Carnival, New Orleans Saints Kick Off Fottball Season With Junior Training Camp For Kids Aboard Carnival Triumph on September 8

WHAT: Just days before the New Orleans Saints take on the Oakland Raiders in their home opener, students from the New Orleans area will help celebrate the start of football season by participating in a kick-off event for the first-ever junior training camp aboard a cruise ship. The camp is being offered through the New Orleans Saints' Read & Rise literacy program.

The event will be held aboard the New Orleans-based Carnival Triumph and hosted by Saints legend Deuce McAllister, in collaboration with Carnival Cruise Line, the New Orleans Saints and Scholastic Book Fairs. During the event, McAllister will host a pep rally, teach gridiron fundamentals and promote the importance of reading.

One hundred students from Kipp Central Primary School will be selected to participate in this kick-off event for being named the winners of the school's "Reading Challenge."

Throughout the day, the children will participate in a variety of football practice drills, which will take place on the open decks of the ship and include a quarterback challenge, vertical jump and three-cone combine drill. Following the drills, the children will enjoy lunch on board and receive a backpack filled with various logo items. The children will also have an opportunity to tour the massive 102,000-ton cruise ship which is nearly three football fields in length.

Carnival is the Official Cruise Line of the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans' largest cruise operator, with two year-round ships, Carnival Triumph and Carnival Dream, carrying 450,000 passengers annually - more than any other cruise line.

WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016
Media check-in: 11 a.m.; event begins: 11:45 a.m.

WHERE: Port of New Orleans
1350 Port of New Orleans Place, New Orleans, LA 70130