AKRON, OHIO, March 26, 2007 – For every long-shot who dreams of making the big shot in the big game, the biggest tire company in North America is offering lucky college students a chance to "Get There" by making the longest shot of all.

On Friday, March 30 – just minutes from Atlanta’s Georgia Dome, the site of this year’s men’s division I college basketball tournament – The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company will offer four students representing each of the semifinalist schools (Florida, UCLA, Georgetown and Ohio State) the opportunity for a world record basketball shot.

The Goodyear "Get There" Blimp Shot Contest involves an attempt at scoring from far beyond the usual three-point arc. In fact, the attempt will be much longer than even a 94-foot full-court shot.

Flying 500 feet in the air aboard the Goodyear blimp "Spirit of Innovation," each contestant will "shoot" a regulation basketball at a hoop measuring 100 feet in diameter. Any student who makes the world’s longest basketball shot will win the Goodyear "Get There" prize package: travel, accommodations and tickets for two to attend one of the sporting events where the Goodyear Blimp will provide aerial coverage over the next 12 months. If no student is successful, each will receive a second attempt. Goodyear will have a referee on the ground to signal any successful attempt.

"Goodyear is all about helping people ‘get there,’ no matter where ‘there’ is," stated Joey Viselli, Director of the Goodyear brand. "This year, in honor of the tournament that is all about getting there, we’re going to help a college student and their guest ‘get there’ to one of the sporting events covered by the Goodyear blimp over the next year."

The contest is being conducted to help support Goodyear’s new advertising campaign, which is built upon the theme of "Get There." Aided by the Goodyear Blimp, one of the world’s most familiar and popular corporate icons, the campaign features the "blimp pilots" who represent Goodyear’s "eyes" from above, looking ahead to help drivers find a better way to "get there" to their destinations. Additionally, as the exclusive aerial coverage provider for CBS’ broadcast of the 2007 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, Goodyear is providing views from above for more than 30 tournament games in eight cities across the country, including the Final Four and Championship. Not since the Olympic Games has Goodyear dedicated as many aerial assets over so many days to cover one event. Goodyear’s "Get There" campaign will be seen throughout the year in key magazines, online and during high-profile sporting events and prime-time programming.

Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. The company manufactures tires, engineered rubber products and chemicals in more than 90 facilities in 28 countries around the world. Goodyear employs more than 75,000 people worldwide. For more information on Goodyear’s tires, go to www.goodyeartires.com.

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