Special Olympics athletes will appear in the Magic Kingdom parade
In a promotion reminiscent of Disney’s now-famous “I’m going to Disney World” campaign, which takes place after each year’s Super Bowl, Special Olympics USA athletes will get the star treatment with a place in Magic Kingdom’s parade on June 3, 2022.
This year’s Special Olympics games begin on June 5 at locations around Central Florida, including ESPN Wide World of Sports, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park, with 19 sports represented.
Ahead of the games, Disney partnered with ESPN toward a commercial that will air nationally on ESPN and social media, narrated by Robin Roberts of “Good Morning America.” The ad will feature several athletes in a spin-off of the Super Bowl catch-phrase, “I’m going to Disney World!”
The celebration shifts the spotlight from the Super Bowl’s MVP (“most valuable player”), giving that same “Super Bowl treatment” to the Special Olympics participants.
On June 3, some of the participating Special Olympics USA athletes will be part of a welcome parade at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom park, along with favorite Disney characters, a shower of confetti, and other magical entertainment, as part of the official Special Olympics USA Games Law Enforcement Torch Run’s finale.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run — which made its debut in 1981 and has raised more than $59 million for Special Olympics to date – began in Chicago this year and will end at downtown Orlando’s Exploria Stadium.
Walt Disney World has a long history of supporting Special Olympics, including through the staging of events at ESPN Wide World of Sports.
Coverage of this year’s games will be televised on ABC and streamed on the ESPN App and ESPN3 on June 5, along with special programs on June 7 and June 8 on ESPN2 and the ESPN App, with live streaming coverage on ESPN3 throughout the week.
A “Best of the Special Olympics USA Games” television special will air on ABC, ESPN3, and the ESPN App on June 12.
For more information and the full schedule of events, visit 2022SpecialOlympicsUSAGames.com.
