Walk Off The Earth, Machel Montano, 30 Top Athletes Join Celebrations in Toronto for One-Year Countdown to 2015 Pan Am Games

Two-day festival WE ARE PAN AM: One-Year Countdown at Nathan Phillips Square includes free concerts and fireworks

Full schedule now available at TORONTO2015.org/one-year

TORONTO, June 27, 2014 /CNW/ - Innovative Canadian sensation Walk Off The Earth will play a free show at Nathan Phillips Square to celebrate the one-year countdown to the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games on Friday, July 11.

The internationally successful band from Burlington, Ontario, joins the previously announced musical lineup of soca superstar Machel Montano from Trinidad and Tobago and Cuban salsa giants Los Van Van on Saturday, July 12.

The two-day festival will fuse sport and culture unlike anything else in the city — that is, until the Games arrive next summer. For a full schedule of FREE events and times, visit TORONTO2015.org/one-year. All events at Nathan Phillips Square are accessible to people of all abilities and ages. American Sign Language interpretation will also be available on site.

The musical acts are a preview of what is to come as part of PANAMANIA, presented by CIBC — the five-week arts and culture festival for the Games.

The celebrations start on Friday, July 11 at 11:45 a.m. when the Cisco TORONTO 2015 Countdown Clock is unveiled in the square with the help of some very special guests. The state-of-the-art clock will connect the Games to the world unlike any countdown clock before.

In addition to the music and countdown clock, stop by to shoot hoops with Toronto Raptors star Greivis Vasquez, ride alongside legendary cyclist Curt Harnett, meet CIBC Team Next mentors triathlete Simon Whitfield and boxer Mary Spencer, watch trampolinist Jason Burnett do a thrilling live routine, learn to salsa dance with para-swimmer Benoît Huot and cheer on hurdler Perdita Felicien as she takes on PACHI and other mascots in a friendly basketball game.

In fact, more than 30 Canadian athletes will mingle with the public and take part in family-friendly sport activities such as fencing, field hockey, rugby, lacrosse and the Parapan sport zone at the square.

Highlights of WE ARE PAN AM: One-Year-Countdown include:

Friday, July 11

Programming runs from 11:45 a.m. to 11 p.m.

• 11:45 a.m.: Unveiling the state-of-the-art Cisco TORONTO 2015 Countdown Clock
  
  
• 12:20 p.m.: Soaring Heights Trampoline Show with Jason Burnett, Karen Cockburn and Samantha Sendel.
  
  
• 6:45 p.m.: Art Battle, presented by CIBC — Live competitive painting with public choosing the winner.
  
  
• 7:55 p.m.: Innu singer-songwriter Florent Vollant performs.
  
  
• 9:00 p.m.: Toronto-based reggae master Dwayne D'Bandit Pitt with comedian Jay Martin.
  
  
• 10:00 p.m.: Musical performance by headliner Walk Off The Earth.

Saturday, July 12

Programming runs from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.

2:45 p.m.: Full Throttle — An urban choreographer's series.

4:00 p.m.: Three-point-shot basketball competition with Toronto Raptors star Greivis Vasquez.

4:00 p.m.: Shadow box with Mary Spencer, Olympian, CIBC Team Next Mentor and 2011 Pan Am boxing champion.

4:30 p.m.: BPM cycling zone — Join in or cheer on athletes as they create electricity with their energetic pedalling. Special appearance by Curt Harnett, Team Canada's 2015 Pan Am Chef de Mission and multiple Olympic and Pan Am medallist in cycling.

5:30 p.m.: Parapan sport zone: PACHI and other local mascots take on athletes in a thrilling match of sitting volleyball.

5:50 p.m.: Art Battle, presented by CIBC — Live competitive painting with public choosing the winner.

6:30 p.m.: Celebrity basketball: Athletes, special guests and mascots meet up for a friendly game of basketball.

7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.: Musical performances by Les Chercheurs d'or, DJ Alejo with Diana Feliz, legendary Cuban dance band Los Van Van and Dr. Jay de Socaprince.

9:30 p.m.: Soca singer Machel Montano and his HD Band.

10:45 p.m.: Two-day festival capped off with exciting fireworks finale.

For more information, including times and details on performers in Toronto, as well as additional one-year countdown celebrations taking place in municipalities throughout the Greater Golden Horseshoe region, please visit TORONTO2015.org/one-year; visit Facebook at facebook.com/Toronto2015 and Twitter at @TO2015, #TO2015 and #WeArePanAm.

About TO2015
The TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee (TO2015) is tasked with managing and delivering the Games. It is working to bring some of the world's best athletes and artists to the Greater Golden Horseshoe region, giving Ontarians a unique chance to be part of the action, and making the region a hub for sport.

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

The TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games will take place July 10–26 and the Parapan American Games August 7–15.

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

SOURCE: Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games

Teddy Katz, Director, media relations and chief spokesperson, TO2015, 416.957.2117, [email protected]