U.S. All Star Federation and International All Star Federation to Host the Cheerleading and Dance World Championship April 23-25 in Orlando

The U.S. All Star Federation is excited to announce that The Cheerleading and Dance World Championship, co-hosted by the International All Star Federation (IASF), will take place this year from April 23-25 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex for cheer and The Coronado Springs Resort for dance, both at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Orlando, Florida. Welcoming outstanding cheer and dance teams from around the U.S. and the world, this year's event marks the return of non-U.S. teams for the first time in three years after the unprecedented travel limitations due to the worldwide pandemic. The Cheerleading and Dance World Championship will feature more than 16,000 athletes on more than 500 cheer and 300 dance teams across more than 50 divisions competing for this year's top placements and the recognition of their athleticism across the sport.

Said Kathy Penree, Interim President/Chairperson of the USASF Board of Directors, "We are thrilled to welcome so many teams of cheer and dance All Star athletes to The Cheerleading and Dance Worlds. Here they will perform routines that demonstrate the spirit and athletic ability that define our sport. USASF is proud to host this championship along with the IASF. Both organizations are committed to the safety of all of our participants and wish all the teams the best of luck."

New at The Cheerleading Worlds this year is the addition of three Limited Divisions reserved for programs that are represented by only one team at Worlds. The Dance Worlds is celebrating its 15th annual championship. There will also be a first-ever College and Career Fair for All Star athletes to learn about opportunities to continue cheer and dance in college and beyond. Fifteen College Scholarship finalists selected from a broad pool of applicants will be interviewed to determine the top four recipients. A recent addition to the program is a scholarship for Exceptional Athletes with Special Needs who are pursuing higher education after high school. Several teams with Exceptional Athletes will also perform at Worlds, which is always an inspirational highlight of the championship.

Spectators are also welcome this year at the events as well as the awards ceremonies. Ticket information is available by following this link (https://usasfmain.s3.amazonaws.com/Worlds/docs/21-22/FAQ_info_2022.pdf).

The Cheerleading and Dance Worlds follows on the heels of the International Cheer Union (ICU) 2022 World Cheerleading Championships, also held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando. The ICU is the recognized world governing body of Cheerleading, dedicated to the positive advancement of cheerleading throughout the world. The All Star community is proud to have several All Star athletes competing at ICU as part of Team USA.

As The Cheerleading and Dance Worlds hosts, USASF and IASF continue to work closely with Walt Disney World® to develop appropriate safety standards for athletes and other participants. Enhanced health and safety measures once again include the designation of a Safety Champion for every participating team, individuals who have received additional training on safety measures.

Added Ali Stangle, Interim Executive Director of USASF, "We are so excited for our athletes and coaches who worked tirelessly to create a place for All Star to thrive especially over these last couple of years. The return to Worlds, with teams from so many countries in attendance, is a testament to the resilience of the All Star community. We cannot wait to see these teams on the Worlds' stage and to discover who will earn the title of World Champion."

Live streaming of The Worlds will be available through thecheerleadingworlds.net and thedanceworlds.net. A rebroadcast will be available at the same locations through April 26, 2022.

About USASF:

The U.S. All Star Federation supports and enriches the lives of our All Star athletes and members. The USASF provides consistent rules, strives for a safe environment for athletes, drives excellence and promotes a positive image for the sport. The organization credentials coaches, certifies legality officials, sanctions events and maintains safety guidelines, all with the goal of providing the safest possible environment for cheer and dance athletes to train and compete. For more information, visit www.usasf.net