"We shall overcome" was the anthem of the Civil Rights movement, that in the 1960s galvanised America toward becoming a more equal society. It just as easily could be equally applied to Birmingham, Alabama the host city of the 11th edition of The World Games and to the athletes warmly welcomed on Thursday to the Magic City in a spectacular Opening Ceremony. Birmingham, the scene of some of the most violent scenes in the Civil Rights era, has had to learn to come to terms with its turbulent history. The Opening Ceremony amply demonstrated that modern Birmingham is a diverse, vibrant place with an exciting future. The athletes too have had to face exacting challenges not least the global Coronavirus pandemic, which forced the postponement of The World Games for one year, and severely impacted the ability of the Athletes to qualify for the premier multi-sports event for non-Olympic disciplines.
The World Games 2022 Birmingham is set to be the most inclusive edition of The World Games to date. A record 106 nations are represented, there is full gender equality with a 50-50 split of athletes, and for the first time ever, disability sport is represented on the sport program. The exciting sport of Wheelchair Rugby is included, and wheelchair users will also take part in Archery and Drone Racing. This sense of inclusivity was there when US Army veteran and amputee Noah Galloway presented the American flag to Mayor Randall Woodfin of Birmingham. Galloway, together with other wounded veterans had brought the Stars and Stripes all the way from the nation's capital, Washington DC. This act demonstrated clearly that nothing is impossible to people with determination.
It is not just athletes with disabilities who have to adapt to difficult circumstances to pursue their sporting times in these uncertain times. The global pandemic prevented many sports people from training or travelling to qualifying tournaments. The athletes who marched out behind their national flags in the Parade of Athletes were the lucky ones, the determined ones, the irrepressible ones, the ones who had found a way to be in Birmingham tonight. Athletes like Kawsar and Freshta Sherzad who led out the first nation in the Parade, Afghanistan. When the Taliban retook control, they had to seek sanctuary in America, in order not to face punishment for the "crime" of simply being a sportswoman. People like Luisa Rizzio, proudly carrying the Italian flag in her wheelchair. The deeply competitive Drone Racer has not let her lifelong disability nor her four-hour round trip to her training venue deter. Olympians like Stanislav Horuna, the Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist, who was this year forced to take up arms to defend his beloved homeland from the Russian invasion. The Ukrainian athletes received a rapturous reception and the second loudest cheer of the evening.
The loudest naturally was reserved for the hosts. This is only the second time that the United States has hosted The World Games since the very first edition in 1981, in the California town of Santa. The sports mad Alabama public lapped up the appearance of the world class American athletes. Amongst those enjoying the acclaim of the Provident Stadium crowd was Birmingham native, Haylie McCleney; a special moment for the Tokyo 2020 silver medalist in softball.
After the entrance of the athletes, it was time for the raising of the three flags associated with the multi-sport event. The flag of The World Games was borne by six very successful sportspeople, who were among the eight voted by sports fans across the globe as The Greatest Athletes of The World Games. The American flag was carried by state dignitaries from Alabama and the Olympic one was naturally entrusted to a mixture of Olympians and Paralympians.
In his speech to officially open the Games, Mayor Woodfin stated "We embark on history. We stand on one belief, Unity! This is an event that bridges divides and makes new friendships. We will make history in the spirit of Unity. The World Games is just a beginning and we are once again going to change the globe."
Jose Perurena, President of the International World Games Association quipped "It is great to be in Sweet Home Alabama. The volunteers made us welcome from the moment we arrived." He also expressed sympathy with the athletes who were prevented by the pandemic from competing in Birmingham. In keeping with the theme of Unity, Perurena promised that "The only walls you will see in Birmingham are those used by our Sports Climbers.” After the recital of The World Games Oath, funkster supreme, Bootsy Collins appeared on the giant video screen and showed clips of the story of Birmingham. He asserted that the divisive past was conquered by "The Power of One" and that same power was available to everyone present tonight. Fittingly, it was the strains of "We shall Overcome" that filled the night time skies, that ended the formal part of the proceedings and allowed the joyous party to begin.
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.