ATLANTA— As a major initiative to spark tourism, Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes today said the state will host the newly created Tour de Georgia, a week-long, world-class, professional cycling stage race and rolling festival that will kick off in spring 2003 and become an annual event. The inaugural sportsfest is scheduled next year for April 22-27, and will be owned and operated by a nonprofit foundation, The Georgia Partnership for Economic Development (GPED). The event will be a yearly Pro Cycling Tour stop and one of five World Tour events in the U.S. Estimated to generate $30 million in economic development over five years, Tour de Georgia will showcase the state to an estimated one million spectators and 50 million television viewers. Proceeds from will benefit The Georgia Cancer Coalition. “Tour de Georgia will be one of the most exciting and unique annual sporting contests in Georgia history, providing a rolling festival with local city celebrations for Georgians and tourists alike, said Barnes. The race route will change from year to year, but will always traverse a large portion of Georgia. The route of the inaugural race is being finalized and will be announced at a later date.
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