As part of his update visit to Birmingham, Alabama, IWGA CEO Joachim Gossow met with the city’s Mayor, Randall Woodfin, this week. The status of the preparations for The World Games 2022 (7 to 17 July) were the focus of the one-hour conversation at City Hall. Mayor Woodfin assured CEO Gossow that he and his team will be doing everything possible to make the 11th edition of The World Games an outstanding event.
The decisive factor, he said, is that in the hot phase of preparations that is now beginning, all stakeholders will work even more closely together. He stated that all partners will tackle the steps that now lie ahead in close coordination and with direct communication.
Joachim Gossow pledged the full support of the International World Games Association in this regard. "Nick Sellers, the CEO of the Birmingham Organising Committee, has set the goal: Birmingham will create a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ occasion. In doing so, these Games will be a ‘once-in-a-lifetime experience’ for the citizens of Birmingham, as well as for the 3,600 athletes from more than 100 countries. We will do everything we can to achieve this goal together."
Joachim Gossow also emphasized: "It is important that a whole city and especially its mayor are fully behind an event like The World Games. This is the only way to win the ‘organisers gold medal’ that everyone strives for."
Mayor Woodfin sees the Games not only as a great celebration for Birmingham. The city will also benefit economically from TWG 2022: the event will generate an estimated $256 million in economic impact. The World of Opportunity (WOO) programme connects local, small, minority, and women-owned businesses in Birmingham and across the greater metropolitan area to provide goods and services for the Games. The WOO database will be given to the city and become a resource for future events in the greater metropolitan area. The key is to develop a legacy that will have an impact beyond the ten days of competition.
The next direct meeting between Mayor Woodfin and IWGA CEO Joachim Gossow is already scheduled. However on November 25th they will see each other again, with a lot more people listening to the Mayor’s words. Randall Woodfin will officially welcome the representatives of the 34 International Federations contributing to the TWG programme, during the Competition Managers’ Meeting in Birmingham, Alabama.
The World Games is a multi-sport event staged every four years by the International World Games Association, organised with the support of the International Olympic Committee. The 11th edition of The World Games will be held in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, 7-17 July 2022. 3,600 athletes from 34 sports and over 100 countries will take part in The World Games.
