ESPN’s Multi-Platform Coverage of Invictus Games Orlando 2016
Paralympian Victoria Arlen Will Report for ESPN.com During the Games
ESPN’s five-day exclusive coverage of the Invictus Games Orlando 2016 kicks off on ESPN2 on Sunday, May 8, at 8 p.m. ET and continues until Thursday, May 12. The Invictus Games, held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World in Orlando, will feature 10 adaptive-style sports bringing together more than 500 military competitors who are wounded, ill and injured from 14 countries around the world. In addition to ESPN2’s nightly prime-time program and ESPN3’s daily event broadcasts, ESPN will provide coverage across a variety of platforms.
ESPN.com
ESPN.com’s coverage of the Invictus Games Orlando 2016 will include event highlights, features on the competitors and the sports they compete in. Victoria Arlen, a Paralympian who also reported for ESPN at the Special Olympics World Games in 2015, will provide video mini-features. In addition ESPN.com will feature a special landing page for Invictus Games Orlando 2016. Coverage highlights include:
- Digital video: competitor profile features and daily on-site reports.
- Over 30 hours of live medal competition coverage on ESPN3.
- Reporters and photographers will provide on-site coverage of the event.
- Online content will also be available on ABC.com.
- Social media coverage of Prince Harry of Great Britain and his involvement with the Games.
ESPN International
ESPN International will present the Invictus Games Orlando 2016 live to more than approximately 66 million households in 60 countries and territories throughout Spanish-speaking Latin America, Brazil, the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand, and on TSN in Canada. The American Forces Network will also present ESPN’s coverage to U.S. military installations around the world. Highlights:
- The event will be seen in HD in Spanish-speaking Latin America, Brazil, the Caribbean, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and the American Forces Network.
- Live coverage of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies will air on ESPN2 in Australia and New Zealand. The prime-time shows will also air on ESPN2 with WatchESPN showing competition coverage.
- Live coverage of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies will air in Latin America on ESPN 3. Prime-time shows will also air on ESPN 3 with live competition coverage on ESPN Play.
- ESPN Brazil will air the Opening Ceremony live with prime-time shows airing on ESPN+ Brazil. WatchESPN will air the Closing Ceremony and stream live a simulcast of the U.S. competition coverage.
- ESPN Caribbean will air the Opening Ceremony and prime-time shows with ESPN2 Caribbean airing the Closing Ceremony live. ESPN Play will air the live competition coverage.
- American Forces Network will air the prime-time shows and Opening and Closing Ceremonies live with WatchESPN showing ESPN3’s competition coverage.
- TSN in Canada will provide live coverage of the prime-time shows and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. TSN will also feature live competition via its TSN GO digital service.
SportsCenter
Prince Harry, founder of the Invictus Games, spoke with ABC’s Robin Roberts. Excerpts from that interview will be featured as SporsCenter‘s Conversation on May 7 at 8 a.m., the day before the Opening Ceremony. Once the Games begin, SportsCenter will provide highlights, pieces, and reports across a variety of episodes.
ESPN The Magazine
Invictus Games Orlando 2016 will be featured in ESPN The Magazine’s “Fame” issue, on newsstands Friday, April 29. The issue will focus on U.S. Air Force sergeant Israel Del Toro who was severely burned by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan in 2005. After numerous surgeries and five years of therapy, he re-enlisted in 2010. Del Toro is competing in powerlifting at the Invictus Games.
ESPN2 and ESPN3 Commentators
ESPN2’s star-studded lineup includes award-winning and well-respected commentators. The roster of television hosts includes: Chris Fowler, Tom Rinaldi, Jeremy Schaap , Marysol Castro and Bob Woodruff of ABC News. The ESPN3 play-by-play commentators include: Allen Bestwick, Chris Cotter, Mark Jones, Dave LaMont, Patrick McEnroe, Paul Sunderland alongside sideline reporters Kaylee Hartung and Allison Williams. Additional analysts for the ESPN3 coverage include former Olympians Erin Cafaro MacKenzie (rowing), Rowdy Gaines (swimming), Dan O’Brien (decathlon) as well as Brad Gilbert (wheelchair tennis), Sean Farnham (wheelchair basketball), Missy Whittemore (sitting volleyball), Ade Adepitan (wheelchair basketball player), Duncan Campbell (inventor of wheelchair rugby), Rohan Murphy (powerlifter) and Matt Stutzman (archer).
About the Invictus Games
Presented by Jaguar Land Rover, the Invictus Games are the only international adaptive sporting event for injured active duty and veteran service members. The Games use 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 Invictus Games Foundation has been established to pursue and develop the legacy of the Invictus Games, Prince Harry’s sporting event for wounded, ill and injured servicemen and women.
The Invictus competitors are men and women who have come face-to-face with the reality of making a sacrifice for their own country. The word ‘invictus’ means ‘unconquered’ and the event embodies the fighting spirit of the wounded, injured and ill service personnel and what these men and women can achieve post service. For more information on the 2016 Invictus Games, including volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, visit https://invictusgames2016.org/.
For more information on the 2016 Invictus Games, including tickets, volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, visit https://invictusgames2016.org/.
30-
Contact: Diane Lamb diane.lamb@espn.com
Belen Michelis belen.michelis@espn.com
