The Birmingham Organizing Committee (BOC) for The World Games 2022 has announced a comprehensive sustainability program that will ensure this iteration of The Games makes a lasting positive environmental impact on its host city of Birmingham, Ala.
The International World Games Association is extending this commitment to sustainability and will work alongside the BOC to ensure a positive global environmental impact.
“Sustainability has always been one of the core values of The World Games and, for example, we have never required the host cities to build new venues for The Games,” said IWGA CEO Joachim Gossow. “To further strengthen our commitment, the IWGA joined in 2019 the Sport for Climate Action Framework to support the goals of the Paris Agreement. Now more than ever it is time to act for the environment, and of course we at The World Games want to be doing our share. We always encourage our local organisers to work for sustainability, and we are happy to see the initiatives of the Birmingham Organising Committee.”
Initiatives announced by the Birmingham Organizing Committee include:
- Tree planting to beautify the city, cool Birmingham streets and positively impact air quality.
- Installation of Solar Energy Stations around The Opening and Closing Ceremonies. The Solar Energy Stations will be created by local solar developer EnPower Solutions.
- Repurposing of signage as either garden compost or in the creation of totes or art pieces.
- Food rescue which will allow partner Grace Klein to provide more food to Birmingham’s hungry and prevent food waste.
- Creation of Birmingham’s first zero-waste venue.
The World Games 2022 is partnering with Trees Birmingham, an initiative with plans to plant trees across the city.
Trees Birmingham aims to offer education about the public health and environmental benefits of urban trees and to offer support/expertise across Birmingham metro organizations and municipalities for tree planting, maintenance, and conservation.
Multiple Solar Energy Stations will be installed in the area around The Opening and Closing Ceremonies, representing a lasting gift from The World Games 2022 to the city. The stations will include LED lights and will have the capability to charge cell phones and additional small electronic devices, as well as provided much needed shade.
Signage for The World Games 2022 is already being seen throughout the Birmingham area, and the Birmingham Organizing Committee has taken steps to determine what signage material can be recycled. Signage developed from non-recyclable plastics will be repurposed into memorabilia, such as notebooks, tote bags and art pieces which will be made available for purchase or donated to local school systems.
As with any event of this size, there will likely be uneaten, untouched food from some of The Games facilities. The World Games 2022 is working with food service providers and Grace Klein Community to rescue good food and put it into the hands of Birmingham’s hungry.
The World Games 2022 is a global event, and no global event comes without its share of trash. The World Games 2022 has joined forces with Field Culture Compost, a local startup that won last year’s Alabama launchpad and is now part of the Velocity Accelerator at Innovation Depot, to provide a place to take compostable materials from The Games, providing the first ever no-waste venue event in Alabama history.
“Each of these initiatives will be a legacy of The Games,” said Nick Sellers, CEO of The World Games 2022. “One of our goals from the beginning has been to leave Birmingham a better place than it was before The Games. All of these initiatives will help us accomplish that goal.”
Additionally, Vulcan Materials Company is joining The World Games 2022 as the official Sustainability Sponsor.
For more information, visit https://twg2022.com/
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, 7-17 July 2022. 3,600 athletes from over 30 sports and 100 countries will take part in The World Games.
