ADVISORY/Special Olympics Kick off Summer Games With Twist; Grocery-Inspired Pentathlon to Generate Excitement/Highlight Partnership for Games.

Sports Editors/News Editors/Feature Editors

ADVISORY...for Tuesday (June 8)

ARCADIA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 4, 2004

Special Olympics Southern California, a nonprofit organization serving eleven Southern California counties, will join with long-time partner Vons, to highlight the culmination of the spring-summer season -- the 2004 Summer Games. To build the anticipation, they will hold an Olympic-inspired pentathlon, but in a less-than-traditional format.

The Vons Foundation Pentathlon, scheduled on Tuesday, June 8, in Long Beach, Calif., takes a unique spin on the Olympic games with a grocery-inspired twist that is sure to provide an entire day's worth of fun. The not-so-sporting events will directly follow a brief press conference, featuring Special Olympic Global Messenger and 2004 Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year Stephanie Hardy. The purpose of the event is to promote Vons' ongoing sponsorship and support of Special Olympics Southern California, as well as generate excitement for the Summer Games.

Teams will consist of Vons employees, Long Beach Police Officers, or Chamber of Commerce representatives and Special Olympics athletes. These 10 teams of four will then fight it out among each other to take home one of the gold, silver or bronze medals to be presented at the conclusion of the pentathlon.

So, you're wondering what types of games you might see. Well, here you go ...

-- Honeydew Melon Bowling Challenge ... Use a melon to knock down

bottles of water.

-- Banana/Toilet Roll Relay ... Sure, it's easy to pass off a

banana, but can you do it with toilet paper between your legs?

-- Tortilla Discus Contest ... Why use a discus when a tortilla

would be so much more fun?

-- Egg Toss Contest ... What better measure of skill is there

than the ubiquitous egg toss?

-- Cantaloupe Shot Putt ... This is simple -- it's still fun to

throw fruit and watch it smash.

In addition to these highly competitive contests, the "Gain" Bungee Run will be on site, courtesy of Proctor & Gamble, to challenge your running strength. A tri-tip lunch also will be available, courtesy of the Vons Employees Association, with all proceeds to benefit Special Olympics Southern California.

WHO:    Special Olympians, including 2004 Outstanding Female Athlete
        of the Year Stephanie Hardy; members of the Long Beach Police
        Department, Chamber of Commerce and community leaders

WHAT:   Official kick-off to the Special Olympics Southern
        California 2004 Summer Games

WHEN:   Tuesday, June 8.  Press conference: 10:00 a.m.
        Pentathlon to follow

WHERE:  Pavilions, located at 5949 E. Spring St.
        Long Beach, Calif. 90802

About Special Olympics Southern California

The mission of Special Olympics Southern California is to provide sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. By instilling lifelong habits of physical fitness and influencing the athletes' willingness to accept new challenges, SOSC helps athletes Inspire Greatness in everything they do. Athletes are encouraged to build on their successes and gain the courage to try new things in all areas of their lives.

About Vons, A Safeway Company

For more than 15 years Vons has had the honor of being named The Official Food Supplier for the Special Olympics Southern California Summer Games. The Summer Games are Vons' largest employee volunteer opportunity. Hundreds of Vons volunteers made up of employees, family and their friends, come together to prepare 12,000 lunches for all the athletes, coaches and volunteers involved with the Special Olympics Southern California Summer Games.