Sure, Americans brought home plenty of gold from Rio. But if you're more of an armchair Olympian, now's your chance to shine.
TODAY is inviting you to bring your A-game to the plaza on Monday, August 22, decked out in your best Olympics gear. We will choose one fearless contestant a day to search for the gold in our special ball pit. If you find the shining gold prize, you'll get $25,000!
We'll continue to pick a passionate and patriotic contestant Monday through Thursday, until someone finds the ultimate prize. Come on over to the plaza with your spirit and determination to snag the gold!
Planning on coming? RSVP your visit here.
So get your Olympic costumes ready! Please read the rules below.
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Today’s Going for the Gold Contest
Official Rules
August 22, 2016 — August 25, 2016
PRELIMINARY INFORMATION: No purchase necessary. A purchase will not improve your chances of winning. Void where prohibited. The Today’s Going for the Gold Contest (“Contest”) will begin on August 22, 2016 at 6:30 AM ET and end on August 25, 2016 at 7:30 AM ET or when a Winner (as defined below) is determined, whichever is earlier (“Contest Period”). All times in the Contest refer to Eastern Time (“ET”). Odds of winning depend upon the number of eligible entries received. Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws.
ELIGIBILITY: Open only to permanent, legal U.S. residents who are physically residing in one (1) of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia (excluding Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands and other United States territories), and who are eighteen (18) years of age or older as of the start of the Contest Period. Officers, directors, and employees of Contest Entities (as defined below), members of these persons’ immediate families (spouses and/or parents, children, and siblings, and each of their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside), and/or persons living in the same households as these persons (whether or not related thereto) are not eligible to enter or win the Contest. Contest Entities, as referenced herein, shall include The Today Show and NBCUniversal Media, LLC both located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112 (collectively, “Sponsors”), and each of their respective parent, subsidiary, and affiliate companies, and administrative, advertising, and promotion agencies, and any other entity involved in the development, administration, promotion, or implementation of the Contest. Entrants must be present at Rockefeller Plaza (enter on 49th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues, New York, NY) (the “Plaza”) between 6:30 AM ET to 7:30 AM ET to enter the Contest.
HOW TO ENTER: The Contest will consist of four (4) individual daily entry periods (each a “Daily Entry Period”) that will begin at a specified time (each a “Daily Entry Period Start Time”) as detailed in the chart below and will end at a specified time (each a “Daily Entry Period End Time”) as detailed in the chart below. Entries must be received before the end of the Daily Entry Period to be eligible for the corresponding Daily Entry Period. Daily Entry Periods will only continue until there is one (1) Winner (defined below) on the Today Show broadcast, but for a maximum of four (4) Daily Entry Periods. Daily Entry Periods will be cancelled depending on the results of the Daily Entry Period during the previous day. For the avoidance of doubt, if there is a Winner (as defined below) from the first Daily Entry Period on Monday, the remaining Daily Entry Periods will be cancelled.
To enter the Contest, during each Daily Entry Period, go to the Plaza between 6:30 AM ET – 7:30 AM ET “Showing us your Olympic spirit” (“Theme”). Additionally, entrants will be required to complete an entry form, including their: name, email address, phone number, zip code and date of birth (“Entry”). Only the first two hundred (200) entrants will be entered into the Contest.
Daily Entry Period Chart
Daily Entry Period: 1
Daily Entry Period Start Time: 8/22/16 at 6:30 AM ET
Daily Entry Period End Time: 8/22/16 at 7:30 AM ET
Daily Entry Period Date: 8/22/16
Daily Entry Period: 2
Daily Entry Period Start Time: 8/23/16 at 6:30 AM ET
Daily Entry Period End Time: 8/23/16 at 7:30 AM ET
Daily Entry Period Date: 8/23/16
Daily Entry Period: 3
Daily Entry Period Start Time: 8/24/16 at 6:30 AM ET
Daily Entry Period End Time: 8/24/16 at 7:30 AM ET
Daily Entry Period Date: 8/24/16
Daily Entry Period: 4
Daily Entry Period Start Time: 8/25/16 at 6:30 AM ET
Daily Entry Period End Time: 8/25/16 at 7:30 AM ET
Daily Entry Period Date: 8/25/16
Entries must be received before 7:30 AM ET on each day of the Daily Entry Period to be eligible for the Contest. Sponsors’ computer shall be the official timekeeper for all matters related to this Contest. You may enter once per Daily Entry Period date during the Contest Period. Entries from one Daily Entry Period will not roll over to the next Daily Entry Period. Multiple entries received from any person beyond this limit will void all such additional entries. Entries that are incomplete, garbled, corrupted, or unintelligible for any reason, including but not limited to illegible handwriting, are void and will not be accepted. Entry constitutes permission (except where prohibited by law) to use entrant’s name, city, state, likeness, image, and/or voice for purposes of advertising, promotion, and publicity in any and all media now or hereafter known, throughout the world in perpetuity, without additional compensation, notification, permission, or approval.
SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION OF CONTESTANT AND WINNER: There will be two (2) rounds for each Daily Entry Period: Round 1: Initial Judging to Determine the Contestant; Round 2: Participation in the Competition.
Round 1: Initial Judging to Determine the Contestant: On each day of the Daily Entry Period, one (1) or more qualified judges selected by Sponsors (“Judges”) will review all eligible Entries received during the corresponding Daily Entry Period and select one (1) contestant (“Contestant”) based on the following judging criteria (“Judging Criteria”): originality (50%) and creativity (50%). The selection and review process may occur on a rolling basis as Entries are received. Contestant will advance to Round 2: Participation in the Competition, subject to verification of eligibility. In the event of a tie, the Judges will break the tie by selecting the tied entrant who received the highest points from the Judges for Originality to advance to Round 2: Participation in the Competition. In the event a tie remains, an additional tie-breaking judge will judge the tied Entries, using the Judging Criteria, to determine which of the tied Entries will advance to Round 2: Participation in the Competition. Sponsors reserve the right to pick no Contestant or to extend the Contest Entry Period if the Contest does not receive a sufficient number of eligible and qualified Entries, as determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion.
Round 2: Participation in the Competition: On each day of the Daily Entry Period, the Contestant selected from Round 1 during the corresponding Daily Entry Period will have the opportunity to participate in a competition on the Plaza (“Competition”). Contestant will have a specified amount of time to search for a gold ball (“Gold Ball”) in a ball pit. If the Contestant finds the Gold Ball within the allotted time, Contestant will be crowned the winner (“Winner”). If Contestant does not find the Gold Ball, the Contest will continue the following day with the next Daily Entry Period. Contestant agrees to participate safely and act in a responsible manner throughout the Competition. Winner will be required as a condition of continued eligibility to sign an Affidavit of Eligibility, Waiver of Liability, and, except where prohibited, Publicity Release (collectively, “Contest Documents”) within one (1) day of such notification. Noncompliance within this time period will result in disqualification. If the potential Winner cannot be reached, if potential Winner is found ineligible, if potential Winner cannot or does not comply with the foregoing requirements and these Official Rules, if prize or prize notification is returned as undeliverable, or if potential Winner does not satisfactorily execute all of the Contest Documents, potential Winner will be disqualified and Sponsors will continue to the next Daily Entry Period and Contestant.
RECORDING: Sponsors, in their sole discretion, may choose to record and/or broadcast the appearance of entrants, Contestants and/or Winner on The Today Show (“TODAY”). If Sponsors, in their sole discretion, elect to incorporate any audio and/or video recording of entrants, Contestants and/or Winner (the “Recording”) into TODAY or other television shows, the taping and/or the Recording will not be considered an employment opportunity, and Winners, Contestants and/or entrants will not be entitled to compensation or credit thereof. Sponsors will determine the nature of the Recording in their sole discretion. If the Recording is broadcast, such broadcast will be at a time, for a length of time, and on a date determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion. Winners, Contestants and/or entrants may be required to return completed and signed appearance releases, confidentiality agreements and such other documents as may be required by Sponsors prior to their appearance on TODAY and participation in the Contest, if any. Failure of entrants to complete and execute these documents in a timely manner, as determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion, may cause the entrant to be disqualified and any potential Prize to be forfeited. The content of the Recording as, and if, finally exhibited and the number of exhibits and re-airs thereof, if any, will be determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion. Winners will not have a right of review, notice, or approval of the content of the Recording or any exhibition or exploitation thereof. Sponsors have the right, in their sole discretion, to disqualify entrants, cause the Prizes to be forfeited, and remove entrants from TODAY at any time, if any entrant’s behavior is deemed by Sponsors to be disruptive or if it may or does cause damage to person, property, or reputation of Sponsors or if it otherwise violates the policies of Sponsors, or if entrants do not follow the directions of Sponsors at all times. These Official Rules and the Contest itself are neither a contract nor an application for employment.PRIZE: There will be one (1) prize awarded (“Prize”) to Winner, consisting of the following: a twenty-five thousand dollar ($25,000) check.
Estimated Retail Value (“ERV”) of Prize is twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000). Actual Retail Value (“ARV”) of Prize may vary. Any difference between ERV and ARV will not be awarded. For any Prize with an ARV of six hundred dollars ($600) or more, Sponsors will furnish an Internal Revenue Service Form 1099 to Winner for the ARV of Prize for the year in which Prize was won.
Sponsors will determine all details of Prize in their sole discretion. Sponsors reserve the right to substitute Prize (or portion thereof) with a similar prize (or prize element) of comparable or greater value. All taxes and other expenses, costs, or fees associated with the acceptance and/or use of Prize are the sole responsibility of Winner. Prize cannot be transferred by Winner and is valid only for the items detailed above, with no substitution of Prize by Winner. If Prize is unclaimed within a reasonable time after notification from Sponsors, as determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion, it will be forfeited, and time permitting, an alternate Winner may be selected from the remaining eligible entries at Sponsors’ sole discretion.
