Media Operational Information
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR MEDIA ACCREDITED FOR THE INVICTUS GAMES
The following information is provided to assist you in covering the Invictus Games Orlando 2016. More detailed information will be available via a Media Guide when you arrive.
To download the Media Operational Information in pdf format, click on the following link: Media Operational Information.
If you have any questions, please contact pressoperations@invictusgames2016.org.
- Transport and Parking
- Accreditation
- Media Work Areas
- Photographer Information
- Non-Rightsholder Information
- Team Media Liaison Briefing
- Daily Briefing
- Competition Overview
- Training
- Access to the Athletes Village (Shades of Green Resort)
- Symposium on Invisible Wounds
- JLR Challenge
- JLR Exhibition Rugby Match
- Opening Ceremony
- Closing Ceremony
- Team Media Contacts
- Important Dates
1. TRANSPORT
Media Transport (Airport to Hotel)
If you are staying at the Coronado Springs Resort, there will be free transport between the Orlando International Airport (MCO) and the resort courtesy of Disney’s Magical Express. Media staying at the Coronado Springs Resort will receive a separate email with information about booking the bus from the airport.
If you are staying at another hotel, you will need to arrange your own transport from the airport.
Media Transport (Coronado Springs Resort to ESPN Complex)
Free transport will be provided between the Coronado Springs Resort and the ESPN Complex during the Invictus Games. Shuttle buses will operate from 5 May to 12 May from 05:30 until 24:00.
Parking at the ESPN Complex
Limited media parking is available in the main lot at the ESPN Complex. To park in the lot you will need a parking permit – please contact us at pressoperations@invictusgames2016.org to request a permit.
Parking permits will be required from 5 May through 12 May.
Taxis
Mears Transportation provides taxi service to the ESPN Complex. Call +1.407.222.2222 or visit http://www.mearstransportation.com/ for more information.
2. ACCREDITATION
Accreditation Center
You can collect your media accreditation at the Accreditation Center which is located in the parking lot of the ESPN Complex (see map below, the center is labeled WKF Check-In Tent). Once you have collected your accreditation, you can enter the ESPN Complex.
The Accreditation Center will be open for media to collect their credentials beginning 4 May.
| Accreditation Center Hours | |
| 4 May | 06:00 to 18:00 |
| 5 May | 06:00 to 18:00 |
| 6 May | 06:00 to 18:00 |
| 7 May | 06:00 to 18:00 |
| 8 May | 06:00 to 20:30 |
| 9 May | 06:00 to 18:00 |
| 10 May | 06:00 to 18:00 |
| 11 May | 06:00 to 18:00 |
| 12 May | 06:00 to 20:00 |
You must bring a valid form of government-issued photo identification with you. Photocopies and photos will not be accepted; the original document must be presented for inspection and ID verification.
Acceptable forms of photo ID are:
• Passport
• State-issued ID
• Driver’s license
• Military ID
• Permanent resident card
If there is an issue with your accreditation, please bring it to the attention of a member of the accreditation staff.
3. MEDIA WORK AREAS
All of the competitions are conveniently located at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex located at Walt Disney World. During the Invictus Games, you will need an accreditation or a ticket to enter the ESPN Complex.
Media Central
The headquarters for all media operations will be Media Central, located in a tent between the tennis courts and the New Balance Track at the ESPN Complex.
Media Central will be open 5 May through 12 May.
| Media Central Hours | |
| 5 May | 07:00-21:00 |
| 6 May | 07:00-21:00 |
| 7 May | 07:00-21:00 |
| 8 May | 07:00-24:00 |
| 9 May | 07:00-24:00 |
| 10 May | 07:00-24:00 |
| 11 May | 07:00-24:00 |
| 12 May | 07:00-24:00 |
The following services are available at Media Central:
• Help Desk. Answers questions and distribute photo bibs and non-rights broadcast bibs. Limited hard copies of important media information, for example media guides and press releases, will also be available.
About 150 workstations will be available with both free wired and wireless internet connections for filing. Power will also be available at each workstation. Televisions and a printer will also be available.
• Refreshment Area. Free water, tea and coffee will be available. A variety of user-pay concessions are available at the ESPN Complex.
• Briefing Room. The official briefing room for the Invictus Games will be at Media Central.
• Press Operations Management. Press Operations senior staff will be based at Media Central.
