The World Games staff, led by CEO Joachim Gossow, met with the local organisers of The World Games 2021 in Birmingham, Alabama last week. The four-day meeting between the two teams served to develop the working relationship. The creation of a ‘road map’ for the multi-sport event, to be held from 15th to 25th July 2021, was a major focus of the meeting.
The IWGA was represented by Joachim Gossow; Chantal Boehi, General Manager; Hagen Bossdorf, TV and New Media Coordinator; Anna Jacobson, Communication Officer; Hermann Kewitz, Media Consultant; and Sebastian Riediger, Head of IF and Games Services. The Local Organising Committee team was represented by DJ Mackovetz, CEO; Steve Mistrot, Sport Director; Jay Hall, Operation Director; the two interns Anna Kilarski and Drew Mitchell as well as Dee Dee Mathis from the marketing agency Bruno and Jessica Black from Markstein as Press Officer.
Joachim Gossow summed up the meeting positively: "We had good and purposeful discussions on all the important topics on the way to The World Games in Birmingham. Perhaps more significantly, we were able to develop a good and personal working atmosphere. We have thus built a reliable partnership for the three years leading up to the eleventh edition of The World Games."
The agenda included discussions about TV production and marketing, work on a joint PR strategy, and adjustments to the sports programme for the 2021 World Games. The IWGA Board will agree on the sports programme, covering all disciplines and medal events, at its meeting in August.
During the four days the two teams also prepared for the first Competition Managers Meeting, which will take place on 3rd and 4th October in Birmingham, Alabama.
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.