 Though no exact date and location had been set, the event was officially announced by a Magellan representative, 29-year-old Giselle Briden, at a press conference held in Toronto on 18 November 1996 with both athletes present and exchanging verbal barbs.Tentative date mentioned at this time was 31 May 1997.The end of the calendar year 1996 brought the usual media summarizing of the sporting achievements during the previous year.