• Communications Team Office. The Invictus Games Communications Team will be based at Media Central.
Internet
During the Invictus Games, media will have free access to wired and wireless internet connections. Wired connections will be available in Media Central, the HP Field House Venue Media Center and the Jostens Venue Media Center.
A dedicated media Wi-Fi system will be available in official media areas.
Venue Media Centers
There will be two Venue Media Centers available during the Invictus Games – one at the HP Field House and one at the Jostens Center. Each VMC will have a workroom with wired and wireless internet connections, a help desk, and a refreshment area.
Venue Media Centers will open to the media one hour before competition begins and will close up to two hours after competition ends
Tribunes
Each competition venue will have a designated seating area for media. In some venues, tabled seating will also be provided. The Media Wi-Fi system will be available in most press tribunes.
Photo Positions
Each competition venue will have designated areas for photographers. Only photographers wearing an official photo bib are allowed in photo positions (photo bibs will be distributed at Media Central). The Media Wi-Fi system will be available in some photo positions.
I-Zones
There will be no media conference rooms or traditional “mixed zones” in competition venues. Instead, I-Zones, or interview areas, will be available at every competition venue.
I-Zones are informal areas where media can interview athletes after competition in a more relaxed environment than a press conference. In most cases, I-Zones are located very close to the fields of play.
Press Operations will bring competitors to the I-Zones on request; if you would like to interview a competitor, then please contact a member of the Press Operations staff in the venue.
Competitors will not be available for I-Zone interviews until they have finished all of their events in their particular sport.
The Media Wi-Fi system will be available in most I-Zones.
Non-rights Broadcast Areas
Designated areas will be available in every competition venue for non-rights broadcasters to film competition on a non-live basis. Access to these areas requires a non-rights broadcast bib which will be distributed at Media Central.
Space limitations may mean that a rota system is used; this will be managed by Press Operations.
Wi-Fi is not available in Non-rights Broadcast Areas.
4. PHOTOGRAPHER INFORMATION
All still photographers must sign a Photographer’s Undertaking which indicates their agreement to abide by the photographer code of conduct. After signing the agreement, they will receive a photo bib which grants them access to designated photo positions in the venues.
Photographers can sign the undertaking and collect their bibs at Media Central.
In some venues, prime photo positions will be available. These positions could be located on the field of play or may be limited in size. To access these positions, photographers must exchange their photo bib for a PRIME photo bib which will be available from the Venue Photo Manager at each venue.
Photographer Briefing
All photographers are requested to attend a Photographer Briefing on 6 May at 11:00 in Media Central to review the rules for accessing and working in photo positions.
5. NON-RIGHTSHOLDER INFORMATION
ESPN is the host broadcaster for the Invictus Games and has the exclusive rights to broadcast the Games in the United States. The BBC is the rightsholder for the United Kingdom.
All non-rightsholding broadcast organizations and video crews from the participating nations must abide by the Non-Righsholder Undertaking that will be in place for the Invictus Games
Non-Rights Broadcast Bib
Every organization that is accredited as a Non-Rights Broadcaster and that wants to film during the Games must sign an undertaking that outlines what non-rightsholders will be able to do during the Games.
After signing the undertaking, their camera operator will receive a Non-Rights Broadcast bib which grants them access to designated filming areas in the venues.
Non-rights broadcasters can sign the undertaking and collect their bibs at Media Central.
Filming in I-Zones
All non-rightsholders will be able to film competitor interviews in the I-Zones, or interview zones. Every competition venue will have an I-Zone where media can interview competitors post-competition.
Footage filmed in I-Zones can be used after a 30-minute delay.
Live coverage from the I-Zone is not permitted.
Filming Sports Competition
Filming the fields of play in the competition venues is strictly limited. Non-rightsholders will be allowed to film in designated areas, space permitting, which will managed by Press Operations.
Live coverage from Non-Rights Broadcast Areas is not permitted.
Filming in the Common Domain
Accredited non-rightsholders are allowed to film in the common areas outside of the competition venues but inside the ESPN Complex.
While there are no specific restrictions, you may be asked to move if you are blocking the flow of spectators.
The Communications Team has designated an area near the Jostens Center that will be reserved for non-rightsholders. To reserve this spot, please contact the Communications Team at media@invictusgames2016.org.
