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Seattle hosted the second Goodwill Games in July and August of 1990. Thousands of athletes from nearly a hundred countries competed at local venues, including the UW, the Tacoma Dome and (which was built for the games).

The Goodwill Games were founded by media mogul Ted Turner as a kind of less political alternative to the Olympics, and the first games were held in Moscow in 1986. In the years leading up to Turner鈥檚 efforts, amateur international sports had become a means of Cold War diplomatic reprisal.

After the US boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow 鈥� because the Soviets had invaded Afghanistan 鈥� the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc countries boycotted the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

A local organizing committee here was led by entrepreneur and super-event organizer , who passed away earlier this year.

While the impact of the Goodwill Games on the local economy was perhaps not as great as was promised, the anticipated traffic problems never really materialized either.

This Friday, July 21 marks the 27th anniversary of the 鈥淲elcoming Ceremonies鈥� at Husky Stadium. Looking back at that part of the Goodwill Games in particular (through an old DVD copy of the live broadcast), it looks now as if the summer of 1990 was the perfect moment to celebrate 1980s pop culture and political culture, too (sorry Ted!).

Host for the live worldwide broadcast via TBS was radio and TV talk show icon, Larry King, doing his best to explain Seattle culture and help introduce the pre-Grunge, pre-Starbucks, pre-Amazon Northwest to the rest of the globe.

It was a picture perfect night, with a high temp of 94 degrees, boats bobbing on beautiful Lake Washington, and a glorious flyover by a giant Boeing 747. Seattle has rarely looked better on international TV.

Before the festivities began for the 70,000 or so on hand at the stadium, King questioned former Seahawk (and future congressman from Oklahoma) Steve Largent, who was reporting live for TBS from Spokane.

鈥淥K Steve, first, that concept of Spokane being a second city,鈥� King said. 鈥淒o they have a tough time living with that? When people think Washington, they think Seattle.鈥�

鈥淲ell, you know Larry, it鈥檚 interesting,鈥� the legendary wide receiver said. 鈥淪pokane is as different from Seattle as night and day. This is the Palouse Country, the rolling hills, the waving wheat.鈥�

鈥淎nd this city鈥檚 really a town,鈥� Largent continued. 鈥淭his town鈥檚 about people, it鈥檚 not politics, it鈥檚 not big buildings. It鈥檚 warm, genuine, sincere people.鈥�

Ouch. Seattle鈥檚 unfriendly night, according to Largent, was the opposite of warm and welcoming Spokane鈥檚 day.

Later, as the ceremony was underway and legendary singer and songwriter Kenny Rogers gave heartfelt remarks about world peace, Larry talked over the top of him to explain the origins of the cheering phenomenon known as

鈥淒uring the break as Kenny Rogers was being introduced … watch this … this is the Wave it鈥檚 become international and it started here in Seattle,鈥� King said, as the broadcast resumed after a commercial break.

鈥淲hy did it start here in Seattle? I鈥檒l tell you why. Nobody knows why. But here they are they鈥檙e doing it,鈥� King continued. 鈥淚t started in Seattle. Some places they boo it now when it鈥檚 done by other people in the crowd but it was done for the Washington Husky football team. The … the … it is about to subside, no it鈥檚 not it鈥檚 sort of dying down. Here鈥檚 Kenny.鈥�

Other stars at Welcoming Ceremonies included Reba McEntire, Ben Vereen, Soviet metal band Gorky Park, Bruce Jenner and Seattle鈥檚 very own Kenny G, who let loose with a brass-bending rendition of

Even athlete (and future California governor) Arnold Schwarzenegger was on hand, telling the crowd, 鈥淵ou should all be inspired to get fit yourself. And what I mean by that is, don鈥檛 just admire those great athletes, but get involved in some exercise program yourself. Don鈥檛 just watch them on television and stuff your face with junk food.鈥�

The keynote address came from perhaps the greatest 1980s icon of all, President Ronald Reagan. Reagan had finished his second term just 18 months earlier. The Cold War was almost over, and the Soviet Union was on the brink of collapse.

鈥淚t is my great privilege to officially open the 1990 Goodwill Games by saying good luck and God Bless you all,鈥� the former president said from his Montlake podium. It was the same stadium where, almost exactly 67 years earlier, President Warren G. Harding gave his .

But this time, Larry King got the last word.

鈥淭he Great Communicator taught 鈥榚m a lesson here today,鈥� King told the audience. 鈥淭errific speech.鈥�

Though the Seattle Goodwill Games were thought of by some as a test for possibly holding the Olympics here one day, the last serious bid attempt back in 1998. The 2012 Olympics were ultimately awarded to London.

The Goodwill Games continued on for several more rounds, but athlete participation dwindled and the games garnered less attention. The final edition took place in Brisbane in 2001, concluding just two days before 9/11.