The first federations have started their promotional campaigns on the road towards The World Games 2021. In November the International Powerlifting Federation, during their World Championships in Halmstad, Sweden, organised a kick-off event for their Road to Birmingham campaign. Besides having posters at the arenas, they appointed a first ambassador for the campaign – and who would be more suitable for the role than the incredible 4-time The World Games champion, Larysa Soloviova from Ukraine! Soloviova has won The World Games titles in 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2017 – and it seems that she is aiming for a fifth gold at the Games in 2021 in Birmingham, Alabama.
Last week, the World Floorball Championships took place in Prague, Czech Republic. The record-big public (total attendance 181,518) could see The World Games ads around the rinks while watching the players fight for gold. The previous record, 104,445, was from 2014. A single match spectator record (16,276) was also reached in the final match, where Finland beat their arch rival Sweden.
“The IFF has also started preparations for the The World Games 2021 in Birmingham, putting together an action plan with the US Floorball Association for a Floorball activation and education project in the Birmingham area,” says IFF Secretary General John Liljelund.
“We plan to run a number of school projects and other educational activities for youth clubs, and play tournaments in the region to make the sport familiar for people. For the IFF, it is key to have a local fan base at The World Games, so that there is real interest from the US spectators. The World Games in Birmingham is our next big challenge – to show that our sport presentation and fan base are bringing added value to the organiser – and we’ll then also be ready for other multi-sport events.”
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.
