Young Boy Loses Fingers After Wide World of Sports Accident, Family Suing Disney

When most people think of the Walt Disney World Resort, they usually think of the four incredible theme parks and two great water parks. They may also think of the amazing restaurants or all of the merchandise they can add to their collection. One thing they may not think of is playing sports. That’s right, every year Disney hosts a number of sporting events — including the Warrior Games — at its ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. From gymnastics to baseball and softball, basketball, and more, almost any athlete can complete at the Wide World of Sports Complex.

While the Wide World of Sports is in Disney World and the Disney magic is all over the place, accidents can still happen there. And those accidents can be serious, as was the case with a young boy who recently participated in a basketball tournament there. According to a lawsuit filed by the boy’s parent, he hurt his hand on a metal sign at a baseball field. The injuries he suffered were so severe that he had to have several fingers amputated.

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The law firm Morgan & Morgan is representing the family and shared a statement with Florida Politics:

“We have begun a thorough investigation to determine what led to this incident and what could have been done to prevent it. Our client’s life, as a child, has now been changed forever, and we will fight for accountability to ensure this does not happen again,” Morgan & Morgan attorneys John Morgan and Tyler Kobylinski said in a statement.

At this time, Disney has not responded to the lawsuit, but that is not unusual. With the Parks being back to nearly full capacity and events once again taking place at the Resort, lawsuits are coming back in full force. One woman recently sued Disney, claiming that they were responsible for a severe injury she suffered when she was hit by a scooter rented out by Disney.

Another Disney Resort hotel Guest also launched a lawsuit against the company for an injury that she suffered at a hotel swimming pool. The Guest said that Disney’s negligence caused her to hit the bottom of the pool, and she will now suffer from lifelong injuries. Disney is also fighting a “deceptive practices” case for the sale of its Magic Keys at Disneyland Resort.

According to the lawsuit filed on behalf of the young boy who lost his fingers, the family is requesting more than $30,000 in damages. The lawsuit was filed in the Orange County Circuit Court.

Six Special Olympics soccer players last seen at Disney’s ESPN Sports Complex vanish

Authorities in Florida are actively investigating the strange disappearance of members of the Special Olympics delegation from Haiti after they checked into their hotel rooms on Monday in preparation for the 2022 Special Olympics Games in the Sunshine State and were never seen again.

Disney has been on tap to help make the 2022 Special Olympics Games as magical as possible. Not only will the ESPN Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort serve as one of the venues for this year’s Games, but Disney Live Entertainment had the honor of producing the event’s Opening Ceremony.

But six people who were to be in attendance at the Special Olympics Games this year have mysteriously disappeared. They are delegates from Haiti who checked into their hotel rooms on Monday and then vanished, leaving behind their luggage and other belongings.

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The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office has identified six members of the Haitian Special Olympics soccer team who were last seen on Monday around 2:30 p.m. at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. They are Atione Joseph Mithon, 32; Nicholson Fontilus, 20; Peter Mianovich Berlus, 19; Anderson Petit-Frere, 18; Steevenson Jacquet, 24 and Oriol Jean, 18, WFTV in Orlando reported.

Walt Disney World Is Primary Site For The 2022 Special Olympics

According to a statement released by the Special Olympics USA Games on Monday, five of the missing people do not have a disability, while the sixth individual does have an intellectual disability.

“The well-being of these delegates is our foremost concern,” The Special Olympics USA Games said in a statement on the organization’s website. “Local authorities have indicated they have no reason to believe the health and safety of any of the individuals are at risk. To expand the reach and effectiveness of law enforcement’s efforts to locate these individuals, they have been reported as missing persons.”

Special Olympic Athletes Getting Disney's Super Bowl Style Treatment Ahead  of 2022 USA Games in Central Florida | Disney Parks Blog

Disney’s involvement with the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games is part of a two-year effort between Disney Live Entertainment and the Special Olympics games in preparation for this year’s event that looks to be the biggest Special Olympics USA Games ever.

Per the Special Olympics website, Disney’s efforts in the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games are just one part of the 34-year partnership Disney shares with the organization.

The Walt Disney Company and ESPN are proud of their 34-year relationship with Special Olympics, together helping end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities. In recent years, Disney and ESPN have continued to deepen their relationship with the Special Olympics movement through donation, program sponsorship, and programming.

In recent years, The Walt Disney Company’s commitment to Special Olympics has included: Support for the Special Olympics’ 50th Anniversary celebration and global inclusion campaign (“The Revolution is Inclusion”), including a year-long “Game Changers” storytelling initiative; Presenting Sponsorship of the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games and the Games Volunteer Program; Disney VoluntEARS engagement at Special Olympics events; ESPN’s Global Presenting Sponsorship of Special Olympics Unified Sports, which joins people with and without intellectual disabilities to practice, train and play together; and ESPN’s role as Official Broadcaster of the 2015, 2017 and 2019 Special Olympics World Games, the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games, and the 50th Anniversary of Special Olympics events in Chicago.

The investigation into what happened to the Haitian delegates is ongoing at this time. Anyone with information about the six delegates and their whereabouts is urged to contact the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office immediately.

ESPN Wide World of Sports to Host 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee Finals

Sports and events at ESPN Wide World of Sports complex at Walt Disney World Resort seem to be making a comeback after the COVID-19 pandemic. Today it was reported that a different kind of league will be holding their finals at the complex this summer. The 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee Finals will be held at ESPN Wide World of Sports on July 8, 2021.

Broadcasting live on ESPN2, 10-12 spellers from across the country will be competing for the title. Due to the ongoing pandemic, precautions will be in place, including limiting the competition to no more than 12 spellers.

The complex is no stranger to events. Last summer the NBA resumed their 2019-2020 season at the complex.

First Look at NBA Restart Court Featuring “Black Lives Matter” Inside Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports

ESPN reporter Malika Andrews has tweeted a first look at the NBA’s refreshed court inside of Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

Chairs several feet apart act as a socially-distanced bench.

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The NBA on ESPN Twitter later revealed a closer look at the court, which features the phrase “Black Lives Matter” in large black letters. The NBA is comprised of about 80% Black players.

NBA players are currently living in a “bubble” at Walt Disney World. NBA announced yesterday that no players have tested positive for COVID-19 since July 13. Even though they will be playing together on the same court, the socially distanced chairs still mitigate the risk for players, coaches, and reporters.

NBA to Reportedly Paint “Black Lives Matter” On Courts in Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World is preparing to welcome back the NBA for its resumed 2019-20 season starting in late July, and preparations are already underway across various resorts. However, it seems the NBA has some preparations to make of their own ahead of the start of the season, with a focus on social justice in the wake of various protests and the murder of George Floyd.

According to ESPN, the NBA is planning on painting “Black Lives Matter” on the courts they will use across Walt Disney World Resort’s ESPN Wide World of Sports. Members of the WNBA have also suggested wearing shirts with the phrase “Say Her Name” on them to bring light to female victims of police brutality, like Breonna Taylor.

Disney recently took a stand against racial inequality across all of its social media channels, emphasizing the need to “unite and speak out” against racism.

Are you looking forward to watching the NBA resume its season at the Most Magical Place on Earth?