Nearby Napanee-raised Avril Lavigne is set to perform at the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi, according to news agencies in the region. (Update: Video below)
Lavigne will hit the stage at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on March 14 along with English DJ Paul Oakenfold, Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi, Syria’s Assala Nasri, Emirati singer Hussain Al Jassmi, and Egyptian singer-actor Tamer Hosny.
In a statement, Avril expressed excitement at attending the event, saying: “I have been working with the Special Olympics for a number of years and this will truly be an incredible experience performing at the largest and most unified Special Olympics World Games ever held.”
“These athletes are so inspiring and they are a huge part of what we believe in and support through The Avril Lavigne Foundation,” Lavigne added. “I want to shine a light on their courage and determination and I am honoured to have been invited to help support them.”
In 2015, Avril released the single “Fly” (below), co-written with then-husband and Nickleback singer Chad Kroger, in support of the Special Olympics in Los Angeles that year.
Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi takes place from March 14 to 21 and will include 7,500 athletes from 190 nations. The opening ceremony will be broadcast live on ESPN and Abu Dhabi TV.
MARCH 12 UPDATE: Avril has posted a series of tweets regarding her upcoming performance:
Heading off to Abu Dhabi soon and so thrilled to be performing the new anthem by @RyanTedder and @Greg_Wells, alongside @LuisFonsi and others at the Special Olympics @WorldGamesAD Opening Ceremonies! pic.twitter.com/rkn36AnbU1
— Avril Lavigne (@AvrilLavigne) March 13, 2019
MARCH 15 UPDATE: Avril Lavigne posted a video snippet of her singing “Right Where I Am Supposed To Be” with Luis Fonsi. They were later joined by other performers including Tamer Hosny and Hussain Al Jassmi. Watch the full performance on Youtube.
It was such an honor performing the new @SpecialOlympics anthem with @LuisFonsi and many other incredible musicians at the Special Olympics @WorldGamesAD Opening Ceremonies! Good luck everyone 💙 #MeetTheDetermined pic.twitter.com/fm1xZrPijG
— Avril Lavigne (@AvrilLavigne) March 14, 2019
MARCH 19 UPDATE: Avril also performed at the Special Olympics Health Athletes reception two days after the opening ceremonies, singing two songs – “Head Above Water” and 2004’s “My Happy Ending” – at Abu Dhabi’s Aloft Hotel.
@AvrilLavigne performing new single Head Above Water at the @SpecialOlympics Healthy Athletes reception in #abudhabi #SpecialOlympics #SpecialOlympicsAD pic.twitter.com/HGphJ9u5su
— Saeed (@SaeedSquared) March 16, 2019
@AvrilLavigne performing My Happy Ending single at the @SpecialOlympics Healthy Athletes reception in #abudhabi #SpecialOlympics #SpecialOlympicsAD pic.twitter.com/HGphJ9u5su pic.twitter.com/o2bxLth2I5
— Saeed (@SaeedSquared) March 16, 2019
More info at thenational.ae
Image: Youtube screencap