Satellite Trucks
Non-rightsholders are allowed to bring satellite trucks to the complex and will be able to park them in a designated area. Please contact the Communications Team at media@invictusgames2016.org for more information.
Filming the Opening and Closing Ceremonies
Non-rightsholders will not be allowed to film either ceremony, and recording equipment will not be allowed in the venue for the ceremonies.
Highlights of the ceremonies will be provided (see below).
Highlights Package
ESPN will provide the following free highlights packages:
- 10-minute package of the Opening Ceremony (available about 22:00)
- 10-minute package of the Closing Ceremony (available about 23:00)
- 5-minute daily package — 9 May, 10 May, 11 May (available about 20:30)
The highlights can be used uncredited for 48 hours.
All of the highlights will be available on Google Drive for download. Further details will be available in the Media Guide.
Non-Rights Broadcast Briefing
All non-rightsholders are requested to attend a Non-Rightsholder Briefing on 6 May at 15:30 in Media Central to review the rules regarding filming during the Games.
Media liaison officers for the participating nations are encouraged to attend this session as well.
RF Equipment
Any non-rightsholders who intend on using wireless equipment must register onsite and obtain a tag for their equipment. Please contact pressoperations@invictusgames2016.org for further information.
6. TEAM MEDIA LIAISON BRIEFING
All media liaison/public affairs officers for the participating nations are requested to attend a Press Officer Briefing on 6 May at 14:00 in Media Central.
Only the official media liaison officers for the teams are requested to attend. You are also encouraged to attend the Non-Rightsholder Briefing held immediately after this briefing.
7. DAILY BRIEFING
The Communications Team will host a daily press briefing beginning 7 May at Media Central (time to be confirmed).
8. COMPETITION OVERVIEW
More than 500 competitors from 14 countries will participate in the Invictus Games.
| Archery | |
| HP Field House | May 8 |
| Medals: 3 individual in each discipline and 3 team in each discipline | |
| In Archery, men and women will compete together and there is no functional categorization. For example, a competitor that shoots from a stool could compete against a competitors that shoot with their mouths.
There are three disciplines in the individual events: Recurve Novice, which includes competitors who have taken up archery since the Closing Ceremony of the last Invictus Games; Open Recurve and Compound. Recurve and Compound refer to the type of bow used. There will also be team events in each discipline. A team is comprised of three individuals from a nation, and the competitors that compete in the team event will be decided from the outcome of the individual event. Four teams will make it through to the team finals and will be based on the scores of the top three individuals in each nation. |
|
| Indoor Rowing | |
| HP Field House | May 9 |
| Medals: 24 | |
| There will be two rowing events: a one-minute sprint event and a four-minute endurance event. The goal of both events is to row as far as you can.
There are six functional categories, and men and women will compete for separate medals. |
|
| Powerlifting | |
| HP Field House | Preliminaries May 8 Finals May 9 |
| Medals: 12 | |
| Men and women will compete in the bench press event only, and there will be light and heavyweight classes for both.
Competitors will weigh-in two hours before the start of the event. |
|
| Road Cycling | |
| Cycling Venue | May 9 |
| Medals: 28 | |
| There will be two cycling event: the one-minute time trial (a sprint event over a .97-mile course) and a criterium event.
During the time trial, competitors will start at 30-second intervals and the fastest competitor wins. During the criterium, there will be a set time for the race with an additional three or four laps at the end; the winner will be the first competitor across the line. There will be three road bike classes, one tandem class, two hand bike classes, and 1 recumbent bike. There is a potential for there to be a mixed category race with separate medals. |
|
| Sitting Volleyball | |
| HP Field House | Pool Matches May 7
Semi-Finals and Finals May 10 |
| Medals: 3 | |
| Nations can enter one team for sitting volleyball and there are three functional categories. Men and women compete together.
Squads are composed of up to 16 competitors with 12 per match. Only 12 competitors can go forward to the semi-finals and finals; and to be eligible they must have played in at least one pool game. Nations are split into two pools with the gold and silver winners from the 2014 Invictus Games going into Pool A and Pool B respectively. All nations in a pool will play each other and the top two teams from each pool will progress to the semi-finals. The winners of Pool A will play the runners-up of Pool B and the winners of Pool B will play the runners-up of Pool A. In sitting volleyball, the competitors have to keep at least one bottom check on the floor at all times. |
|
| Swimming | |
| Invictus Pool | Heats May 7
Finals May 11 |
| Medals: 108 | |
| There are four functional categories in swimming. Events are the 50m freestyle, 50m backdrop, 50m breaststroke, 100m freestyle, and mixed 4x50m freestyle relay.
