August 19 Inaugural Aurora Games NY Kickoff at the Plaza to Feature World Champion Athletes, American Idol's Madison VanDenburg & America's Got Talent's Amanda Mena

New York State Office of General Services Commissioner RoAnn Destito today announced that Olympians including Nadia Comaneci and Nancy Kerrigan will meet fans, and Madison VanDenberg, a finalist on the last season of “American Idol,” along with Amanda Mena of “America’s Got Talent” will perform at the Aurora Games NY Kickoff at the Plaza on Monday, August 19. The free event, which begins at 5:30 p.m., will include a meet-and-greet with athletes from the first-ever Aurora Games signing autographs, the concert, a special screening of the movie “A League of Their Own,” food trucks, and a fireworks display. 

“With World-class athletes signing autographs, talented young singers performing, and a much-beloved movie about women in baseball, all topped off with a fireworks display, we are very excited to be hosting an exciting evening of activities at the Empire State Plaza to celebrate the start of the Aurora Games,” Commissioner Destito said. “I am especially thrilled that fans will be given the opportunity to meet and show their support for the women who will be competing in these unique and ground-breaking games.”

Aurora Games Executive Producer Jerry Solomon said: “The Aurora Games was designed as a celebration of women in sports. I can't think of a better way to kick off that celebration than with “A League of Their Own,” which underscores some of the trials and tribulations that women in sports have faced over the years. We are looking forward to a great week in Albany and want to thank the State of New York for all of their support, which I hope will encourage people to come out and be part of this inaugural festival.”

Madison VanDenburg, who recently completed her junior year at Shaker High School in Latham, was a top-three finalist on the 2019 season of ABC’s “American Idol.” Throughout her entire school career, the teen found interest in elite musical groups and excelled in her music classes. She has been playing piano and guitar for most of her life and has trained classically, but her greatest passion lies in singing. Karaoke revealed her talent at the young age of 10. Her all-time favorite song to cover at the time was, “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion.

Amanda Mena, who was a semifinalist in last year’s “America’s Got Talent” competition, will also perform at the Aurora Games NY Kickoff at the Plaza. The 17-year-old will also be participating in the game’s opening ceremonies.

Based on the true story of the pioneering women who blazed the trail for generations of athletes, “A League of Their Own” was released in 1992 and stars Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, and Madonna. The movie is about a washed-up baseball player hired to coach in the All-American Girls Baseball League of 1943. While the male pro baseball players are at war, the coach finds himself drawn back into the game by the heart and heroics of his all-girl team.

The inaugural Aurora Games, taking place August 20-25 at the Times Union Center in Albany, is a multi-sport, multi-country, multi-day event showcasing the best in women’s sports, entertainment, and culture and was created as a platform for “women to take center stage.” The foundation of the event is a team sports competition, Team Americas vs. Team World, featuring world-class athletes from gymnastics, figure skating, tennis, beach volleyball, ice hockey, basketball, and more competing for the Babe Didrikson Zaharias Trophy.

Athletes expected to participate in the August 19 meet-and-greets:

• Nadia Comaneci Legendary Romanian gymnast and five-time Olympic gold medalist Nadia Comaneci will serve as honorary team captain for those competing for Team World.
• Nancy Kerrigan is world-class figure skating champion and two-time Olympic medalist who serves as the Figure Skating Chair on the Aurora Games Advisory Board.
• Donna de Varona is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame member, International Swimming Hall of Fame member, and the first president of the Women’ Sports Foundation. She serves as Consultant and Chair of the Aurora Games Advisory Board. 
• Digit Murphy has more than 20 years of experience coaching women’s hockey, including Division 1 Brown University, Boston Blades, and the Kunlan Red Star Hockey Club in China. She is a member of the Aurora Games Advisory Board.
• Garbiñe Muguruza was the number-one ranked women’s tennis player in the world in 2017 and was the 2017 Wimbledon champion and the 2016 French Open champion. 
• Monica Puig is a Puerto Rican tennis player who became an Olympic gold medalist in 2016 and won her first Women’s Tennis Association final at the Internationaux de Strasbourg in 2014.
• Michelle Timms captured Olympic silver and bronze medals as a member of the Australian women’s national basketball team. A former WNBA star with the Phoenix Mercury, Timms was inducted into both the FIBA Hall of Fame and Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. She is the coach of the Aurora Games Team World basketball team.

Overall, more than 40 athletes will participate in the kickoff event, including some of the biggest names in world sports from countries such as Spain, Australia, Canada, Japan, Finland, and Switzerland; members of the basketball and hockey teams; and gymnasts.

Ashley Miller, WNYT sports reporter, will emcee the program.

Schedule of Events

5:30 p.m.        Event begins,

6:00 p.m.       March of athletes followed by athlete meet-and-greets, autographs

6:15 p.m.        Amanda Mena performance

6:30 p.m.       Madison VanDenburg performance

7:15 p.m.        Official Aurora Games kickoff ceremony, display of Babe Didrikson     Zaharias Trophy

7:30 p.m.       Screening of “A League of Their Own”

9:40 p.m.       Fireworks

Free parking will be available in the East Garage off Madison Avenue after 4 p.m. Paid parking is available in the visitor lot underneath the Plaza.

For up-to-date information about the Aurora Games, visit AuroraGamesFestival.com or follow the games on Twitter @AuroraGamesFest. 

For updates on Summer at the Plaza events, visit empirestateplaza.ny.gov, @EmpireStatePlaza on Facebook, and @plazaevents on Twitter or call (518) 474-4759.