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“High School Musical” star Corbin Bleu at a prior Disney Games event
In 2007 and 2008 the Disney Channel’s then-stars such as Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers competed in a series of gladiator-style games for charity. The event was filmed and called the Disney Channel Games.
The Orlando Sentinel has the scoop that after a two-year break the games return in 2011, albeit with some changes. This time, in keeping with the theme “Friends for Change” that the Disney Channel’s developed for its Project Green program, the event’s called the Disney Channel Friends for Change Games. Rather than filming in Orlando at Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports, everything’s taking place in Los Angeles to coincide with the Concert for Hope.
Anyone in the LA-area this weekend who’s a fan of Disney Channel stars, or who just likes watching people pummel each other with oversized padded staffs for a good cause, should head over to the Disney Channel Friends for Change Games. As is Disney’s wont, the “summer” games film starting tomorrow, from March 17-19, before the Concert for Hope on March 20.
It’s not clear whether or not the game this year will be open to the public, as they were in previous years. Even if you can’t get up close to the taping of the games, you might be able to see some of the filming going on. The actual concert is open for admission, however, and tickets can be purchased on LiveNation.com.
Given that Disney Channel execs are so mum on the details of this year’s games, it’s unlikely that they will be open to the public. It also hasn’t been announced when exactly they’ll air; we just know they’ll appear on the channel sometime in the summer.
The Disney Channel also hasn’t announced who, exactly, will be competing in the games this year. But expect to see many new and familiar faces currently at home on the channel. Contestants are divided into four teams, each team competing to raise money for a specific charity.
The team that wins the games gets the most money for charity, but because there are five events it’s possible that teams winning individual events might also score some support for their charities. Because the majority of the Disney Channel Friends for Change initiatives have gone through the filter of Project Green, expect many environmental charities to benefit from this year’s games.
Although the details for the Disney Channel Friends for Change Games are scant, we know much more about the Concert for Hope serving as a capstone for the entire event. The concert, MC’d by Radio Disney DJ’s Ernie D and Jake Whetter, will benefit cancer research. Selena Gomez & The Scene is headlining the concert. AllStar Weekend will also perform, and The Jonas Brothers will make a special appearance.
Kudos to Disney for continuing not only to support various charities, but for encouraging others, especially kids, to do so as well.
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*(This image by H22 is licensed for the public domain.)
