Press Release

Canada’s globally celebrated cultural icon, Cirque du Soleil, is bringing its special blend of stagecraft, thrilling acrobatic athleticism and colourful cultural pageantry to an original production created especially for the Opening Ceremony of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games. 

The one-night-only performance, which will be broadcast to hundreds of millions of households throughout the Americas and Caribbean, will take place on July 10, 2015, under downtown Toronto’s favourite domed stadium, known at Games time as the Pan Am Dome.

“Cirque du Soleil is proud and deeply honoured to join TO2015 as a sponsor and Official Creative Partner for the Opening Ceremony of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games,” said Yasmine Khalil, director of Cirque du Soleil’s events and special projects division. “We are excited to create an original production for this special occasion.” 

For nearly 30 years, Montreal-headquartered Cirque du Soleil has created 34 shows, attended by more than 100 million people around the world.

Together, Cirque du Soleil and the TORONTO 2015 Pan American/Parapan American Games Organizing Committee (TO2015) will design the Opening Ceremony. It will showcase not only the Cirque’s outstanding troupe of performers, but also Ontario artists and volunteers, who will be recruited from local schools and community organizations closer to Games time.

 “Cirque du Soleil has an unmatched international reputation for staging some of the most imaginative and mesmerizing shows ever performed,” said Ian Troop, CEO of TO2015. 

“That magic, along with their world-class performers — many former athletes themselves — promises a thrilling Opening Ceremony for the Games that celebrates the wonderful diversity of the Toronto region and all of Canada, as well as the vibrant cultures of the Americas and Caribbean,” he added. 

In addition to its international expertise in producing high-quality, artistic entertainment, Cirque du Soleil also personifies many of the values of the Games, such as collaboration, joy and inclusiveness. 

Its employees represent 50 nationalities and speak 25 different languages. The touring company is actively involved in promoting social equality and goodwill towards young people. 

Cirque du Soleil joins previously announced members of the TORONTO 2015 sponsor family, including: Lead Partner CIBC, Premier Partners Chevrolet Canada and CISCO, as well as Official Suppliers Beanfield Metroconnect, Pattison Outdoor Advertising, FUSE Marketing Group, Toronto Pearson International Airport, the Toronto Star, and Official Broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada. 

Tickets will go on sale mid-2014 and will be available at TORONTO2015.org. 

About Cirque du Soleil
From a group of 20 street performers at its beginnings in 1984, Cirque du Soleil is a major Québec-based organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. The company has 5,000 employees, including 1,300 artists from more than 50 countries. 

Cirque du Soleil has brought wonder and delight to more than 100 million spectators in more than 300 cities in over 40 countries on six continents.

For more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com. 

About TO2015
The TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee (TO2015) is tasked with the responsibility of planning, managing and delivering the Games. Its mission is to ignite the spirit through a celebration of sport and culture. The TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games will take place July 10−26 and the Parapan American Games August 7–14.

The 2015 Games are funded by the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, as well as other partners and sponsors. CIBC is the Lead Partner of the Games.

For more information about the Games, please visit TORONTO2015.org.

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For further information, please contact:
Teddy Katz
Director, media relations and chief spokesperson
TO2015
C: 647.404.5263
teddy.katz@toronto2015.org

Chantal Côté
Corporate PR Manager
Cirque du Soleil
Chantal.cote@cirquedusoleil.com