Contact:
Marisa Amador
+1.212.805.3029
mamador@rubensteinpr.com
More than 2,500 Cheer Athletes from 70 Countries Compete in First Global Competition Since
Receiving Recognition by the International Olympic Committee
Orlando, FL, (April 30, 2017) —The International Cheer Union (ICU), the global governing body of
cheerleading, this week held its annual World Cheerleading Championships in Orlando, Florida,
crowning the top cheer champions in the world in multiple divisions. This is the first ICU World
Championships since the governing body received recognition by the International Olympic Committee
in December of 2016.
Teams from 70 countries competed in the prestigious event that took place April 26 through April 28.
Team England and Team Chile took home their first gold medals in the All Girl Elite Division and Coed
Elite Division, respectively. The U.S. National team took home two gold medals with their dynamic
performances in the All Girl Premier and Coed Premier Divisions.
ALL GIRL ELITE
Gold: Team England
Silver: Team Germany
Bronze: Team Slovenia
ALL GIRL PREMIER
Gold: U.S. National Team
Silver: Team Finland
Bronze: Team Canada
COED ELITE
Gold: Team Chile
Silver: Team England
Bronze: Team Puerto Rico
COED PREMIER
Gold: U.S. National Team
Silver: Team Chinese Taipei
Bronze: Team Finland
"The World Championships represent the best of cheerleading and these athletes are our global
ambassadors," said International Cheer Union President Jeff Webb. "We are encouraged by the
excitement and interest in cheerleading on an international scale and are dedicated to helping provide a
foundation for all countries to build and strengthen their programs."
"I was impressed not only with the skill level of the athletes, but also the creativity and entertainment
value of the routines," said Mike Joyce, Sports Manager of the International Olympic Committee Sports
Department, who was in attendance at the event. "The event is well organized and has high production
value."
The 70 participating countries at the 2017 World Cheerleading Championships demonstrated the true
diversity of the sport, with athletes, coaches and fans traveling from countries such as Jamaica, Mexico,
Argentina, China, Croatia, South Africa, Spain, UK, Estonia, Puerto Rico and more.
Due to the popularity of the sport and international fan requests to watch their respective teams
compete at the World Championships, the ICU partnered this year with the Olympic Channel to live
stream the global event. Featuring news, articles, and live programming about the power of sport and
the Olympic Games, the Olympic Channel is a digital-first, multi-platform global media destination.
Video coverage of the event on OlympicChannel.com has spread rapidly, receiving more than 7 million
views in the first few hours of release.
The ICU’s mission is to promote the healthy growth of cheerleading throughout the world. Founded in
2004 and headquartered in the United States, there are currently 110 countries with national
federations who are members of the ICU. Together with its members, the ICU organizes and supports
continental and regional competitions throughout the year, culminating in the annual World
Championships.
For more information on the ICU World Cheerleading Championships, please visit cheerunion.org or
contact Marisa Amador, mamador@rubensteinpr.com.
About The International Cheer Union
The International Cheer Union (ICU) was formed as the non-profit international governing entity whose
mission is to advance cheerleading on a global scale. With 110 member nations, the ICU represents all
geographical areas where cheerleading exists. The ICU promotes healthy competition, rule development
and education for athletes, coaches, and parents. More information can be found on
www.cheerunion.org. Photography and b-roll video available upon request.
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These press releases appear as sent to Around the Rings and are not edited for spelling, grammar or punctuation.
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