Sumo fighter Eva-Maria Raudsepp from Estonia has always wanted to see a giraffe. The 2022 World Games in Birmingham, USA granted her wish! The Birmingham Zoo opened on Tuesday especially for the 17-year-old, and Mayor Randall Woodfin did not miss the opportunity to open the doors personally for Eva-Maria Raudsepp. The Birmingham Games promise athletes a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and they fulfilled that promise for Eva-Maria.
"A dream came true," she said after the visit.
How this visit to the giraffes at the Birmingham Zoo came about is a story of its own. Eva-Maria Raudsepp was the only athlete from Estonia in the Sumo event. After her competition she looked a little lost. A volunteer, in her professional life a Professor of Sports Marketing at the University of Alabama, saw the young woman and asked her: How can I help? The athlete hesitated at first, then revealed her wish – she would like to see a giraffe! But there was a problem: the zoo is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. The Estonian's departure was already planned for the next day. So what to do?
The volunteer, Carla Blakey, emailed Rick Journey in Mayor Woodfin's office and asked if an exception could be made for The World Games. Rick Journey's response came quickly and read, "Sure thing." Mayor Randall Woodfin heard about the story, and also immediately said "I'll make time for that." So Eva-Maria Raudsepp got to see the giraffes at the zoo. More than that, she also got to feed them.
And that's exactly why a major sporting event like The World Games is more than just a battle for gold. It’s also an opportunity to show hospitality and make dreams come true.
The World Games is a multi-sport event staged every four years by the International World Games Association, organised with the support of the International Olympic Committee. The 11th edition of The World Games will be held in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, 7-17 July 2022. 3,600 athletes from 34 sports and over 100 countries will take part in The World Games.