct her worldwide appeal toward one official site, where the accuracy and timeliness of all content can be assured," added Phil de Picciotto, President of Octagon Athlete Representation. "Kournikova.com will enable her fans to interact with Anna, her family and her partners in a manner which has not existed until now."

The Web site includes "Kournikova's Klinic," where visitors can analyze the different components of Kournikova's tennis game and an area where fans can view her latest tennis equipment and fashions.

"My new Web site gives me the opportunity to communicate with all my fans in a way that was never before possible," said Kournikova. "I look forward to keeping in contact wherever I am in the world at all times of the year."

Kournikova.com will feature exclusive, weekly journals written to provide fans with an inside look at the most recent happenings in Anna's career. In addition, fans will be able to track her performances, post messages, chat with other fans and shop in her online store.

"Kournikova.com is sure to be a major destination on the Internet, and represents an important addition to Athlete Direct's industry-leading network of athlete Web sites," said Athlete Direct President Ross Schaufelberger.

The launch includes a sneak-preview worldwide Web cast on Monday, Nov. 22 beginning at 8 p.m. EST, www.kournikova.com.

About Athlete Direct:

Athlete Direct ("AD") is the home of direct, online interaction between professional athletes and their fans. As the exclusive producer of online sites for more than 200 top-name athletes, AD is the preeminent brand in athlete-fan interaction and the leader in developing online sports-related programming, sponsorship and e-commerce opportunities.

AD athletes are accessible through the company's Web site at www.athletedirect.com and through relationships with top online companies including Yahoo! Sports at http://sports.yahoo.com/allstars and America Online (AOL) at keyword: "AD."

Kournikova joins an extensive Athlete Direct roster of athletes including Ken Griffey, Jr., Brett Favre, Troy Aikman, Mia Hamm, Karl Malone, Nomar Garciaparra, Steve Young and Brandi Chastain.

About Octagon:

Octagon (www.octagon.com) is the world's most innovative and strategic sports marketing agency. As part of The Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE:IPG), one of the largest advertising and marketing communications groups in the world, Octagon provides unique, comprehensive sports and entertainment services to its clients.

Octagon Athlete Representation (formerly Advantage International) represents some of the world's leading athletes including Steffi Graf, Martina Hingis, Michael Chang, Todd Martin, Sergei Fedorov, David Robinson, Sheryl Swoopes, Davis Love III and Justin Leonard.

(a) source: Anna Kournikova is the most searched athlete on Lycos, consistently appearing on the Lycos 50(R) (http://50.lycos.com), a weekly list of the 50 most popular people, places and things users are searching for on the Web, more than any other athlete.