(This is an edited version of the official release from the Orlando Magic)

The most magical week in sports is returning to Orlando for the second time, as the city has been selected to host NBA All-Star 2012 at the new Amway Center. Orlando Magic President Bob Vander Weide, Magic Chief Operating Officer Alex Martins and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer joined NBA Commissioner David Stern downtown on Tuesday to make the official announcement.

David Stern (Photo by J.C. Carnahan)

Orlando also hosted the 1992 All-Star Game.

The 61st NBA All-Star Game will be played on Sunday, Feb. 26 following a weekend of events featuring the Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam on Friday, Feb. 24 and NBA All-Star Saturday Night which consists of Shooting Stars, Skills Challenge, Three-Point Contest and the Slam Dunk Contest. The NBA All-Star Jam Session and interactive basketball celebration will be held at the Orange County Convention Center, where fans will have the chance to meet and collect free autographs from NBA players and legends.

The 2011-12 season will mark the 28th year that Turner Sports will provide NBA All-Star coverage, and the 10th consecutive year the All-Star Game will be televised in primetime on TNT.  The All-Star Game will be seen by a worldwide television audience in more than 200 countries and territories and in more than 40 languages.

During NBA All-Star 2012, the NBA will continue to celebrate its tradition and commitment to social responsibility with a schedule of NBA Cares events. NBA Cares will partner with schools, government, and local nonprofit organizations in Orlando and surrounding areas to highlight the league’s grassroots and community initiatives that reach millions of young people and their parents while providing critical resources to community-based programs.

– Remember When? –

Few All-Star Games have rivaled the one Orlando hosted in 1992 in which the West defeated the East, 153-113, at Orlando Arena. The game is best remembered for the return of Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson, who had retired in November 1991 after contracting HIV.

By the time the final buzzer sounded on that game, Johnson had gone one-on-one with both Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan, and turned in a vintage performance by recording game highs of 25 points and nine assists to win his second All-Star MVP award. Golden State guard Tim Hardaway, who had allowed Johnson to replace him in the starting lineup, contributed 14 points and seven assists.