Birmingham-based Coca-Cola United is the latest major sponsor to join the World Games 2022, becoming presenting sponsor of the World Games closing ceremony on July 17, 2022, at Protective Stadium.
The closing ceremonies will feature performances from several popular musical artists, including Bootsy Collins, country music supergroup Alabama, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Bo Bice, Chuck Leavell, Jamey Johnson, Pastor Mike Jr., Ruben Studdard, Taylor Hicks and Worth the Wait.
Both the opening and closing ceremonies will feature a 75-piece World Games Orchestra and The World Games Youth Choir, both directed by Dr. Henry Panion, artistic director of TWG2022 and professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
“It’s a huge deal for us to have a company like Coca-Cola United on board,” TWG2022 CEO Nick Sellers said. “They are one of the cornerstone companies of the Birmingham community, and as a presenting sponsor, they’re going to take our closing ceremony to a new level. We couldn’t be happier to be working with them.”
Founded in 1902, Coca-Cola United is the third-largest bottler of Coca-Cola products in the United States and employs approximately 10,000 people across its six-state footprint of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.
Coca-Cola United President and CEO John Sherman said the company looks forward to representing the Birmingham community as part of TWG2022.
“The World Games is a once-in-a-lifetime event for the city of Birmingham,” Sherman said. “The closing ceremony will be a celebration of 10 of the best days in the history of our community and we are proud to join in the festivities and lend our support to an event that puts Birmingham front and center.”
The World Games 2022 will welcome 3,600 athletes from 100 countries. They’ll take place from July 7-17, 2022.
