People Across The Globe Come Together To Celebrate New York's First Ever Virtual New Year's Eve
AsiaNet 87426
NEW YORK, Dec. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --
-- Leaders from as far as Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, and
Spain, and Mayors from cities as close as Atlanta, Boston, Houston, Los
Angeles, and Miami join New York in marking this historic occasion
-- Organizers of the New Year's Eve Ball Drop Celebration invite families
around the world to post video messages on Instagram describing their
hopes for 2021; a select few may be chosen to participate in a live
broadcast hosted by Wonderama's David Osmond
Organizers of the famed New Year's Eve Ball Drop Celebration are bringing the
world's biggest party right to your home, live and direct from the crossroads
of the world, Times Square. Jamestown (
), owner of One Times Square - home of the iconic New Year's Eve Ball - has
collaborated with Ultimate Gamer, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Samsung, and
others to create a first-of-its-kind virtual New Year's Eve experience (
) to allow people to ring in the New Year safely.
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1386919/Jamestown_Logo.jpg
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1386920/VNYE_Logo.jpg
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said: "New Yorkers are excited for a fresh
start in 2021, and we'll ring in the New Year by doing what we do best: looking
out for one another. We're keeping our city safe by forgoing large gatherings,
and I know this dynamic virtual programming will still make this New Year's Eve
a night to remember."
Times Square Alliance President Tim Tompkins said: "New York has always been a
global city and Times Square New Year's Eve a global celebration, so we are
pleased to join with mayors from around the world to virtually celebrate
together and to say goodbye - finally! - to 2020."
To mark this historic occasion, US mayors from Atlanta, Birmingham, Boston,
Charleston, Charlottesville, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Savannah, and Seattle
along with leaders from Canada, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, South Africa,
and Spain are joining the festivities to help New York in sending messages of
hope and optimism for 2021.
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said: "Thank you to Jamestown and all of the
partners for organizing a safe event to celebrate New Year's Eve. Although 2020
has been full of challenges, the fact that we are here to celebrate a New Year
is a testament to the resilience of people around the world."
Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh said: "2020 has been a challenging year, but it
has also shown us how strong we can be when we support one another. In Boston,
and in cities and towns all across the United States and across the globe,
we've found creative ways to keep traditions alive and stay connected, safely.
New York's first-ever virtual New Year's Eve celebration is a great example of
that, and we're proud to be a part of it as we look forward to better days
ahead in 2021."
Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg said: "It's a genuine honor to be able to
help ring in the New Year in Times Square, and to offer everyone, everywhere
best wishes for a happy, healthy 2021. As we say here in Charleston, Happy New
Year, y'all!"
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said: "This year has been unlike any other --
unprecedented, painful, filled with loss and anguish -- so it's only fitting we
should bid farewell to 2020 in a unique, fun, safe, and virtual way. While we
can't gather together to ring in the New Year like we usually do, let's all
look ahead to 2021 with hope, vigilance, selflessness, the promise of a vaccine
and an end to this crisis -- and a return to the embrace of family and friends."
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said: "Here in New Orleans, we know how to
celebrate; we practically invented it, and we are looking forward to ringing in
a New Year. We also know how to rise to a challenge, and 2020 was a year of
challenges. In our city, and across the country, we are putting in the work and
there is a light at the end of this tunnel, and we will continue to move
forward together. On behalf of the City of New Orleans, I wish everyone around
the world good health, happiness, and prosperity in the New Year."
Seattle Mayor Jenny A. Durkan said: "2020 presented unprecedented challenges
for cities across the world. We saw the resiliency, compassion and
determination of our neighbors, friends, essential workers, and first
responders to respond to a one in a lifetime pandemic and economic crisis. In
2021, there is so much hope on the horizon. Cities like Seattle will build back
stronger, better and more equitable. We still have some tough months ahead, but
we have the grit and determination to not just get through them, but to create
a better future for the next generations. May the New Year bring us all peace,
joy, and happiness. Goodbye 2020 and hello 2021."
Everyone everywhere can start the festivities today by downloading the NYE app
to enter the virtual world of Times Square. On December 31st, viewers can tune
in for a live broadcast presented by David Osmond, host of the award-winning
television series Wonderama. The all-night show will feature amazing talent and
greetings from world leaders and families as we all ring in the New Year
together.
Event organizers are inviting families from around the world to post video
messages on Instagram describing their hopes for 2021. A select few who post
videos and tag @OneTimesSquareNYC and #WonderamaWishes may also be chosen to
speak with David Osmond in the coming days and have their message featured
during the live broadcast.
Wonderama Host David Osmond said: "All of us at Wonderama are thrilled to be a
part of this historic world-wide celebration. We are all ready to move on from
2020 and in ring in a fabulous New Year! I am proud to be virtually hosting
this exciting event, culminating with iconic ball drop in Times Square. It is a
global community coming together with a shared wish for health, happiness and
human kindness."
Jamestown President Michael Phillips said: "Here in New York, One Times Square
is the place where people mark the world's biggest moments. It is also the
place where a million-plus people gather each year to celebrate New Year's Eve.
