Major League Soccer today unveiled the details of the 2005 Jetix Kids Cup, an annual action-packed, five-a-side international soccer event that promotes the importance of kids' leading active healthy lifestyles, as well as the values of sportsmanship, fair play, cultural exchange and the pure exhilarating fun of athleticism. Teams of youth players ages 8-12 will compete in one of three Regional Tournaments in the Chicago, Los Angeles and New York metropolitan areas. Now in its sixth year, the Jetix Kids Cup is firmly established as the biggest event of its kind in the world.
Organized by Major League Soccer, the Jetix Kids Cup grants the two winning U.S. Under-12 teams - a boys' squad and a girls' squad - from each Regional Tournament a trip to the 2005 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday, July 30th. The six teams will represent the U.S. in matches with the winning teams from Jetix Kids Cup tournaments in Mexico and Latin America.
The U.S. Regional Tournaments are open to boys and girls age 8-12. The regional games will be held Saturday, June 11 in the Los Angeles area at Balboa Park in Encino; Saturday, June 18 at Hofstra University in New York; and Saturday, June 25 at Bridgeview Park in Bridgeview, Illinois, outside of Chicago.
The Jetix Kids Cup Final Tournament will be held on Friday, July 29 - the day before the 2005 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game -- at Easton Fields in Columbus, Ohio.
"Major League Soccer is proud to join forces with Jetix to produce the preeminent youth small-sided tournament in the World," said David Wright, Senior Director, Partnership Marketing, Major League Soccer. "As the aspirational destination for thousands of youth soccer players throughout the country and abroad, MLS takes pride in supporting events that reinforce values such as self-respect, teamwork and healthy competition."
"This unique event is not only a lot of fun for young soccer enthusiasts, it is a chance to meet their peers from other parts of the world and to learn and appreciate their differences and similarities," said Adam Sanderson, Senior Vice President, Brand Marketing, Disney ABC Cable Networks Group.
Last year, the Jetix Kids Cup was a cultural adventure of a lifetime for 256 kids from around the world. The five day event took place at the Manchester United Soccer School at Disneyland Resort Paris. Teams from 16 countries including the U.S., France, Germany, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Georgia, Hungary, Russia, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, participated. The boys' team from Israel and the girls' team from the United States were the champions.
"Jetix Kids Cup," an energetic short form series, will highlight the fun and adventure from the regional tournaments and the finals. It will be presented Saturday, August 20 during ABC Kids on the ABC Television Network and Sunday, August 21 during Jetix programming blocks on Toon Disney and ABC Family.
For more information about the Jetix Kids Cup and how to register, visit www.JetixKidsCup.com or call toll free, 866-JETIX-55.
