THIRD ANNUAL FRIENDSHIP GAMES TO BRING THE WORLD TOGETHER IN ISRAEL

ATLANTA (May 8, 2008) – The Third Annual Friendship Games basketball tournament at Tel Aviv University will tip-off Friday, May 30 and end on Thursday, June 5. The tournament, which brings together college-aged student athletes of different ethnic and religious backgrounds, allows them to join together on and off the basketball court. In addition to playing basketball, the student athletes are also afforded the opportunity to come together in friendship by touring Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, Nazareth, Sea of Galilee, Tiberias and Tel Aviv-Jaffa.

The program was conceived in 2006 by Atlanta Hawks co-owner Ed Peskowitz after meeting with Arie Rosenzweig, athletic director of Tel Aviv University. Their goal was to use the game of basketball to unify countries on a grassroots, person-to-person level.

“This is our attempt to help people find common themes, hopes and dreams, rather than focusing on their differences,” Peskowitz said. “You either wring your hands over seemingly insolvable problems or try to make a difference.”

Among the countries competing in this year’s event are Palestine, Jordan, Israel, Russia, Germany, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Republic of Cyprus, Ireland, China, Italy, Canada, Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Greece, Slovenia, Portugal, Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola and Serbia. The teams compete in a round-robin style tournament with each team playing five games.

“During the Friendship Games, Arabs and Jews, Christians and Muslims, and people of all faiths will live together, play together, explore together and grow together,” Peskowitz added.

Thirty college teams from 18 different countries will participate in this year’s tournament. Some of the countries participating have been or still are in conflict with each other.

Last year, teams from Russia, China, Serbia, Jordan, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Turkey, Palestine, Ukraine, Republic of Cyprus, Slovenia and Israel participated in the games.

“Watching the students play basketball and living together in the dormitories and participating in all of the cultural functions gives us great pleasure,” said Rosenzweig. “It demonstrates coexistence between nations through sport.”

Greenberg Traurig LLP’s Atlanta office will hold a fundraiser for the Third Annual Friendship Games at the Jewish Federation in Atlanta on May 20, 2008 from 6:30-9 p.m. Tickets for the event are $100 and can be purchased by calling (404) 604-2190 or emailing mrieman@hopebeckham.com.

Eight day and four day travel packages are available for those interested in attending the games. Travel information can be found on www.thefriendshipgames.org.

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About The Third Annual Friendship Games
The Third Annual Friendship Games basketball tournament will begin with an opening ceremony at Old Jaffa on Friday, May 30, 2008. The tournament will run from May 30 to June 5 at Tel Aviv University. The tournament brings together college-aged student athletes of different ethnic and religious backgrounds on and off the basketball court. In addition to playing basketball, the student athletes tour sites including Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, Nazareth, Sea of Galilee, Tiberias and Tel-Aviv-Jaffa. The games were founded by Atlanta Hawks co-owner Ed Peskowitz in 2006. For additional information please visit www.thefriendshipgames.org.

About Greenberg Traurig
Greenberg Traurig, LLP is an international, full-service law firm with more than 1750 attorneys and governmental affairs professionals in the U.S., Europe and Asia. The firm was selected as the 2007 USA Law Firm of the Year by Chambers and Partners. For additional information, please visit the firm’s Web site at www.gtlaw.com

ATLANTA, GA (February 26, 2008) – Greenberg Traurig LLP’s Atlanta office announced today that a fundraiser for the 3rd Annual Friendship Games basketball tournament will be hosted by Ted Blum, Managing Shareholder of Greenberg Traurig’s Atlanta office and Chair of the Atlanta Corporate practice, leading the event as the Honorary Chair. The fundraiser will be held at the Jewish Federation Auditorium on Tuesday, May 20, 2008, from 6:30-9 p.m. to benefit the Friendship Games, which unites students from 18 different countries, many with differing faiths, in a basketball tournament in Tel-Aviv in late May. Tickets for the fundraising event and silent auction are available to the public for $100. Radio and television personality Jimmy Barron will emcee the event.

The Friendship Games was conceived in 2006 by Atlanta Hawks co-owner Ed Peskowitz after meeting with Arie Rosenzweig, athletic director of Tel Aviv University. Their goal was to use the game of basketball to unify countries on a grass-roots, person-to-person level. Thirty college teams from 18 countries will compete in a round-robin tournament. Each team will play at least five games.

“We are excited to be a part of such a worthwhile fundraising effort,” said Blum. “After spending time with Ed, it was clear to me that he has an undeniable passion to bring peace to the world, one basketball game at a time.”

The Friendship Games is designed to give college-aged students of different ethnic and religious backgrounds the opportunity to come together not only on the basketball court but also in friendship by touring Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, Nazareth, Sea of Galilee, Tiberias and Tel-Aviv-Jaffa. The approximate cost to fund transportation, food, lodging and security for each participating player and coach is $1300.

