German Cities Withdraw From Hosting 2013 World Games

International World Games Association (IWGA) President Ron Froehlich (left) is looking for a new host city for The World Games 2013 after the withdrawal of German cities Duisburg and Dusseldorf. (Getty Images)German Cities Withdraw From Hosting 2013 World Games

The International World Games Association (IWGA) is now looking for a new host for the Ninth World Games in 2013 after German cities Duisburg and Dusseldorf withdrew from hosting the competition.

Duisburg decided to renounce its duties as host of the World Games after the Rhien-Ruhr regional government refused to allocate further funding for the financially-struggling city.

The City of Duisburg informed IWGA President Ron Froehlich, German Olympic Sports Confederation President Thomas Bach and Dusseldorf Mayor Dirk Elbers of the council’s vote, with Dusseldorf deciding to renounce its hosting duties as well after the withdrawal of its partner city.

“Regional governments withhold any funding from a city not in good (financial) standing,” Froehlich said. “Duisburg is in bad shape and the Rhein-Ruhr government is withholding funding from Duisburg for everything, not just the World Games.”

The announcement by Duisburg reverses a Feb. 28 unanimous decision by its city council to organize the 2013 Games jointly with Dusseldorf.

Froehlich will now begin working with TSE Consulting, the international sports consultancy appointed by IWGA to assist in the tendering for future editions of the World Games, to find another host.

“It is disappointing, but sometimes out of disappointment comes great success,” Froehlich said. “Other cities will step forward and make a bid for the Games. We are going to look at our options and go from there.”

The World Games were first held in 1981 and features sports not contested in the Olympic Games.

It would have been the second time hosting the World Games for Duisburg, which hosted the competition in 2005.