Men and women will compete separately. |
|
| Track & Field | |
| New Balance Track & Field Complex | Heats May 8
Finals May 10 |
| Medals: 288 | |
| Track & Field consists of many different events including 100m, 200m, 400m, 1500m and mixed 4x100m relay races. Competitors compete in seven functional categories, and there are both ambulant and wheelchair events for men and women.
There are also ambulant and seated throws for discus and shotput. Again, men and women compete separately in seven functional categories. Finals for track and field events will run simultaneously. |
|
| Wheelchair Basketball | |
| HP Field House | Preliminaries May 6
Semi-Finals and Finals May 12 |
| Medals: 3 | |
| Nations can enter one team for wheelchair basketball and there are three functional categories. Men and women compete together.
Squads are composed of up to 16 competitors with 12 per match. Only 12 competitors can go forward to the semi-finals and finals; and to be eligible they must have played in at least one pool game. Nations are split into two pools with the gold and silver winners from the 2014 Invictus Games going into Pool A and Pool B respectively. All nations in a pool will play each other and the top two teams from each pool will progress to the semi-finals. The winners of Pool A will play the runners-up of Pool B and the winners of Pool B will play the runners-up of Pool A. |
|
| Wheelchair Rugby | |
| HP Field House | Preliminaries May 6
Semi-Finals and Finals May 11 |
| Medals: 3 | |
| Nations can enter one team for wheelchair rugby and there are three functional categories. Men and women compete together.
Squads are composed of up to 14 competitors with 10 per match. Only 10 competitors can go forward to the semi-finals and finals; and to be eligible they must have played in at least one pool game. Nations are split into two pools with the gold and silver winners from the 2014 Invictus Games going into Pool A and Pool B respectively. All nations in a pool will play each other and the top two teams from each pool will progress to the semi-finals. The winners of Pool A will play the runners-up of Pool B and the winners of Pool B will play the runners-up of Pool A. |
|
| Wheelchair Tennis | |
| Tennis Complex | Preliminaries May 6
Finals May 12 |
| Medals: 6 | |
| Wheelchair tennis competitors compete in mixed doubles. There is no functional categorization and the event is open to two teams per nation.
Competitors will compete in three sessions with semi-finals and finals played on center court and preliminary matches played before the Opening Ceremony. Wheelchair tennis follows the same rules as tennis except that the ball can bounce twice. |
|
9. TRAINING
Training for indoor sports will be held at the Jostens Center from 5-12 May. A Venue Media Center will be available at the Jostens Center.
Training is schedule from 08:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 19:00 daily unless preliminary competition is scheduled. Training sessions will be open to competitors from all nations from noon to 13:00 and 18:00 to 19:00 daily.
10. ACCESS TO THE ATHLETES’ VILLAGE
To provide a stress-free atmosphere for the competitors, media will not be allowed at the Athletes Village (Shades of Green Resort) without permission from one of the participating nations.
An I-Zone will be available at Shades of Green for athlete interviews. To schedule an interview, please contact the media liaison of the relevant team to schedule a time (list provided below). The media liaison will request a guest pass for you to enter the Shades of Green Resort. If your name is not approved for a guest pass, you will be denied entry by Security at the gate.
11. SYMPOSIUM ON INVISIBLE WOUNDS
President George W. Bush and the Bush Institute will host an international symposium 8 May to discuss solutions aimed at helping returning servicemen and servicewomen overcome their invisible wounds, like post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injuries, and improve outcomes for their transition back to civilian life.
President Bush also serves as the honorary chairman for the Invictus Games 2016.
Speakers will include Invictus Games competitors, military spouses and leading researchers. The symposium will be moderated by ESPN journalist Jeremy Schaap.
The symposium will be Sunday, 8 May from noon to 4:30 p.m. at the Shades of Green Resort at Walt Disney World.
| IMPORTANT NOTE Space is limited. To attend the symposium, please register by 1 May at 18:00 CDT.https://forms.bushcenter.org/credentialsPlease email any interview requests for symposium participants to media@bushcenter.org.Details about check-in time, parking, time and location of the media security sweep, power, equipment available, etc. will be provided later. |
12. JLR DRIVING CHALLENGE
As “The Official Partner of the Invictus Games Orlando 2016,” Jaguar Land Rover is proud to bring back the Driving Challenge competition to the Games.
