X GAMES ATHLETES ON PHILADELPHIA:
"FAST FOOD AND FRIENDLY PEOPLE"
Day Four: "Loves You Back" Visitor Poll

PHILADELPHIA, August 21, 2001 – When asked to rate Philadelphia, a 28-year-old French biker held up both hands, kicked off his shoes and held up all his toes. "Vingt!
(a 20!)" Not bad, getting a 20 when asked for a rating from one to five! The enthusiastic praise came during an hour-long interview session in which nine X Games athletes were surveyed about their experience in Philadelphia. The athlete interviews concluded a week of "Loves You Back" polling to collect impressions of the city from 300 X Games spectators. The survey was conducted by the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC).

The athletes interviewed came from France, Spain, California, upstate New York, Vermont, North Carolina and Philadelphia. Collectively, they rated the city a 4.1, the same overall rating that the 300 spectators gave the city. (The Frenchman’s 20 was counted as a five.) The Europeans were drawn to quintessential American dining: pizza, fast food, Jim’s Steaks and Dave & Buster’s. The Americans went for Italian (Maggiano’s, Italian Bistro, meatballs), French (Bar Noir – French sounding, at least), and Irish (McGillin’s Olde Ale House). At night, they hit Tattooed Mom’s, Evolution nightclub and sponsored parties at locations throughout the city.

Athletes cited Philadelphia’s friendliness as a major reason for their raves. They found the "whole city," the hotel staff, the First Union Center staff and the fans particularly welcoming to them. This is consistent with findings from the "Loves You Back" visitor polls GPTMC conducted earlier this week at the X Games and last year at the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia.

In their spare time, athletes, like the spectators surveyed, visited Philadelphia favorites such as the Liberty Bell, the Art Museum, South Street and, true to form, F.D.R. skate park. Mike, a 24-year old Moto X competitor also went to Eastern State Penitentiary.

A complete summary of the findings from the 2001 X Games "Loves you Back" visitor poll of 300 spectators will be available tomorrow. A daily summary is currently available at www.gophila.com.

Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation is a non-profit organization dedicated to generating awareness of and visitation to Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties. For more information about travel to Philadelphia visit www.gophila.com or call (877) GO-PHILA.

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Note to Editors: For photographic images of Philadelphia and its surrounding countryside, visit the photo gallery section of www.gophila.com/pressroom.

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