WDW Daily News

The Invictus Games Orlando 2016, presented by Jaguar Land Rover and taking place from May 8-12 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort, today announced a lineup for the event’s Closing Ceremony on May 12 featuring world-renowned talent and uplifting performances.

“The Closing Ceremony will be an inspiring event that honors the Invictus spirit and recognizes our competitors,” said Ken Fisher, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Invictus Games Orlando 2016. “Stacked with incredible musical performances by internationally-renowned singers and songwriters, heartening stories of courage and triumph from servicemen and women, the ceremony will truly be the event of a lifetime. I encourage fans to buy their tickets now before they sell out – you won’t want to miss this.”

The Closing Ceremony will feature musical performances by international popstar Rachel Platten, who will perform the song of the Games and her No. 1 single, “Fight Song.” The lineup also includes best-selling country vocal group of the past decade Rascal Flatts, American sensation and former “American Idol” winner Phillip Phillips, Florida native and Grammy-nominated hip-hop superstar Flo Rida, “The Voice” Season 9 winner Jordan Smith and the first nationally-recognized wounded warrior band, Vetted.

During the ceremony, Prince Harry will recognize competitors for their achievements over the past four days and lead the handover of the Invictus Games flag to the Invictus Games Toronto 2017 organising committee. In addition, the audience will hear firsthand from U.S. Team Captain, retired Army Captain Will Reynolds, as he shares his amazing personal journey. Captain Reynolds ultimately lost his left leg above the knee after an IED in Iraq and endured 26 surgeries. Since his injury, Captain Reynolds has become a husband, a father to four, earned a Masters of Business Administration and Masters of Public Health, embarked on a career with Deloitte and become a world class adaptive sports athlete.

“As the Games come to a close, I am honored by the opportunity to share my story,” said U.S. Team Captain Reynolds. “I want to let others know that the road to recovery is possible, no matter what injury or illness stand in the way.”

Thousands of friends, family and fans will come together to reflect on a memorable four days of competition and celebrate the accomplishments, victories and unbreakable spirits of more than 500 competitors representing 14 nations at the Closing Ceremony, where every competitor will be recognized on stage with a medallion of achievement. Two individual awards will also be given by the Games’ presenting partners, Jaguar Land Rover, at the Closing Ceremony.

“The Closing Ceremony is an opportunity for us to celebrate a week of achievement, teamwork and friendship,” said Christopher Laue, one of the Executive Producers of the Invictus Games 2016 Opening and Closing Ceremonies. “The competitors’ commitment and determination has been absolutely awe-inspiring and will stay in fans’ hearts in the years to come. I hope Americans from across the nation will show their support by purchasing tickets and attending this high energy, eye-opening and heartwarming event.”

Spectators, fans and loved ones will watch the Closing Ceremony at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Kissimmee, Fla, while audiences around the world can watch the event live on ESPN 2. Fans can purchase tickets to this unforgettable and one-of-a-kind event for $45 each at http://invictusgames2016.org/tickets/.

The Invictus Games Orlando 2016 Opening and Closing Ceremonies are co-presented by Jaguar Land Rover and the Walt Disney Company and are being produced by continuumLIVE and Donaldson Creative with Christopher Laue and Sara Donaldson jointly performing the roles of Executive Producer and Creative Director.

Founder of Donaldson Creative, Donaldson most recently Executive Produced the Rugby World Cup Opening Ceremony in London, the Invictus Games London 2014 Ceremonies and along with Laue was Co-Chief Operating Officer of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Ceremonies. Laue, of continuumLIVE, most recently served as Executive Producer for the Lima 2019 Handover Segment at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, the Salvation Army International Congress, the Los Angeles Music Center 50th Anniversary Spectacular and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Veracruz 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games.

The Invictus Games Orlando 2016 will take place May 8-12, 2016 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World® Resort. The brainchild of Prince Harry, the Games will feature more than 500 injured military veterans and active duty personnel from 14 countries competing in 10 events.

The Opening Ceremony will include musical performances by James Blunt and Laura Wright, in addition to appearances from Prince Harry and First Lady Michelle Obama, with more names still to be announced. Plus, the Games just announced its two newest celebrity ambassadors – Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough of Dancing with the Stars fame. Both are also expected to attend the Games.

The opening event on May 8 inside Champion Stadium also will include majestic performances inspiring stories of the competitors and additional music acts, all televised live on ESPN2.

