The International World Games Association (IWGA) and Birmingham Organising Committee (BOC) have agreed to postpone the 11th edition of The World Games until 7th to 17th July 2022. The Games had originally been planned to take place from 15–25 July next year.
The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to move the Tokyo Olympic Games to July 2021 made a significant impact on the planning of The World Games in Birmingham, Alabama. Keeping to the original dates in July 2021 would have meant excluding many athletes and officials involved in the Olympics, and would have led to a potential reduction in public and media interest. When the IOC announced its decision, the BOC urgently set about assessing what alternative dates might be viable, particularly as regards venues and accommodation. Meanwhile, the staff of the IWGA were establishing when the vital services provided by key partners, such as Swiss Timing and International Sports Broadcasting, could still be made available.
It soon became clear that only one 10-day period existed in which venues, accommodation and key partner support could be guaranteed: 7–17 July 2022. The IWGA Member Federations with sports on the programme gave their full support to delaying The World Games, and the joint decision of the IWGA and BOC Boards to adopt these new dates was unanimously approved by the federations in a video conference.
– A great deal of detailed work is now required to implement this decision, and further progress reports will be issued in due course. But I am impressed by the flexibility and efficiency of the Birmingham Organising Committee: they have been able, in just two days after the IOC’s announcement, to get all the main organisational items in place, says IWGA President José Perurena, in The World Games press release.
The World Games is a multi-sport event staged every four years by the International World Games Association under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee. 3,600 athletes from over 30 sports and 100 countries will take part in the Games. Floorball is one of the sports on the programme.
– IFF is fully supporting the move of The World Games 2021 in Birmingham, USA to be held from the 7th to 17th of July, 2022, as there would not for a number of reasons have been possibilities for a successful execution of the event in July 2021. We look forward to continue the good preparation process together with the Birmingham Organisation Committee and the IWGA and believe that we will have an excellent event in Birmingham in July 2022, IFF Secretary General, John Liljelund, comments.
Source & more information: The World Games
