“We know that we only have one chance to get it right!” said the Chair of The World Games 2021 Board, Jonathan Porter, in his welcoming speech to the Competition Managers Meeting held in Birmingham, Alabama 3-5 October. And it seems as though the whole staff is working with the same attitude: the meeting was very well prepared, the presentations informative, the venue visits well-planned, and the get-togethers entertaining.
This is the first time the Competition Managers from each International Federation have gathered in Birmingham to work towards The World Games 2021. During the two days, the Competition Managers were given an enormous amount of information, and were able to see the planned venues and facilities for their sports and audiences.
The meeting was opened with a Welcome speech from the Mayor of Birmingham, Randall Woodfin. He welcomed the Competition Managers Meeting participants to his city, and stressed that he is willing to do anything possible to make The World Games 2021 a success. The welcome was well received by the participants, as was the overall feeling at the meetings.
“The International World Games Association and the Birmingham Organising Committee have been very gracious in their hospitality and have extended a warm welcome to delegates from around the world,” , said Competition Director for the Federation of International Lacrosse, Fiona Clark. “The opportunity to interact with these delegates has been valued, and there has been a great deal of knowledge and learning shared between sports in just a very short space of time.”
Besides the venues, the participants gained information about schedules, rules and practices, accommodation, transportation and medical services, communication and TV, and FICS sports chiropractic services. Project Manager Thomas Kutzke from Swiss Timing introduced their services for the Games, including accreditation, results services and the Info System.
The Competition Managers will start their work now, with 2½ years remaining before the next edition of The World Games. They work as a link between the local organiser and the International Federation. Many of the Competition Managers expressed great enthusiasm for The World Games and for the preparations before the Games.
“It is a wonderful opportunity for our sport’s elite players to be part of a multi-sport event. It will be vastly different than our World Championships in that regard,” said Fiona Clark. “Birmingham has a great deal to offer, and the opportunity to bring together more than 100 countries in a showcase of sport will be very special for all those involved. Certainly Lacrosse will benefit tremendously.”
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. The 11th edition of The World Games will be held in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, 15-25 July 2021. 3,600 athletes from over 30 sports and 100 countries will take part in the Games.