CONDITIONS: By entering the Contest, each entrant agrees for entrant and for entrant’s heirs, executors, and administrators (a) to release and hold harmless Contest Entities and each of their respective officers, directors, and employees (collectively, “Released Parties”) from any liability, illness, injury, death, loss, litigation, or damage that may occur, directly or indirectly, whether caused by negligence or not, from such entrant’s participation in the Contest and/or his/her acceptance, possession, use, or misuse of Prize or any portion thereof (including any travel related thereto); (b) to indemnify Released Parties from any and all liability resulting or arising from the Contest and to hereby acknowledge that Released Parties have neither made nor are in any manner responsible or liable for any warranty, representation, or guarantee, express or implied, in fact or in law, relative to Prize, including express warranties provided exclusively by Prize supplier that are sent along with Prize; (c) if selected as a Winner, to the posting of such entrant’s name on Website and the use by Released Parties of such name, voice, image, and/or likeness for publicity, promotional, and advertising purposes in any and all media now or hereafter known, throughout the world in perpetuity, without additional compensation, notification, permission, or approval, and, upon request, to the giving of consent, in writing, to such use; and (d) to be bound by these Official Rules and to waive any right to claim any ambiguity or error therein or in the Contest itself, and to be bound by all decisions of the Sponsors, which are binding and final. Failure to comply with these conditions may result in disqualification from the Contest at Sponsors’ sole discretion.
ADDITIONAL TERMS: Sponsors reserve the right to permanently disqualify from any promotion any person they believe has intentionally violated these Official Rules. Any attempt to deliberately damage the Contest or the operation thereof is unlawful and subject to legal action by Sponsors, who may seek damages to the fullest extent permitted by law. The failure of Sponsors to comply with any provision of these Official Rules due to an act of God, hurricane, war, fire, riot, earthquake, terrorism, act of public enemies, actions of governmental authorities outside of the control of Sponsors (excepting compliance with applicable codes and regulations), or other “force majeure” event will not be considered a breach of these Official Rules. Released Parties assume no responsibility for any injury or damage to entrants’ or to any other person’s computer relating to or resulting from entering or downloading materials or software in connection with the Contest. Released Parties are not responsible for telecommunications, network, electronic, technical, or computer failures of any kind; for inaccurate transcription of entry information; for errors in any promotional or marketing materials or in these Official Rules; for any human or electronic error; or for entries that are stolen, misdirected, garbled, delayed, lost, late, damaged, or returned. Sponsors reserve the right to cancel, modify, or suspend the Contest or any element thereof (including, without limitation, these Official Rules) without notice in any manner and for any reason (including, without limitation, in the event of any unanticipated occurrence that is not fully addressed in these Official Rules). In the event of cancellation, modification, or suspension, Sponsors reserve the right to select Winners in a random drawing from among all eligible, non-suspect entries received prior to the time of the event warranting such cancellation, modification, or suspension. Notice of such cancellation, modification, or suspension will be posted at Website. Sponsors may prohibit any entrant or potential entrant from participating in the Contest, if such entrant or potential entrant shows a disregard for these Official Rules; acts with an intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any other entrant, Sponsors, or Sponsors’ agents or representatives; or behaves in any other disruptive manner (as determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion). Sponsors reserve the right to modify these rules for clarification purposes without materially affecting the terms and conditions of the Contest.
DISPUTES: THE CONTEST IS GOVERNED BY, AND WILL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND THE FORUM AND VENUE FOR ANY DISPUTE SHALL BE IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK. IF THE CONTROVERSY OR CLAIM IS NOT OTHERWISE RESOLVED THROUGH DIRECT DISCUSSIONS OR MEDIATION, IT SHALL THEN BE RESOLVED BY FINAL AND BINDING ARBITRATION ADMINISTERED BY JUDICIAL ARBITRATION AND MEDIATION SERVICES, INC., IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS STREAMLINED ARBITRATION RULES AND PROCEDURES OR SUBSEQUENT VERSIONS THEREOF (“JAMS RULES”). THE JAMS RULES FOR SELECTION OF AN ARBITRATOR SHALL BE FOLLOWED, EXCEPT THAT THE ARBITRATOR SHALL BE EXPERIENCED AND LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW IN NEW YORK. ALL PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT PURSUANT TO THIS PARAGRAPH WILL BE CONDUCTED IN THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK. THE REMEDY FOR ANY CLAIM SHALL BE LIMITED TO ACTUAL DAMAGES, AND IN NO EVENT SHALL ANY PARTY BE ENTITLED TO RECOVER PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING ATTORNEY’S FEES OR OTHER SUCH RELATED COSTS OF BRINGING A CLAIM, OR TO RESCIND THIS AGREEMENT OR SEEK INJUNCTIVE OR ANY OTHER EQUITABLE RELIEF.
WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT: For the name of the winner, available after September 1, 2016, visit Today.com, or send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to be received by November 1, 2016 to: Today Show; Attn: A. Prince, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112.