They’re still The World Games, but one of the numbers has changed.
With the recent announcement that The World Games would shift from next year to July 7-17, 2022, organizers said this week that the international multi-sport event would officially become The World Games 2022 Birmingham.
“After careful consideration, we are excited to move forward as The World Games 2022,” said Nick Sellers, CEO of the Birmingham Organizing Committee. “Ultimately, we wanted to ensure consistency and brand recognition for our event. But more than that, our hope is that The World Games 2022 will stand for something more than a date on the calendar; that it will become a time of reconnection for our community and the world.”
The date change is tied to a recent decision by the International Olympic Committee to move the Tokyo Olympics from July 23-Aug. 9, 2020, to July 23-August 8, 2021 over health concerns related to the pandemic.
While the two events are run by separate organizations, they share a broadcast production company and other support services. The sports the two groups feature don’t intersect much, except for women’s softball and sports climbing.
The good news is that Birmingham is now undergoing two projects, a renovation of Legacy Arena and the construction of Protective Stadium, which could enhance the 2022 festivities.
The World Games 2022 Birmingham will be an Olympic-style sports experience where elite athletes from all over the world compete for gold in 32 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+ unique venues around the greater metropolitan area.
Organizers estimate it will generate $256 million in economic impact.
If it seems like you’ve been hearing about this event for a while, you have. On January 22, 2015, state website AL.com posted the headline: Birmingham wins! City chosen as site for 2021 World Games
The International Olympic Committee has decided to retain the name “Tokyo 2020.”
