Complex Wins Best Amateur Single Sport Event Award for 2011 Walgreens Orlando International Dragon Boat Festival; Winners announced by SportsTravel magazine at TEAMS ’12 Conference in Detroit Oct. 4.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Oct. 11, 2012) – ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex was honored with SportsTravel magazine’s Best Amateur Single Sport Event award for its production of the 2011 Walgreens Orlando International Dragon Boat Festival. Winners were announced at the Travel, Events and Management in Sports (TEAMS) Conference and Expo in Detroit on Oct. 4.

The Walgreens Orlando International Dragon Boat Festival features dozens of recreational and competitive teams that race around the lake at the center of Downtown Disney. Each boat contains 20 paddlers, a steersman and a drummer to set the paddling pace, and boats are traditionally decorated with the head and tail of a dragon. Teams travel from as far as New York and Nova Scotia to compete.

The SportsTravel awards program honors amateur, collegiate and professional sporting events that “provide a superior experience for competitors and spectators.” Superior organization and attendance of an event, and the event’s host city or venue enhancing the event are also factored into the awards. SportsTravel readers nominate and vote for the events in each category.

“Each of the winners is a prime example of achieving excellence in organization and management for both competitors and spectators,” said SportsTravel publisher Timothy Schneider in a press release.

ESPN Wide World of Sports also received a SportsTravel award in 2006 in the “Best Single Sport Event” Amateur Division category for the 2005 AAU 16U Girls Basketball National Championship.

Other 2012 SportsTravel Award winners include:

Sports Event of the Year
The 2011 Major League Baseball World Series

Best New Sports Event
The 2011 Big Ten Football Championship Game

Best Professional Sports Event Series or Circuit
The 2011 Major League Baseball World Series

Best Professional Multi-Sport or Multi-Discipline Event
The 2012 Winter X Games 16

Best Professional Single-Sport Event
The 2012 National Football League Super Bowl XLVI

Best Collegiate Sports Event Series or Circuit
The 2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament

Best Collegiate Multi-Sport or Multi-Discipline Event
The 2012 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships

Best Collegiate Single-Sport Event
The 2012 BCS Championship Game between Alabama and LSU

Best Amateur Sports Event Series or Circuit
2012 Divas Half-Marathon Series

Best Amateur Multi-Sport or Multi-Discipline Event
2012 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials