GLOBAL FREE-RUNNING COMPETITION TRANSFORMS DETROIT INTO URBAN PLAYGROUND

Red Bull and MINI Challenge Athletes To Two-Days Of Hardcore Parkour In The Motor City

WHAT:   

Twenty athletes from around the globe are coming together to compete in the Red Bull Art of Motion Detroit. The two-day competition will challenge participants to navigate two iconic Detroit locations complete with notorious urban obstacles – from street art to industrial architecture – by executing a blend of martial arts, gymnastics and aerial acrobatics as fuel for movement.

Since an urban free-running course in The Motor City would not be complete without a car, Red Bull and MINI have partnered to include an all-new 2012 MINI Coupe as part of the obstacle course at both Detroit locations.

The competition will be centered around parkour, the physical discipline of overcoming obstacles by adapting movements to surroundings, and free-running, a form of urban acrobatics that challenges individuals to perform movements based on city landscape. Both days of competition will account for 50 percent of each athlete’s total score, with four judges marking respectively in creativity, execution, flow and difficulty. When the second day of the competition closes, one participant will earn the title of Red Bull Art of Motion Detroit Champion. Both days will be open to spectators and free of charge.  

Red Bull Art of Motion was established as the world’s first free-running competition in 2007. All stops of the global series are sponsored by MINI. 2011 host countries include Japan, England, Brazil, Greece and Kuwait. For more information, visit www.redbullusa.com/artofmotiondetroit.

WHO:     

Twenty incredible athletes from around the globe, four world-class judges and Detroit residents to bear witness to it all.

WHERE & WHEN:

Russell Industrial Center on Friday, August 26, 2011

Hart Plaza on Saturday, August 27

Doors will open at 4 PM and the competition will begin 5 PM on both days.

PRESS OPPORTUNITIES:   

The event will provide attending press with the following opportunities:

• Interview opportunities with judge and Red Bull free-runner Ryan Doyle and other competitors
• Ability to capture unique footage unique of athletes during both competition days
• Opportunity to tour the competition courses up close and personal prior to the event each day
• Opportunity to shoot photos of the MINI Coupe, the brand’s all-new, sporty two-door

CONTACTS:

Red Bull: Jamie Hannah / (773) 580-7472 / Jamie.hannah@us.redbull.com

MINI USA: Yvonne Malmgren / (586) 453-2912 / yvonne.malmgren@pfpr.com