Laura Wright Named Invictus Games Orlando 2016 Celebrity Ambassador
British Soprano Singer Will Perform at Invictus Games Opening Ceremony and Wheelchair Rugby Match
Kissimmee, FL (April 27, 2016) – 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 classical chart-topper Laura Wright will join the growing list of celebrity ambassadors supporting the Games. Laura will participate in performances at the Opening Ceremony on May 8 and the wheelchair rugby final match on May 11. She has also taken the role of Music Director of the Opening Ceremony, composing and producing the underscore for the complete show in partnership with award-winning music producer, John Haywood.
Founded by Prince Harry and hosted in London in 2014, the Invictus Games are the only international adaptive sporting event for wounded, ill and injured military servicemen and women. Over 500 competitors from 14 nations will participate in the second Invictus Games May 8-12.
“After experiencing this incredibly inspiring sporting event first hand in London, I am honored to return this year to support these remarkable men and women at the Invictus Games 2016 in Orlando,” said Laura, who debuted her self-penned “Invincible” at the inaugural Invictus Games in 2014.
Laura joins Morgan Freeman, James Blunt and several other surprise guests expected to participate in the star-studded Opening Ceremony. The Ceremony features an unprecedented number of military performances, including the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, U.S. Army Band, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps and the U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Team. The audience will hear emotional first-person narratives from injured servicemen MSgt Israel Del Toro Jr., LCpl John-James Chalmers and Louis Nethercott. The show is bound to be one of the most inspirational events Orlando has ever hosted.
From start to finish, competition at the Games will be action packed. Gold medals will be at stake every single day and competitors will be ready to dig in. The international field will be competing in 10 events: archery, cycling, indoor rowing, power lifting, sitting volleyball, swimming, track and field, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis.
Tickets for the Invictus Games can be purchased for as low as $13 at https://invictusgames2016.info/tickets/
Fans can purchase tickets to the unforgettable Opening Ceremony for $65 and Closing Ceremony for $45 each at https://invictusgames2016.info/tickets/.
With over a million album sales under her belt, Laura Wright has been one of the biggest selling classical artists this decade. Laura was the first mezzo-soprano to perform at the Olympic Stadium, has toured with Alfie Boe and Russell Watson, opened the iTunes Festival for Andrea Bocelli and duetted with Donny Osmond for Children In Need. She has enjoyed many performances at prestigious venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, the Royal Opera House Wembley Stadium, Wembley Arena, The O2, Twickenham Stadium, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and The Great Wall of China.
As a royal favorite, Her Majesty The Queen cited Laura’s Diamond Jubilee Song ‘Stronger As One’ in her Commonwealth Day Message at Westminster Abbey where the song was premiered and secured a No. 1 chart position on Gary Barlow’s Sing EP. Laura performed more times for Her Majesty than any other artist in 2012.
An extremely accomplished athlete, Laura has competed in hockey, netball, tennis and javelin. It is this combined love of sports and classical music that led to the creation of her album ‘Sound of Strength’, where she fuses her twin passions into a unique sound which emphasizes the physical power of music.
The Invictus Games Orlando 2016 Opening and Closing Ceremonies 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.
About Invictus Games Orlando 2016
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. More than 500 competitors from 14 countries will compete in 10 adaptive sports. The Invictus Games Orlando 2016 are presented by Jaguar Land Rover. The Official Supporters are the Walt Disney Company, Fisher House Foundation, Fisher Brothers, Sage, Coca-Cola Company, Deloitte, Experience Kissimmee, Capital One, Invacare and Ottobock. Fans can buy tickets by visiting https://invictusgames2016.info/tickets/.
About The Invictus Games Symposium on Invisible Wounds
The George W. Bush Institute will conduct an international symposium at Invictus Games Orlando 2016 on May 8, to discuss solutions aimed at helping returning servicemen and women improve outcomes for their transition back to civilian life. President Bush will also serve as honorary chair for Invictus Games 2016. The Invictus Games Symposium on Invisible Wounds will convene warriors, experts and community partners to address the scale and scope of invisible wounds (Post-Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injuries) facing warriors. With representatives from all fourteen nations participating, we will discuss barriers to care, including both stigmas and stereotypes associated with these injuries.
About Jaguar Land Rover and It’s Support of the Invictus Games
Jaguar Land Rover is proud to be the presenting partner of the Invictus Games Orlando 2016, the international sporting event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women using sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect of those who serve the country. Jaguar Land Rover is proud to also sponsor the UK Invictus Games team. Jaguar Land Rover has a strong commitment to the Armed Forces and Veteran community and this has been extended through the Jaguar Land Rover Calibre Partnership. This will fund the training and hiring of 180 US Servicemen and Servicewomen this year across North American retailers. This follows, since 2013, Jaguar Land Rover hiring over 200 former servicemen and servicewomen in the UK, working closely with the Career Transition Partnership, the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) official provider of Armed Forces resettlement. The company has a growing number of initiatives, including a work placement scheme, launched in October 2014 in conjunction with the Ministry of Defence’s Career Transition Partnership (Assist) and Mission Motorsport – The Armed Forces’ Motorsport Charity. The scheme helps wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women find a fulfilling and long-term second career.
