Reza Alipourshenazandifar wrote sports history for his country on Saturday. The 23-year-old climber won the first gold medal ever at The World Games for Iran. On Sunday at the IWGA press conference he explained what this historical achievement means to him. Asked by IWGA Communications Director Anna Jacobson about his feelings after winning the historical medal he said: “It has meaning to me. And this medal made a dream come true which I had for so many years.”
Reza Alipourshenazandifar made it up the wall of 15 meters in 5.57 sec and his win meant that Iran has climbed the World Games medal ranking table as well: from Rank 52 to 30.
Talking about progress in the overall history of The World Games, Ron Froehlich, Honorary Life President of the IWGA, couldn’t be more complimentary.
When being asked about the development of The World Games since its inauguration in 1981 in Santa Clara Ron Froehlich stated with smile: “First you had an ox wagon and a donkey cart. Now you have the super jet. We have really taken off.” He stressed that the IWGA is now working very closely with the IOC. IWGA CEO Joachim Gossow has kept the IWGA moving forward.
Describing what “the move foreword” means he gave an example: “The television for The World Games 2017 is unequalled because it is worldwide for the first time. That is the legacy of The World Games 2017.”
Ron Froehlich added: “We moved now to the next level and will go even further in 2021.” The World Games will return to the USA then. After Santa Clara 1981 the event will take place in North America for the second time when Birmingham, Alabama will be the host of the Games in four years time. For Ron Froehlich it’s going to be a home game. He lives in Birmingham.