To give you an idea of the pageantry of the Opening Ceremony, here’s a peek at two newly-released renderings of the event’s stage.

Tickets for the Invictus Games are on sale now, starting at $18 for adults and $13 for children (ages 3-9), seniors (60-over) and military personnel. Children under 3 are free. Opening Ceremony tickets are $65 for adults and $45 for children, seniors and military personnel (Closing Ceremony tickets will be available at a later date). Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster outlets and at www.invictusgames2016.org/tickets.

The Atlanta Braves have begun their 2016 spring training workoutsat ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort. Ender Inciarte (OF), Gordon Beckham (IF), Erick Aybar (SS) and Tyler Flowers (C) are among the new faces on the roster this spring. This will be the Braves’ 19th spring training season at Champion Stadium.

Atlanta Braves spring training arrival schedule:

Pitchers/catchers report: Friday, February 19

Pitchers/catchers first workout: Saturday, February 20

Full squad reports: Wednesday, February 24

Full squad first workout: Thursday, February 25

First Home Game: Tuesday, March 1 vs. Baltimore Orioles

The Atlanta Braves begin their 2016 spring training workouts Saturday, Feb. 20 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort. Pitchers and catchers take the field for the first time Saturday, while the rest of the team reports Feb. 24, with full-squad workouts beginning Feb. 25. Ender Inciarte (OF), Gordon Beckham (IF), Erick Aybar (SS) and Tyler Flowers (C) are among the new faces on the roster this spring. This will be the Braves’ 19th spring training season at Champion Stadium.

Media will have their first access to players and coaches on Saturday, February 20, beginning ay 7:30 a.m.

Atlanta Braves spring training arrival schedule:

Pitchers/catchers report: Friday, February 19

Pitchers/catchers first workout: Saturday, February 20

Full squad reports: Wednesday, February 24

Full squad first workout: Thursday, February 25

First Home Game: Tuesday, March 1 vs. Baltimore Orioles

The second Invictus Games, the only international adaptive sporting event for injured active duty and veteran service members, will begin in just 100 Days – May 8-12, at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort, and tickets are now open for reservations. Fans can guarantee their seats before tickets go on sale by visiting http://invictusgames2016.org/tickets/ and filling out a brief form.

The Invictus Games Orlando 2016, presented by Jaguar Land Rover, will bring together more than 500 competitors from 15 nations to compete in 10 sports – archery, cycling, indoor rowing, power lifting, sitting volleyball, swimming, track and field, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis. Following a visit to the U.S. Department of Defense Warrior Games, Prince Harry was inspired to create an expanded international version and founded the first Invictus Games hosted in London in 2014.

Retired U.S. Army Captain Will Reynolds won four medals at the 2014 Invictus Games and is training for the 2016 Games.

“It is exciting there are just 100 days until the Invictus Games and we are training hard to do our best and represent the United States well. I am very much looking forward to the camaraderie of not just of my American teammates, but the competitors from the teams around the world. We all share the Invictus spirit and it will be on display in 100 days,” said Captain Reynolds.

Captain Reynolds lost his leg after an improvised explosive devise detonated in Iraq. He underwent 26 surgeries as doctors tried to save his left leg but they ended up amputating his left leg at the knee. After attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point from 1998 until 2002, Reynolds served until 2008 in Fort Benning, Georgia; South Korea; Iraq; and the Washington, D.C. area. Following his two years of rehabilitation, he earned a Masters of Business Administration and a Masters in Public Health from the University of Rochester, New York, and now works as a consultant.

Captain Reynolds won four bronze medals at the 2014 Invictus Games in men’s classified 100-meter and 200-meter athletics sprints, the Road Race and the Time Trial in cycling.

Fans can be part of the action and cheer on Captain Reynolds and the other competitors as they compete for medals and represent their countries by reserving their tickets today.

“Having seen the fantastic support from the public at the 2014 Invictus Games in London, we look forward to hosting the Games in the United States and joining in the celebrations for the second consecutive year,” said Joe Eberhardt, President and CEO of Jaguar Land Rover North America.

The Fisher House Foundation was a sponsor of the 2014 Invictus Games. Ken Fisher, Chairman and CEO of the Fisher House Foundation, will serve as Chairman and CEO for Invictus Games Orlando 2016.

“These Games are about the competitors and their families and the Organizing Committee is doing all we can to create an event worthy of these amazing and inspiring people,” said Fisher.