When it became clear to us, the Times Square Alliance, and our partners in the
city and the state, that this celebration would not be possible this year, we
turned our attention to creating a new platform that enables everyone,
everywhere to join us virtually in Times Square. For us, this was a simple
decision. Jamestown, as a steward of New Year's Eve, had a responsibility to
bring people together, in a safe and socially distanced way, while making sure
the time-honored tradition of ringing in the New Year didn't get lost in 2020."
Mayor de Blasio will push the crystal button on the main stage in the center of
Times Square, which signals the lowering of the Waterford Crystal Times Square
New Year's Eve Ball. Historically, he is joined by special guests on the
mainstage for this moment. This year, due to onsite social distancing
protocols, guests will not appear on stage with the Mayor. This year each guest
and their family will represent the Everyday Heroes of 2020 and will watch the
event from a private, physically distanced viewing area.
Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said: "2020 has been a difficult year, due
to the COVID 19 pandemic. We need to continue making extraordinary efforts to
reduce the number of people infected by the virus. To the health personnel, we
owe you our life, on behalf of all citizens, we thank you. We must honor their
efforts by being responsible. Together, we will overcome. Each one of our
actions has an impact on the evolution of the pandemic. We must take
responsibility for our actions. The most important thing today is our health,
our lives."
Fukuoka City Mayor Soichiro Takashima said: "We are all fighting COVID-19,
but there is one more fight against discrimination towards infected citizens.
Our enemy is the virus, not each other. We must not let it divide us."
###
About Virtual New Year's Eve:
Jamestown has created a gamified New Year's Eve experience to bring the look,
feel, and iconic celebrations from Times Square to you. Create your
personalized avatar to enter and explore the virtual world of Times Square in a
year when you can't be there in person.
For those who want to dance it out, take in nature, or experience zero gravity,
VNYE has three fun games where you can collect celebratory confetti points to
outfit your avatar. Gamers and esports fans can head to the Ultimate Gamer
Lounge to connect to exclusive content and giveaways. Music fans can view
exclusive performances by emerging musicians Alex Boye, Armani White, and Chloe
Gilligan.
The experience also features a multimedia art exhibition, Hi-Resolution. The
60-piece collection from 45+ digital and contemporary artists-including Shyama
Golden, Molly Soda, Jeanette Getrost, and Ines Alpha- focuses on setting
intentions for the coming year.
Finally, on December 31, tune in for a Livestream from Times Square, as we
countdown to midnight and the iconic Ball Drop Celebration. Direct your New
Year's Eve show through the NYE experience: check out Twitch as creators share
our broadcast on their channels, choose your view of Times Square from multiple
camera feeds, and watch New Year's celebrations from around the world and even
the International Space Station through our EarthCam Rolling Live feed.
For more information, visit VNYE.com (
) or download the app NYE in all app stores.
About Wonderama:
Wonderama is a legacy media brand, with a 40+ year history in entertaining
kids. Today, it has been reimagined and relaunched to critical acclaim.
Designed to entertain, educate and engage kids and families across multiple
platforms through our original content, Wonderama blends musical performances,
science experiments, cooking demos, games, and much more in every episode. Our
creative and interactive approach makes learning truly resonate with kids.
Wonderama is certified by Stanford University and Metropolitan College of New
York as Educational and Informational Programming. Wonderama has quickly
expanded its platform to help serve the educational needs of elementary and
middle school kids. With over 100 half hours of television and close to 500
individual video segments. Wonderama TV is syndicated across the U.S in over
100 markets, and distributed internationally. It is also available on Amazon
Prime FVOD service, Tubi TV, an eponymous Music Choice Channel and through our
own YouTube Channel.
About Jamestown:
Jamestown is a design-focused real estate investment and management company
with a 35+ year track record and a clear mission: to transform spaces into
innovation hubs and community centers. With headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia,
and Cologne, Germany, and offices in Amsterdam, Bogot¨¢, Boston, Los Angeles,
New York, and San Francisco, the company is known for its market discipline.
Since its founding in 1983, Jamestown has executed transactions in excess of
$35 billion, and as of September 30th 2020, the company has assets under
management of $11.8 billion. In its capacity as owner of One Times Square in
New York City, Jamestown is the producer and host of the time-honored New
Year's Eve Ball Drop Celebration, which brings people from around the world
together to welcome in the New Year. Other current and previous iconic
projects include Chelsea Market in New York City, Industry City in Brooklyn,
Ponce City Market in Atlanta, Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco, and the
Innovation and Design Building in Boston. Jamestown recently expanded its
investment footprint to South America and Europe.
Media Contacts:
Virtual New Year's Eve:
Aarti Parekh / Lauren Weil
M&C Saatchi Sport and Entertainment LA
aarti.parekh@mcsaatchi.com / lauren.weil@mcsaatchi.com
Jamestown:
Jessica Scaperotti
Jessica.Scaperotti@Jamestownlp.com
One Times Square:
Elizabeth Latino / Siobhan Stocks-Lyons
Marino
elatino@marinopr.com / SStocks-Lyons@marinopr.com
SOURCE: Jamestown
本プレスリリースは発表元が入力した原稿をそのまま掲載しております。また、プレスリリースへのお問い合わせは発表元に直接お願いいたします。
このプレスリリースには、報道機関向けの情報があります。
プレス会員登録を行うと、広報担当者の連絡先や、イベント・記者会見の情報など、報道機関だけに公開する情報が閲覧できるようになります。
