BEAVERTON, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 6, 2009-- NBA MVP, LeBron James and local community organizations will gather in Seward Park on August 11, 2009, to celebrate the transformative power of basketball as part of the James’ World Tour. Chicago is the first stop on the tour, which will span three continents over two months focusing on empowering youth, community service, grassroots basketball activities and the introduction of the Nike Air Max LeBron VII.

The Nike-hosted community celebration is open to the public and will issue a call to action among youth to change their lives, improve their neighborhoods and serve their community through sport.

James’ World Tour is part of a promotional tour for More Than a Game, a Lionsgate film that traces James’ journey through adolescence with his teammates from Saint Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio. Lionsgate will screen the film in Chicago on Monday, August 10, and is expecting to release the film in theaters on October 2, 2009 with an expansion on October 9 and 16, 2009.

As part of the community celebration, James will be presented with an exclusive pair of Nike Air Max LeBron VII’s featuring a Chicago-inspired design created by local artist Jeff Zimmermann.

LeBron James will recognize the achievements of 1000 After School Matters NeighborSports youth, a summer sports program that aims to increase the number of teens participating in sport to develop life skills such as self-discipline, teamwork and sportsmanship. WNBA athletes will be on hand to lead local youth in basketball skills clinics; local athletes are invited to join in pick-up games; and recording group GS Boyz will perform for local community members.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Imagery and information during the tour will be available at www.NikeMedia.com.

About Nike

NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly owned Nike subsidiaries include Cole Haan Holdings Incorporated, which designs, markets and distributes luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories; and Umbro Ltd., a leading United Kingdom-based global football (soccer) brand. For more information, visit www.nikebiz.com.

About More Than A Game

Five talented young basketball players from Akron, Ohio star in this remarkable true-life coming of age story about uncommon friendship in the face all too common adversities. Coached by a charismatic but inexperienced player’s father, and led by future NBA superstar LeBron James, the “Fab Five’s” improbable seven-year journey leads them from a decrepit inner-city gym to the doorstep of a national high school championship. Along the way, the close-knit team is repeatedly tested—both on and off the court—as James’ exploding worldwide celebrity threatens to destroy everything they’ve set out to achieve together. MORE THAN A GAME combines a series of unforgettable one-on-one interviews with rare news footage, never-before-seen home videos and personal family photographs to bring this heart-warming and wholly American story to life.

Lionsgate and Harvey Mason Media in association with Interscope Records present a Harvey Mason Media Production in association with Galley Boy and Spring Hill Productions a film by Kristopher Belman. MORE THAN A GAME is written by Kristopher Belman & Brad Hogan and directed by Kristopher Belman. The film features LeBron James, Sian Cotton, Dru Joyce III, Willie McGee, Romeo Travis and Coach Dru Joyce II. For more information, visit www.morethanagamemovie.com.

Source: NIKE, Inc.

NIKE, Inc.
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