The 2014 Invictus Games opened with the help of a message from First Lady Michelle Obama, and Dr. Jill Biden presented medals to the American team during the medals ceremonies. More than 400 competitors from 13 nations competed for gold in nine sports and a driving challenge. Some 65,000 spectators attended the sporting events, opening ceremony and closing concert and more than 10 million watched the Games on the BBC.

The word Invictus means “unconquered.” It embodies the fighting spirit of the wounded service personnel who are on the journey to recovery. Generations have drawn on the words of William Ernest Henley’s 1878 poem “Invictus” for strength during times of adversity. “I am the master of my fate,” wrote Henley, himself an amputee.

The Invictus Games uses the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect of all those who serve their country as well as their families and caregivers.

The 2016 Florida Cup is officially underway, bringing world-class international pro soccer clubs to several Florida venues, including the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort. The games, which began on Sunday, Jan. 10, mark the beginning of a broader relationship between Disney and the event. As part of its five-year agreement with 2SV Sports, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will be the official main venue for the tournament.

In addition to the games, the tournament featured a panel discussion and press conference on Friday, Jan. 8, featuring club and league representatives discussing a variety of soccer-related topics, including youth development, sports marketing, and global league structures, among other subjects.

The Florida Cup is one of several prestigious soccer events at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, which is also the official preseason training home of AS Roma. Additionally, there are eleven soccer events that take place at the ESPN sports complex throughout the year including: the Disney Soccer Showcase, the Disney Soccer Academy, the Disney Cup International, the Disney Memorial Day Soccer Shootout, the Disney 3v3 Soccer Championship, the Disney Pre-Season Soccer Kickoff and the Disney President’s Day Soccer Festival.

– See more at: http://disneysportsnews.com/releases/2016/01/14/2016-florida-cup-underway-at-espn-wide-world-of-sports-complex/#sthash.yk8IROGE.dpuf

For the 17^th consecutive year, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will host the Pop Warner Super Bowl & National Cheer and Dance Championships. The event will consist of more than 64 teams from eight Pop Warner regions playing in four age/weight classifications (Jr. Peewee, Pewee, Jr. Midget, Midget). Throughout the six-day event, 68 games will be played, including the Division I Midget National Championship Game, which is featured on ESPN and ESPN2 throughout the NFL Super Bowl Week. This year’s event will take place from Dec. 4 to 12.

Disney Soccer Showcase is the ultimate place for top clubs to perform in front of hundreds of college coaches looking for great soccer talent. Rated the best youth soccer tournament in the U.S. in a Soccer America survey, Disney Soccer Showcase will give athletes a chance to shine on one of the biggest stages set for youth soccer in the country. The event will take place at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Boys will participate from Dec. 27 to 30. Girls will participate from Dec. 31 to Jan. 3.

The Disney New Year’s Baseball Classic at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is for youth athletes between 8 and 18 years old. Every player selected for the event is automatically enrolled in the MVP Head Start College Recruiting Program at no additional costs, while the event itself allows players to learn from MVP pro coaches in preparation for their upcoming baseball seasons. This year’s event takes place from Dec. 30 to Jan. 2.

The Atlanta Braves’ 2016 spring training schedule at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort is filled with games against marquee playoff teams, including two games against the New York Mets, runners up in this year’s World Series.

The Braves, who have trained at Disney since 1997, will confront the Mets on March 8 and March 26 at Champion Stadium. The Braves will also face off against the National League Central champion St. Louis Cardinals on March 16; the Houston Astros on March 17, March 25 and March 30; the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 5; and the New York Yankees on March 28.

First baseman Freddie Freeman and the rest of the Braves report to Disney for two weeks of training in mid-February, then begin play March 1 against the Baltimore Orioles. Three games will be played under the lights at Champion Stadium – against the Washington Nationals on March 12, the Phillies on March 24 and the Yankees on March 28. The Braves also face the Tampa Bay Rays on March 14 and a yet-to-be-named opponent on April 1.

Braves spring training games always have unique Disney touches, such as in-game entertainment, Disney character appearances and on-field moments such as the kid-friendly experience of running the bases after every game.

Individual spring training game tickets go on sale December 7, through the Atlanta Braves’ website (braves.com/springtraining), through Ticketmaster (800-745-3000) and at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Box Office. Spring training ticket prices range from $15 (general admission lawn seating in left field) to $57 (lower level reserved seats).

