Vonetta Flowers Named Honorary Co-Chair of The World Games 2022 Birmingham

Birmingham Native and Olympic Gold Medalist to Support Global Event

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (May 24, 2020) – The Birmingham Organizing Committee for The World Games 2022 today announced that Olympic Gold Medalist and former University of Alabama at Birmingham track and field All-American Vonetta Flowers has joined The World Games 2022 as an Honorary Co-Chair.

The World Games 2022 (TWG2022), an international multi-sport event organized with the support of the International Olympic Committee, will hold its 11th edition in Birmingham from July 7-17, 2022. An anticipated 3,600 athletes will participate in more than 30 different sports throughout The World Games 2022.

After falling short of qualification for the track and field competition at the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics, Flowers pivoted to Bobsled and set her sights on Salt Lake City, eventually qualifying for the 2002 Winter Olympics. There, Flowers competed as a brakewoman in the two-woman Bobsled event with driver Jill Bakken. Flowers and Bakken took first place, making Flowers the first African American athlete to ever win a gold medal in the Winter Olympics.

"Birmingham is home to me, so being able to help bring an international competition like The World Games 2022 to my home community, a place I love and care for so much, was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up," Flowers said. "I know what the thrill of winning gold is like, and I can’t wait to see that joy on the faces of those competitors that get to do the same right here in Birmingham."

Prior to achieving Olympic glory, Flowers graduated from Birmingham’s Jackson-Olin High School and accepted a track and field scholarship to University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB). Flowers became the Blazers’ first ever seven-time All-American and racked up 35 Conference USA titles.

In 2011, Flowers was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.

In her role with The World Games 2022, Flowers will participate in several events, including the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. She will also represent, support, and promote the message and mission of The World Games 2022.

"There are many superlatives to describe Vonetta Flowers: Trailblazer. Inspiration. Champion. And now it’s a privilege to also call her an Honorary Co-Chair of The World Games 2022. It will be a once-in-a-lifetime moment. And Vonetta is a one-of-a-kind person," Sellers said. "I can’t wait to see her join Randy Owen, Charles Barkley, and two other soon-to-be-announced global icons lead the delegation of 3,600 world-class athletes from around the world into Opening Ceremonies

Flowers joins former NBA MVP Charles Barkley and country music star Randy Owen on the current list of Honorary Co-Chairs.

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ABOUT THE WORLD GAMES 2022

The World Games 2022 Birmingham is the new generation of global sport competition, welcoming elite athletes from all over the world to compete for gold in 34 unique, multi-disciplinary sports. Featuring 3,600 athletes from more than 100 countries, the international event will unite global fans with the

Birmingham community in 25+ venues around the greater metropolitan area. The World Games 2022 Birmingham, which marks the 40th anniversary of the event, will take place from July 7-17, 2022 and will generate an estimated $256 million in economic impact. The World Games was established by the International World Games Association, an organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee. The World Games 2022 is supported by the International Olympic Committee. For more information visit TWG2022.com or find us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

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