The New Schools board approved the investment in Chicago because the organizers "stressed the basics of improving educational performance," Mr. Mitchell said.

On several occasions, organizers stressed that they were concerned for the victims.

Wanting to keep family concerns front and center, organizers of last Sunday's march stressed one of its most striking aspects: the presense of mothers and daughters, marching together.

The marathon attracted only 160 athletes - not the expected 1,000 - but organizers stressed that was 33 more than the first New York City Marathon drew in 1970.

But organizers of the games like the executive director, Jay Hill, have stressed that involvement, not competition, is the most important goal.

That led to the demonstration being scheduled for the day before Mr. Gorbachev actually was to arrive in Washington, and organizers repeatedly stressed that they supported the meeting.

In past years, the event has been called the Grand National Pairs, but the organizers now stress that participation extends throughout the continent.

Formerly the guts of the nation's military hardware and software, they are now for sale - but, the show's Russian organizers stressed, for peaceful purposes only.

The organizers stressed that these were not footraces, but something children could do at their own pace.

Instead, the organizers stressed what they called empowerment concerns.