AOL LatAm World Cup.

America Online Latin America, Inc. is bringing the excitement and passion of the 2002 World Cup to its members in Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina as well as to members of the AOL-branded service in Puerto Rico. AOL Latin America will have extensive coverage and content in special interactive areas on its Sports Channels and at Keywords: Mundial 2002 (Spanish) and Copa do Mundo (Portuguese). AOL Latin America’s World Cup content offerings will also be available to AOL’s U.S. members through AOL Keyword: Latino.

AOL Latin America’s services will be showcasing content from Sportsio’s TodoFutbol brand. Sportsio offers an array of interactive soccer content and is providing AOL Latin America with coverage before, during and after the Cup events. Sportsio’s offerings include breaking stories covering all 32 competing nations, World Cup history, profiles of members’ favorite soccer stars — both past and present — up-to-the-minute results and standings, match previews and post-game reactions, weekly polls and message boards. Highlights of AOL Latin America’s Sportsio World Cup offerings include:

— World Cup History including a look back at the 16 previous World Cups, detailed information about the World Cup’s best players, the soccer history of all competing nations, historical stats and the stories behind the headlines of the World Cup’s classic matches;

— Compelling information leading up to the 2002 World Cup including in-depth profiles of this year’s World Cup stars, stories following each team’s road to the World Cup and how each team qualified, and daily breaking news covering all 32 competing nations;

— Up-to-the-minute World Cup news including pop-up windows featuring minute by minute match highlights, continuously updated results and standings, match previews and post-game reactions and quotes from coaches and key players, match reports, pictures of the day, and the latest in breaking news and information;

— Robust interactive offerings including the World Cup Savvy contest, which tests members’ knowledge of World Cup history; a Your World Cup Picture contest, where members can submit World Cup photos they have taken; the Dream Team poll, where members can select their ideal World Cup team; as well as weekly polls, message boards and chats; and

— A customized site including comprehensive news coverage of general soccer events, news relating to the World Cup, official FIFA ranking of teams, soccer themed screen savers, and links to select soccer-affiliated sites.

— Travel Tips and Venue information will also be provided online for the convenience of members traveling to the events in Korea and Japan.

Eduardo Hauser, Vice President of AOL Services for AOL Latin America, said: “The World Cup is a tremendously important event in Latin America, and we are thrilled to be providing our members with a dynamic and interactive package of online offerings for this year’s Cup. Our members will have access to all the news, information and game highlights they need and want, along with interaction with other sports fans. These offerings are just one example of how AOL Latin America continues to bring its members the most compelling and relevant content to make the online experience an important part of their lives.”

Rafael Jimenez, Managing Director, Sportsio Latin America, said: “Sportsio is delighted to be working with AOL Latin America, one of the leading interactive services providers in the region. We are pleased to be able to provide AOL members in Latin America with high caliber, diverse and comprehensive World Cup content. This agreement underscores Sportsio’s commitment to providing fans worldwide with up-to-the-minute soccer news and compelling content.”
In addition to Sportsio content, AOL Latin America’s local services will be rounding out their coverage of the 2002 World Cup with additional content and offerings such as slideshows, historical accounts, online game offerings, and news and photographs from local partners in each country, including providers such as Lancenet, GazetaEsportiva.Net, Guia dos Curiosos, GolxGol, BestLife and Mundosoccer.com. AOL Latin America’s services will be hosting regular World Cup 2002 chats, and will provide members with the tools to set up personal World Cup Web pages and AOL E-mail groups so friends can share their predictions and reactions to the tournament’s developments.