Disney's Wide World of Sports is launching a wide-ranging women's sports initiative that will be rolled out over the next several months with new events, product development, and community outreach. The goal is to provide greater opportunity for female sports fans and athletes.

The launch next month features a new Disney's Minnie Marathon Weekend presented by Lady Foot Locker. With a 15K run, a 5K, and a 1 mile walk, the weekend offers an event for women of every fitness level.

Event Schedule

Saturday, May 6, 2006

Go Red for Women 1 Mile
7:15 am

Go Red for Women 5K
7:30 am

Sunday, May 7

Women Run the World 15 K
6:30 am


For more information, see Disney's Minnie Marathon Weekend in Florida.

"As women's sports continue to flourish nationally, there is tremendous growth potential for women's sports in a variety of areas at Disney's Wide World of Sports,'' said Erin Wallace, Senior Vice President of Walt Disney World Operations. "Through this women's sports initiative, we want to elevate the sports experience for the thousands of girls and women athletes and fans who annually come to Disney's Wide World of Sports."

Women and girls make up 54 percent of the more than one million athletes who have competed at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex since 1997. In addition, Disney's Wide World of Sports has hosted training sessions for the U.S. Women's National Soccer team and the U.S. Women's Olympic Softball team. Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex currently hosts the annual Women's Professional Baseball International World Series, as well as a variety of girls' amateur national championship events.

About Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex

Opened in 1997 at Walt Disney World, Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex is the preeminent sports venue for amateur and professional sports in the United States. The sprawling 220-acre state-of-the-art complex features the Milk House, a 30,000-square-foot field house which seats 5,000 for basketball; the 9,500-seat Ballpark at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex; and the Hess Sports Fields, which include multiple baseball, softball and soccer fields. In addition, the complex has 10 tennis courts, including a stadium court, and a track and field complex.

The complex is home to more than 170 amateur and professional sports events each year, including the NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp, the Major League Baseball Atlanta Braves spring training, the Pop Warner Super Bowl, AAU National Championship events, the Sports Experience interactive area and the All-Star Cafe sports-themed restaurant. The complex is the centerpiece of Disney's Wide World of Sports, which includes 99 holes of golf among six golf courses, including the site of the PGA TOUR's prestigious FUNAI Classic, the Richard Petty Driving Experience, the Walt Disney World Marathon, BASS fishing excursions, plus Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, the two most popular water parks in the United States, and a variety of sports and recreation activities such as boating, fishing, parasailing and surfing.