More Than 40,000 Participants Set to Compete at Largest Volleyball Event in the World This Week in Orlando

Marquee AAU event expected to bring more than $52 million in economic impact to Central Florida during 12-day event; more than 200 Central Florida teams expected

ORLANDO, Fla. (June 13, 2018) – The stage is set for more than 32,000 elite athletes from around the world, including more than 200 Central Florida teams and representatives from 46 states and 13 countries (Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Israel, Puerto Rico, Slovenia, Peru, Ecuador, Canada, & Spain), to compete for a national championship beginning Sunday, June 17 at the AAU Girls Junior National Volleyball Championships.
 
The twelve-day event is expected to bring more than $52 million in economic impact to Central Florida with an estimated 10,000 coaches and 600 college coaches approximately 15,000 matches attending the largest volleyball event in the world at Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort.
 
“We are thrilled to once again welcome more than 120,000 attendees to the Central Florida area for this great event,” said Dr. Roger J. Goudy, President/CEO of the AAU. “The AAU Girls’ Junior National Volleyball Championships, we believe, is the best event in the world for youth athletes. Thanks in large part to the relationships we have built throughout Central Florida, including Visit Orlando and Walt Disney World Resort, these athletes will also have an opportunity to also experience the best vacation destination in the world in the process.”
 
Select championship games will air live on WatchESPN and the WatchESPN application from ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, which has become the worldwide leader in ESPN3 content production. Additional games will be streamed live on Sports Network Live.

AAU Cares
For the third straight year, AAU has partnered with Feeding Children Everywhere to pack meals for underserved youth in the community with a goal of 40,000 mealsthis year the total for the past three years will be 160,000 meals packed at the volleyball event.

For the second year, AAU volleyball and The Side Out Foudnation encourage participants to 'Dig Pink' -- on June 18, 22 and 26 -- to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research. 

New this year is Alex's Lemonade Stand where teams can dedicate their  AAU season to helping kids with cancer by participating in the Champion Program.;turning their season's stats into lifesaving research dollars.
 
Visit www.aauvolleyball.org for more information.
   
MEDIA CONTACT:
Cody Norman, AAU Public Relations Manager
e: cnorman@aausports.org
c: 540-538-7475
 
ABOUT THE AAU:
Founded in 1888 to establish standards and uniformity in sports, the AAU philosophy of Sports For All, Forever is now shared by more than 700,000 members and 150,000 volunteers nationwide. The second-largest sport in the AAU, volleyball, has more than 120,000 members annually with more than 300 licensed AAU indoor and beach volleyball events. The AAU Girls’ Junior National Volleyball Championships is the marquee annual event for the fastest-growing sport in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). The event features more than 2,758 teams across 33 divisions of competition, including an international division with teams from China, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Israel, Germany and Slovenia.