Cirque du Soleil to produce Pan Am Games opening ceremony

Cirque du Soleil is producing the opening ceremony of Toronto’s 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games, the touring troupe says.

“We are excited to create an original production for this special occasion,” Yasmine Khalil, director of Cirque’s events and special projects unit, said in a release Tuesday.

The opening ceremony will showcase not only its troupe of performers, but also Ontario artists and volunteers, who will be recruited from local schools and community organizations closer to the Games.

Pan Am Games officials weren’t immediately available for comment but TO2015 organizing committee CEO Ian Troop said in the release, “Cirque du Soleil has an unmatched international reputation for staging some of the most imaginative and mesmerizing shows ever performed.”

“That magic, along with their world-class performers — many former athletes themselves  — promises a thrilling Opening Ceremony for the Games.”

The cost of the Cirque sponsorship was not disclosed.

Cirque currently employs 5,000 people around the world including 1,300 artists representing more than 50 nationalities. The company said it has created 34 shows around the world attended by more than 100 million people.

The Pan Am Games are slated for July 10-26, 2015, while the Parapan Am Games will run Aug. 7-14, 2015.

Tickets will go on sale mid-2014 and will be available at TORONTO2015.org.

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