SportAccord 2019: A Look Back

SportAccord 2019: A Look Back

On May 5-10, the Birmingham Organizing Committee had the opportunity to attend SportAccord 2019 in Queensland, Australia – the preeminent planning meeting that brings together federations and sports partners from across the globe to solve problems and discuss progress in their organizations. Attending the event from Birmingham were The World Games 2021’s CEO DJ Mackovets and Vice President, Sport Steve Mistrot, along with Chairman of the Board Jonathan Porter, David Galbaugh of the Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau and Birmingham City Council representatives Cheryl Kidd and Steven Hoyt.

Throughout the event, The World Games 2021 hosted a booth to facilitate more than 25 meetings with participating federations and business partners. During these meetings, the teams discussed opportunities and addressed issues that federations were facing in advance of The 2021 Games. These included working with the Canoe Polo team to ensure adequate training pool availability for their athletes, and reaching an understanding with Air Sports leaders to finalize their fields of play, which must be separated between Canopy Piloting and Drone Racing.

The Birmingham Organizing Committee also presented during the Annual General Meeting. During their presentation, they announced venues, discussed the new demonstration sports program and shed light on the status of agreements with timing and broadcast partners. They also shared updates on the overall progress of The World Games 2021, community engagement efforts (including upcoming education initiatives, sustainability efforts and supplier diversity programs), operations details and future test events.

Overall, the team from Birmingham enjoyed meeting and planning with the IWGA executive committee and other international partners, while also learning more about the federations which will soon be welcomed to the Iron City. While there are still two years until the start of the Opening Ceremony, the team couldn’t be more excited and hopeful about what the future holds for The World Games 2021.

 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.

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