Local Teens to Represent Orlando during Copa América Centenario Matches
ORLANDO, Fla. (June 2, 2016) – Forty-eight Orlando-area teens, ages 14-16, will have the unique opportunity to experience the historic 2016 Copa América Centenario matches directly from the field. Sprint (NYSE: S), an official partner of Copa América Centenario, has teamed up with the Orlando City Foundation and Academy Sports + Outdoors by offering their members a chance to represent the City Beautiful as flagbearers at opening ceremonies during the matches on June 4th, 6th, 8th at the Camping World Stadium.
Sprint will be donating $5,000 to the Orlando City Foundation, the community relations arm of Orlando City Soccer Club’s Major League Soccer team to support programs in the community. In addition, Academy Sports + Outdoors, which has nine locations throughout Florida, outfitted each of the kids with NIKE sneakers.
“These kids are soccer enthusiasts so for many it’s not only an honor for them to serve as a flagbearer, it’s also a dream come true,” said Claudio Hidalgo, Sprint president for Florida, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. “We’re proud to work alongside Orlando City Foundation and Academy Sports + Outdoors to offer this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to our local youth.”
This year’s Copa América is not only designed to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first Copa America, but it is also a chance to bring all of the Americas into one competition for the first time. Ten U.S.-based venues will host the prestigious South American tournament, including Orlando.
“Providing our fans with the highest quality of professional soccer is at the core of our Club’s mission,” said Kay Rawlins, the Foundation’s president and community relations director. “Being able to collaborate with great partners to help our fans, especially the young ones, get closer to us on the field to experience Copa América Centenario is an incredibly rewarding opportunity for everyone in our community who has helped bring this world-class tournament home.”
As the official sporting goods retailer of Orlando City SC, we’re thrilled to contribute shoes to the kids as they take the international stage,” said J.K. Symancyk, Academy Sports + Outdoors President and CEO. “We’re confident that our friends at the Orlando City Foundation will put their best foot forward as they represent Orlando.”
The flagbearers responsibilities will be to lead the referees and players onto the pitch for the start of the match and to position the country flags for the playing of the national anthems of the competing teams. All of the flag bearers and their chaperones will be provided tickets to watch the matches, uniforms, meals and refreshments.
Experience Sprint at Copa América Centenario
Sprint is creating an immersive and engaging fan experience at two of the three matches at the Camping World Stadium which may include an interactive digital wall, 360° photo booth where fans will get digital downloads of their photos for social sharing, appearances from soccer legends, and charging stations.