It is almost here; after 41 years, The World Games finally make its long anticipated return to the country where it all began. When in 1981 the California town of Santa Clara welcomed the first athletes to the globe’s premier multi-sport event for non-Olympic disciplines, no-one was quite sure what to expect. The Opening Ceremony was low key and expectations were low, would there even be another edition or would it be a passing fad? However, in the intervening years, The World Games has established itself as the pinnacle of non-Olympian athletes’ careers. The 11th edition will take place in Birmingham, Alabama from 7th to 17th July with 3,600 elite athletes demonstrating their amazing skills in 34 spectacular sports.
Unlike Santa Clara, the Opening Ceremony held in Birmingham’s celebrated Protective Life stadium promises to be a fun-packed party, showcasing the best in America’s rich musical history. The stellar list of performers includes rapper Nelly, country music ace Sara Evans, percussionist Sheila E, rhythm and blues group Tony!Toni!Tone! and gospel singer Yolanda Adams. Of course, the state of the host city is going to be represented at the Opening Ceremony. American Idol winners Taylor Hicks and Ruben Studdard will be performing in their home city. There could only be one choice for the legendary supergroup to headline a world class event in the Magic City, it had to be Randy Owen and Alabama! The whole event will be compered by the amazing funkster Bootsy Collins. The Ohio native is a natural fit for a party event covering music and sports, he has rewritten songs to affirm his support for his beloved Cleveland Browns NFL team. Which other musicians combine a love of music and sports? Who could have not only performed their songs at an edition of The World Games, but genuinely participated as an athlete in their own right?
Having had the opportunity to visit Memphis and tour Graceland a few days prior to my arrival in Birmingham, I am convinced that The King of Rock and Roll would have been good enough to compete even against the elite athletes present in Alabama. Elvis Presley himself loved many of the sports of The World Games. He personally played five of them and would almost certainly have been interested in a sixth if the technology had been available in his time.
There are not many people who can claim to have popularised a new dance, but The King was one of them. He swivelled his hips, sent teenagers wild and popularised rock and roll. This dance is one of the four disciplines of DanceSport, that will feature in Birmingham. Strangely enough the country that introduced Rock and Roll to the world will not have any competitors in Alabama. They will be represented in all the other disciplines, including the brand new one of breaking. Dancer B-Girl Sunny from neighbouring Tennessee, noticeable for her permanent smile, will be sure to please the fans. If you love Dancing With the Stars, then the Standard competition will be the one to watch. Feel the sizzle in the Latin discipline, where Moldovan couple Gabriele Goffredo and Anna Matus will be aiming for their third consecutive gold.
Whilst serving in the US Army in Germany, Elvis took up Karate and became so good that his black belt is now permanently on display in Graceland. Another karate athlete who became a soldier is Stanislav Horuna. The European champion and reigning champion of The World Games fulfilled a lifetime ambition when Karate was admitted to The Olympics. He fought well in Tokyo and emerged with a bronze medal. However, he has been involved in an even bigger fight recently. When Russia invaded his nation of Ukraine, he took up arms to defend his homeland.
Another sport that Elvis excelled at was American Football. Whilst in the army he was presented with an award for Most Valuable Player. Gridiron last featured as an invitational sport at the Wroclaw edition of The World Games. This time the host organisers have opted to include the non-contact version of the sport, Flag Football in association with the NFL. As Alabama is home to The Crimson Tide, the most successful team in college football, based in nearby Tuscaloosa, interest in the matches is sure to be high. Who knows, a successful hosting could lead to the NFL giving serious consideration to Birmingham as the next expansion city!
Elvis remodelled Graceland so that he could practise two of his favourite sports. He installed his own Racquetball court, and even personally supervised its construction. The sport has its origin in the USA, so it will be fantastic that the game will return back to its roots. The big name in Racquetball is Paola Longoria, whose superstar status in her native Mexico means that she often adorns the front cover of glossy magazines. Paola is a two-time champion of The World Games, and will be favourite for a third gold.
Elvis also installed a Pool table in the Graceland mansion. Surprisingly, for this essentially American sport - a pool scene is virtually obligatory in every movie - success has recently been very limited at the top tournaments. Since Carlo Biado of The Philippines won The World Games title in Wroclaw, the annual World Championship has been won by Biado and Europeans Albin Ouschan, and Joshua Filler. It was only this year that Shane van Boening broke the barren run for the United States. All these players will be in Birmingham, so the competition is certain to be one of the most keenly contested at the Games.
With his love of anything with an engine- the diverse vehicle display found at Graceland includes luxury cars, beach buggies, motorbikes and even a tractor- Elvis built himself a model car racing track.You can also see the personal plane that Elvis used to go on tour or just have fun. These twin passions show that he would have surely embraced Drone Racing, if the technology had been available to him. The newest sport in The World Games roster involves pilots guiding a drone up and down through narrow gates and tight turns. In effect it is NASCAR racing across three dimensions, and is sure to provide spectacular action for the fans in Birmingham. We can see then the King would have been perfectly at home at The World Games, and look forward to the athletes demonstrating The Wonder of Youth.
Brian Salmon for The World Games
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.