World Games Plans Birmingham 2021 Inspection

(ATR) International World Games Association President Jose Perurena tells Around the Rings he will travel to Birmingham, Alabama in December to meet the city's new mayor.

The city is ramping up efforts to showcase the quadrennial multi-sport event in 2021. The World Games features sports with aspirations to join the Olympic program. The IWGA signed a memorandum of understanding with the IOC last year consolidating this position under Olympic Agenda 2020.

Last week, Birmingham elected Randall Woodfin as its next mayor.

"I have not spoken personally with the Mayor Woodfin, but we are in permanent contact with his team," Perurena told ATR. "We know that the mayor is very excited about the Games. In December I'll travel to Birmingham for three days and we will have a meeting."

Woodfin said in a statement that the Games "will have the full support" of the incoming administration. Birmingham will be the first U.S. host of the World Games since the inaugural edition in 1981.

"We are excited about The World Games 2021 being held in Birmingham," Woodfin said in a statement. "This is a great opportunity for our city to showcase our great people and southern hospitality. Much work has gone into making these Games the best ever."

Perurena, who since 2011 has served as one of the three Spanish members on the IOC along with Juan A. Samaranch and Marisol Casado, dismissed any concerns about the political transition and the organization of the 2021 World Games.

"No, not at all... in my last visit to Birmingham I was with all the political groups and all are in favor of the Games," said Perurena, who has also served as president of the International Canoe Federation since 2008.

The IWGA president and his colleagues will travel to Birmingham from Dec. 14-17 with a "very comprehensive" agenda.

"The main objective is related to the Organizing Committee, the sports program and the sports that we can incorporate in a proposal from the city," said Perurena. "Also, we will visit all the sports facilities which are used in the program and of course we will have a meeting with Mayor Woodfin.

"I hope that he knows firsthand the Games project. We will also determine a plan of visits and follow-up of the event."

According to Perurena, these Games will be vital for the future of the IWGA. "Birmingham will be the time of our final consolidation in the Olympic movement, that we need to work together to get the best Games in our history."

The 2017 World Games in Wroclaw, Poland cost approximately $70 million and were held for 10 days with 3,500 athletes from 112 countries. Athletes competed in 31 sports for 219 medals. The Games were televised to 131 countries with an audience estimated at 420 million.

Various disciplines such as badminton, beach volleyball, trampoline, rugby sevens, taekwondo, triathlon, weightlifting, karate, skateboarding, rock climbing, surfing and softball – the latter five having already been added to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics – have appeared in the World Games.

Perurena is cautious about adding esports to the World Games as there has been some talk of including the discipline in the Olympics.

"There is much talk about esports but I think we need time to digest this worldwide phenomenon and above all analyze calmly the effect that its possible incorporation in the games can have," he said.

"We have to take the time to see its involvement in the Games, because a bad and quick incorporation can have irreparable consequences for the program. At GAISFS we also have over 90 International Federations that are working to be in the Olympics or in the World Games and we have to take them into account.

"The issue is complex and does not have a quick and easy solution."

Written by Miguel Hernandez

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