LOS ANGELES, Jan. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Net, Inc. , and AEG today announced that Health Net is a Founding Partner of the inaugural Amgen Tour of California and the presenting sponsor of the Amgen Tour of California's eight-day traveling Lifestyle Festival.
"The Amgen Tour of California is a perfect venue for Health Net to promote healthy lifestyles and affirm our commitment to helping people live healthy lives," said Stephen Lynch, president, Health Net of California.
Owned and operated by AEG, the Amgen Tour of California from February 19-26 (UCI 2.1) joins the cycling calendar as one of North America's most anticipated competitions for 2006. Modeled after the Tour de France, 16 of the world's best cycling teams will compete for eight days across 600 miles of scenic California roadway as the race makes its way from San Francisco to Redondo Beach.
In its role as presenting sponsor of the Lifestyle Festivals, Health Net will host eight consecutive days of free race-day activities at each finishing city, consisting of health and fitness screenings, cancer awareness education, bicycle stunt shows, live music, sweepstakes drawings, family activities and interactive displays featuring more than 40 participating companies.
In addition, Health Net will: * Serve as the race's Official Medical Provider, coordinating all medical support for the race's athletes and staff. * Be the presenting sponsor of the tour's third stage, the time trials in San Jose. The Health Net Stage Three Individual Time Trial is expected to be a pivotal stage in the race and one that is well suited to the talents of the Health Net Pro Cycling Team presented by Maxxis, defending USA Cycling National Race Calendar (NRC) champion. Along with its sponsorship of America's top domestic professional team through 2008, Health Net's partnership with the Amgen Tour of California reinforces the company's commitment to American cycling.
"Health Net's dedication to helping people live healthy lives is evidenced in its sponsorship of the Amgen Tour of California," commented Shawn Hunter, president, AEG Sports. "By bringing the message of health and well-being over the route, Health Net will have a positive effect on the lives of thousands of Californians."
For more information on the Amgen Tour of California, please visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.
About Health Net
Health Net, Inc. is among the nation's largest publicly traded managed health care companies. Health Net's mission is to help people be healthy, secure and comfortable. The company's HMO, POS, insured PPO and government contracts subsidiaries provide health benefits to approximately 6.4 million individuals in 27 states and the District of Columbia through group, individual, Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE programs. Health Net's behavioral health services subsidiary, MHN, provides behavioral health, substance abuse and employee assistance programs (EAPs) to approximately 7.3 million individuals in various states, including the company's own health plan members. The company's subsidiaries also offer managed health care products related to prescription drugs, and offer managed health care product coordination for multi-region employers and administrative services for medical groups and self-funded benefits programs.
For more information on Health Net, Inc., please visit the company's Web site at www.healthnet.com.
About AEG
AEG is one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world. AEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Anschutz Corporation, owns or controls a collection of companies including facilities such as STAPLES Center, The Home Depot Center, The Manchester Evening News Arena and NOKIA Theatre Times Square; sports franchises including the Los Angeles Kings (NHL), five Major League Soccer franchises, two hockey franchises operated in Europe, management of shares of the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) and Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA) owned by Philip Anschutz and the Amgen Tour of California cycling road race debuting in San Francisco on February 19th; AEG LIVE, the organization's live-entertainment division, is a collection of companies dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performance, touring and a variety of programming and multi-media production. Additionally, the company has begun fully developing the 28-acre Millennium Dome and adjacent property located in the eastern part of London along the Thames River and will create the O2, a new arena within the 'Dome' and additional arenas, on a 50-acre site in the heart of Berlin and Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri; stadiums in Bridgeview, Illinois and Harrison, New Jersey. For more information, visit AEG today at www.aegworldwide.com.
CONTACTS: Laura Perry Michael Roth Health Net, Inc. AEG Director, Communications Vice President, Communications (818) 676-7666 (213) 742-7155 laura.perry@healthnet.commroth@staplescenter.com
AEGCONTACT: Laura Perry, Director, Communications of Health Net, Inc.,+1-818-676-7666, laura.perry@healthnet.com; or Michael Roth, VicePresident, Communications of AEG, +1-213-742-7155, mroth@staplescenter.com