The challenge will be 7 May from 11:00-15:15 on the JLR Challenge course; media are asked to arrive about 10:00.
All 14 nations have been invited to compete in the challenge which will produce the first medals of the Games. Two participants from each nation will take part, and the team that displays the teamwork, cohesion and communication will take home the gold medal.
There will be two courses which will take the teams and their vehicles through precision gates. Though teams are timed, accurate driving will produce better results than speed alone.
After completing both courses, the teams will be ranked by points based on total accumulated times and penalties. The top four teams will compete in the finals, where they will complete the two courses again. The top three teams will determine gold, silver and bronze medals.
13. JLR WHEELCHAIR RUBGY EXHIBITION MATCH
This exciting exhibition match, along with the wheelchair rugby medal matches, will take place on 11 May from 19:30 to 23:30 at the HP Field House.
Two teams made up of Invictus Games competitors and celebrities will go head-to-head in what is set to be a spectacular match. The teams will play two eight-minute halves in an attempt to lift the trophy and be crowed the victors of this unique event.
14. OPENING CEREMONY
The Opening Ceremony will be 8 May at 20:00 at Champion Stadium at the ESPN Complex. The pre-show will begin at 19:30.
A designated media seating area will be available. Media should enter the stadium at the accredited entrance to access the seating area.
Designated areas will be available for photographers; details will be available at a later date.
No other work facilities will be available at Champions Stadium but both Media Central and the HP Field House VMC will be open during the ceremony.
A detailed media guide will be available for the Opening Ceremony.
15. CLOSING CEREMONY
The Closing Ceremony will be 12 May at 19:00 at Champion Stadium at the ESPN Complex. The pre-show will begin at 18:30.
A designated media seating area will be available. Media should enter the stadium at the accredited entrance to access the seating area.
Designated areas will be available for photographers; details will be available at a later date.
No other work facilities will be available at Champions Stadium but both Media Central and the Field House VMC will be open during the ceremony.
A detailed media guide will be available for the Closing Ceremony.
16. TEAM MEDIA CONTACTS
The following are the media liaison contacts for each of the participating nations. Please feel free to contact the directly.
| Participating Nations Media Liaisons | |||
| Country | First Name | Last Name | |
| Afghanistan | Yama | AKRAMYAR | Yama.Akramyar@mod.gov.af |
| Australia | Philip | LANGWORTHY | phillip.langworthy1@defence.gov.au |
| Canada | Gregory | LAGACE | greg.lagace@forces.gc.ca |
| Denmark | Nicklas | BJAALAND | bjaaland@mil.dk |
| Estonia | Kaia | KOLLO | Kaia.Kollo@mil.ee |
| France | Jean-Claude | MORLOT | jean-claude.morlet@intradef.gouv.fr |
| Georgia | Paata | PATIASHVILI | ppatiashvili@mod.gov.ge |
| Germany | Julian | TATJE | Sporttherapie@bundeswehr.org |
| Italy | Armando Marco | IANNUZZI | Quinto.paralimpica@smd.difesa.it |
| Jordan | Alia | ZUREIKAT | alia.zureikat@gmail.com |
| Netherlands | Annemiek | LANGIUS | A.Langius@mindef.nl |
| New Zealand | David | PILGRIM | david.pilgrim2@nzdf.mil.nz |
| United Kingdom | Stephanie | ENSTEN | Stephanie.Ensten@helpforheroes.org.uk |
| USA | Odie | SHEFFIELD | clayton.o.sheffield.mil@mail.mil |
17. IMPORTANT DATES
1 May Deadline to register for Bush Symposium on Invisible Wounds
4 May Accreditation Center opens
5 May Media Central opens
5 May Parking permits required onsite
6 May Photographer Briefing
6 May Non-rightsholder Briefing
6 May Team Media Liaison Briefing
7 May Daily press briefings begin
7 May JLR Challenge
8 May Bush Symposium on Invisible Wounds
8 May Opening Ceremony
11 May JLR Rugby Exhibition Match
12 May Closing Ceremony
If you have any questions, please contact us at pressoperations@invictusgames2016.org