Huzzah! The day has finally come and I’m now only 30 minutes or so away from boarding QF1. My suitcases are off making their own way the underbelly of the Airbus A380 and my iPhone is having separation anxiety - one of the Air Tags is snoozing, or it didn’t make it into my suitcase (though I’m quite sure it is there).
I had a quick chat to a group of young women whose matching t-shirts suggested they were part of a team (which they were) and their general excitement suggested they were ready for a competition (which they are). Turns out they are on their way to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in the Walt Disney World Resort, Bay Lake Florida, where they will be among 11,590 cheerleaders competing in the Cheerleading Worlds 2023. More than 530 teams will represent 18 countries from 21-24 April. But there will be only one winning team! That’s four days and nights of leaping, tumbling, human pyramids, and dance.
I asked them what sporting codes or teams they were cheerleaders for - none as it turns out. Cheerleading is, I now know, a sport in its own right. Who’d-a-thunk-it!
Naturally, I went straight online to see if ActivateUTS had a cheerleading club and… of course it does!
Go Outlaws All Stars Adelaide!
Boarding time.
