World Games Bid a Positive for Russian Sport

(ATR)Oleg Shabanov, chief executive of Ufa's bid committee for the 2021 World Games, tellsAround the Rings, "The World Games in Ufawill strengthen the position of Russian sports in general.

"The eventwill provide a powerful impact to the economic, social, and healthy lifestyle development of Ufa."

Ufa is bidding for the 2021 World Games alongside Birmingham, Alabama and Lima, Peru.

So far, an evaluation commission from the International World Games Association has visited two of the three candidate cities in the bid race for the 2021 World Games.

The commission started its on-site visits in Ufa at the beginning of this month. The IWGA officials made a stop in Birmingham last week.Next, the commission will visit Lima Oct. 27-31.

Commission members include its leader Max Bishop, vice president of the IWGA executive committee;Joachim Gossow, CEO of the IWGA; and Co Koren, a member of the IWGA executive committee.

While in Ufa, Shabanov tells ATR the commission toured venues including: theVDNH-Expo Exhibition Complex, Akbuzat Hippodrome, Neftyanik Staduim, the Pervushino aerodrome, the Ufa Arena and Dynamo Stadium.

"Max Bishop spoke positively of the facilities," Shabanov recalls to ATR.

Ufa has staged multiple international sporting events including: the 2012Summer Biathlon World Championships, the 2013 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships,the 2014 Ice Hockey World Cup and the 2014 Climbing World Cup.

When asked how he thinks Ufa compares to the other candidate cities, Shabanov says organizers in Birmingham have a vision for the 2021 World Games that is "completely different" from Ufa's vision.

"They are not better or worse, just different."

Shabanov tells ATR that Lima is a serious competitor in the bid race for the World Games. "Lima is the industrial and financial center of Peru, and one of the most important financial centers in Latin America.

"Lima was chosen to host the 2019 Pan American Games, and that explains everything."

Shabanov says the 2021 World Games would enhance Ufa's "already prominent culture." He adds, "Wewould be able to continue to invest in the infrastructure for future generations.

"Improved infrastructure increases the ability for Ufa to attract business and industry."

The IWGA will announce the host city for the 2021 World Games on January 22, 2015.

Written byNicole Bennett

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