As the countdown to The World Games 2021 continues, the Birmingham Organizing Committee is hard at work ensuring that every detail is perfect ahead of The Games. While each position is vital to the success of the event, there is one individual whose team handles one of the most crucialparts of The Games – the sports!
Meet Steve Mistrot, Vice President, Sport. Today, he’s answering five questions about The World Games 2021, and giving readers an inside look at a day in the life at the Birmingham Organizing Committee.
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What are you working on right now?
As always, the entire Birmingham Organizing Committee has been staying busy – especially now that we have less than two years to go. Right now, my team is working with several International Federations on various test events scheduled throughout 2020, finalizing our demonstration sports program and working with the IWGA on completing the competition schedule. At the same time, we’re continuing to work on sourcing all sports and field of play equipment for the sports on our program.
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What are you most excited about unveiling at The World Games 2021?
I’m most excited about two different elements of The Games. The first is the size and scope of the event. This is going to be unlike anything Birmingham has ever seen, and I think the magnitude of the event will absolutely blow fans away. The second is introducing new sports to local and international fans. There are so many incredible sports that are only popular in areas outside the U.S. – The World Games gives those sports access to new fans in order to further their development globally. I can’t wait to see Birmingham’s reaction to sports like Canoe Polo and Beach Handball.
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What’s the best part of your job as Vice President, Sport?
First, we’ve got a strong local team in our Organizing Committee. Second, I enjoy working with all of the different nationalities within the IWGA and the sports federations. They’re all such passionate advocates for their sports, and their enthusiasm and expertise really help shape our overall perspective on The World Games and helps equip us to manage a successful event. That kind of partnership and relationship-building is very fulfilling.
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Why do you think Birmingham is the ideal city for The World Games 2021?
Aside from the fact that we have an abundance of existing venues that will be perfect for The World Games 2021 (like The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham Crossplex, Sloss Furnaces and Oak Mountain State Park – just to name a few), the people in Birmingham also make the city ideal. Our city’s residents have always widely supported special events like this in the past, not just as fans, but also as willing, enthusiastic volunteers. For those reasons and many more, Birmingham is a perfect fit for hosting The World Games 2021.
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What is your favorite sport in The World Games 2021?
I’ll be honest – I enjoy many of the sports, all for different reasons. I’m excited about seeing sports that are familiar to Birmingham (like Lacrosse and Softball) bringing the top athletes in the world to our city. But, I’ll also say, I’m equally excited about events that Birmingham doesn’t know as well (like Sport Climbing and Parachute Canopy Piloting) leaving the city with lots of new fans.
The World Games is a multi-sport event staged every four years by the International World Games Association under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee. The 11th edition of The World Games will be held in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, 15-25 July 2021. 3,600 athletes from over 30 sports and 100 countries will take part in the Games.