Information on Braves spring training season tickets, suite/hospitality, group tickets and mini-plans is available by calling the premium sales team at (407) 939-GAME (4263) and online at www.espnwwos.com/braves. The popular mini-plans are on sale again this season, featuring four separate three-game options.

 

2016 Atlanta Braves Spring Training Home Schedule

Date	Opponent	Time
Tuesday, March 1	Baltimore Orioles	1:05 p.m.
Thursday, March 3	Detroit Tigers	1:05 p.m.
Saturday March 5	Pittsburgh Pirates	1:05 p.m.
Tuesday, March 8	New York Mets	1:05 p.m.
Friday, March 11	Philadelphia Phillies	1:05 p.m.
Saturday, March 12	Washington Nationals	6:05 p.m.
Monday, March 14	Tampa Bay Rays	1:05 p.m.
Wednesday, March 16	St. Louis Cardinals	1:05 p.m.
Thursday, March 17	Houston Astros	1:05 p.m.
Friday, March 18	Miami Marlins	1:05 p.m.
Sunday, March 20	Detroit Tigers	1:05 p.m.
Thursday, March 24	Philadelphia Phillies	6:05 p.m.
Friday, March 25	Houston Astros	1:05 p.m.
Saturday, March 26	New York Mets	1:05 p.m.
Monday, March 28	New York Yankees	6:05 p.m.
Wednesday, March 30	Houston Astros	1:05 p.m.
Friday, April 1	TBD	1:05 p.m.

 

All dates, times and opponents are subject to change.

The inaugural Latin Baseball Festival will be a cultural affair, combining food and entertainment with a three-game professional Puerto Rican baseball series at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort.

The festival will feature a variety of Latin entertainment and activities, such as music, artists and food vendors before each game in the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League series between the Cangrejeros de Santurce and the Indios de Mayaguez on Nov. 20-22, 2015 at Champion Stadium. There will also be a post-game jam on Saturday, Nov 21.

Musical acts expected to perform, which include Ventana Al Jazz Orlando artists, are Humberto Ramirez & Best Friends, Giovanni Hidalgo, Fusion Beat, the Leslie Cartaya Quartet and children’s musical group Atención-Atención, plus additional Orlando-area bands.

Latin cuisine and beverages, some from food trucks, will be available during the Festival. Inside the ballpark, guests can also find more treats such as arroz con pollo, habichuelas rojas guisadas and carne frita. Additionally, there will be activities and other entertainment throughout the three-day festival.

Single-game tickets range from $17.50 for lawn seats to $30 for lower level seating. Two-game packages (Saturday and Sunday) are $45 (upper level) and $54 (lower level). Group tickets are also available ($24-$27) as well as suites ($250-$2,000).

Ticket purchase includes admission to the festival.

The games start at 7:30 pm Friday Nov. 20; 3 pm on Saturday Nov, 21; and 1 pm on Sunday Nov. 22. The festival begins at 4:30 pm Friday; 3 pm on Saturday; and 11 am on Sunday.

Tickets are available at www.latinbaseballfestival.com and all Ticketmaster locations, including www.Ticketmaster.com.

Two of the marquee teams in Caribbean Baseball, the Cangrejeros is the reigning champion of the Roberto Clemente League, while the Indios de Mayaguez is the 2013 league champion. This league has featured Major League stars such as Roberto Alomar, Bobby Bonilla, Ivan Rodriguez, Edgar Martinez, Juan Gonzalez, Bernie Williams, Ruben Sierra and Roberto Clemente himself during its rich 75-year history.

The Latin Baseball Festival, which is a salute to Puerto Rico, marks the first time Clemente League teams will play official regular-season games within the continental U.S. The league last played outside of Puerto Rico in the Inter-League Series in 2009 when it played with the Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League.

The Latin Baseball Festival builds on the tradition of professional baseball at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The complex is the long-time home of Atlanta Braves spring training and was a host site during the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006. In addition, the complex hosts a variety of youth and adult baseball events, including national elite-level youth tournaments, and international amateur events. Among the key youth baseball events are the Disney International Salute to Baseball, Disney College & High School Spring Training, Disney New Year’s Baseball Classic, Disney Turn Back the Clock Weekend and Disney Sun & Surf Baseball Bash.

Schedule of musical acts:

Friday, November 20: Leslie Cartaya Quartet and Fusion Beat

Saturday, November 21: Humberto Ramirez & Best Friends and Giovanni Hidalgo

Sunday, November 22: Atención-Atención