“We are excited that Greenberg Traurig has gotten involved with the Friendship Games,” said Peskowitz. “The money we bring in from the fundraiser will give students from all over the world the opportunity to travel to Israel.”

The 2nd Annual Friendship Games concluded June 7, 2007, with a special closing ceremony that featured Israeli President Shimon Peres. In addition to playing basketball and touring the country, student athletes were afforded the opportunity to spend time with NBA legend Spencer Haywood, Atlanta Hawks assistant coach Herb Brown, former Maccabi Tel Aviv legend LaVon Mercer and St. Edward’s University coach Ryan Marks who also performed a coaching clinic in Amman, Jordan. More clinics are being planned for other countries in the region for this year’s games.

“This is our attempt to help people find common themes, hopes and dreams, rather than focusing on their differences,” said Peskowitz. “You can either wring your hands over seemingly insolvable problems or try to make a difference.”
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The 3rd Annual Friendship Games, which are endorsed by The Peres Center for Peace, NBA Cares as well as the United Nation’s Committee for Development is slated to begin Friday, May 30, 2008, at Tel Aviv University and will run through June 6. Countries scheduled to compete include: Jordan, Israel, Russia, Germany, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Cyprus, Ireland, China, Palestine, Estonia, Italy, Nazareth, Canada, Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania and Serbia among others.

The Jewish Federation is located at 1440 Spring St. NW. Atlanta, Ga. 30309

For more information visit www.thefriendshipgames.org.

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About Greenberg Traurig
Greenberg Traurig, LLP is an international, full-service law firm with more than 1750 attorneys and governmental affairs professionals in the U.S., Europe and Asia. The firm was selected as the 2007 USA Law Firm of the Year by Chambers and Partners.

Greenberg Traurig serves clients from offices in: Albany, NY; Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Atlanta, GA; Boca Raton, FL; Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; Denver, CO; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Houston, TX; Las Vegas, NV; Los Angeles, CA; Miami, FL; Morristown, NJ; New York, NY; Orange County, CA; Orlando, FL; Philadelphia, PA; Phoenix, AZ; Sacramento, CA; Shanghai, China; Silicon Valley, CA; Tallahassee, FL; Tampa Bay, FL; Tysons Corner, VA; Washington, D.C.; West Palm Beach, FL; Wilmington, DE; and Zurich, Switzerland. Additionally, the firm has strategic alliances with the following independent law firms: Olswang, London, Berlin and Brussels; Studio Santa Maria, Milan and Rome; and Hayabusa Asuka Law Offices in Tokyo.

For additional information, please visit the firm's Web site at www.gtlaw.com.

SECOND ANNUAL FRIENDSHIP GAMES TO BRING THE WORLD TOGETHER IN ISRAEL

ATLANTA, GA (May 26, 2007) – The Second Annual Friendship Games basketball tournament at Tel-Aviv University is slated to begin June 1. The games run through June 8.

Thirty college teams from 17 different countries among them Russia, China, Serbia, Jordan, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Turkey, Palestine, Ukraine, Cyprus, Slovenia and Israel will compete in the round-robin style tournament with each team playing five games. Some of the countries participating have been or still are in conflict with each other.

In addition to the tournament, the Friendship Games give college-aged students of different ethnic and religious backgrounds the opportunity to come together in friendship by touring Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, Nazareth, Sea of Galilee, Tiberias and Tel-Aviv-Jaffa.

This year’s event will begin with a coaching clinic June 1-2 at Tel-Aviv University. A June 3 clinic is also scheduled in Amman, Jordan. All clinics will be led by Atlanta Hawks assistant coach Herb Brown.

The program was conceived in 2006 by Atlanta Hawks co-owner Ed Peskowitz after meeting with Arie Rosenzweig, athletic director of Tel Aviv University and Kowalsky Ilan, athletic director at the Interdisciplinary Center of Herzliya. Their goal was to use the game of basketball to unify countries on a grass-roots, person-to-person level.

“We’re not going to change the world,” Peskowitz says. “But you can either wring your hands over seemingly insolvable problems or try to make a difference. This is our attempt to help people find common themes, common hopes, and common dreams, rather than focusing on their differences.”

“During the Friendship Games, Arabs and Jews, Christians and Muslims, and people of all faiths will live together, play together, explore together and grow together.”

Last year, teams from Northern Ireland, Serbia-Montenegro, Turkey, Jordan, Jericho in the Palestinian West Bank and teams from around Israel participated in the games.

“Watching the students play basketball and living together in the dormortories and participating in all of the cultural functions gives us great pleasure,” said Rosenzweig. “It demonstrates coexistence between nations through sport.”

For more information visit, www.thefriendshipgames.org.

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