Sara Bareilles to headline Orlando’s Special Olympics
Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles is set to headline the opening ceremony for the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando next month.
Florida will host what is set to be the largest USA Games in Special Olympics history, with more than 5,500 athletes from across the country expected in Central Florida this June. The Games kick off with an opening ceremony June 5 at Exploria Stadium.
T.J. Holmes, a journalist and television personality, will host the event featuring more than 500 performers and produced by Disney Live Entertainment. Special Olympics athlete Shawn Hinz, joined by Disney’s Voices of Liberty, will sing “America the Beautiful” in addition to a special live performance by Bareilles, who is known for such hits as “Love Song” and “Brave.”
“I am honored to take part in the opening ceremony,” Bareilles said in a news release. “Music unites and inspires, and that is what Special Olympics does every day. To be a part of the USA Games and perform for the athletes and their families as they begin this amazing week is a true gift.”
The ceremony begins at 8 a.m. June 5 and kicks off a week of sporting events including basketball, equestrian, golf, gymnastics, open-water swimming, powerlifting, soccer, triathlon and more. Most of the events will take place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World.
“The 2022 Special Olympics USA Games truly is an incredible opportunity to come together in the spirit of inclusion and to celebrate remarkable ability and teamwork,” said Joe Dzaluk, president and CEO of the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games, in a news release. “The opening ceremony is the perfect time to support the USA Games, extraordinary athletes from around the country and our Orlando community as we host the largest USA Games in history.”
Tickets for the opening ceremony, which cost $55 each, are now on sale. Visit 2022specialolympicsusagames.org or ticketmaster. com to purchase.
For those tuning in from afar, ESPN will air the opening ceremony at noon June 5 on ABC, WatchESPN and the ESPN app.