In 2015, Birmingham in Alabama beat Peru’s capital Lima and Russia’s Ufa to host the 2021 World Games. The games will open on July 7, 2022. After the summer games in Tokyo were moved to summer 2021, the World Games were also postponed by one year. Around 3,600 athletes from 106 countries – 262 of them from Germany – compete in 34 sports at the multi-sport event of the non-Olympic associations.
IOC as patron of the World Games
“From the point of view of the world sports federations, it is certainly the case that we are the most important games following the Olympics. Because we organize them for the top athletes in non-Olympic sports,” says Hans-Joachim Gossow, Chairman of the International World Games Association.
The International Olympic Committee has the patronage of the World Games. But there is little in common with Olympia. The requirements for potential organizers are significantly lower.
“There must be a sports infrastructure, because we are not asking for any new sports facilities. There must be reasonable transport connections that ensure that over 4,000 athletes can be transported accordingly. And of course there must also be appropriate accommodation, i.e. hotels or as we use it now in Birmingham, universities that can provide appropriate premises.”
Registration costs a fraction of Olympia
Many organizers use the games to renovate their infrastructure. In 2017, Wroclaw used the World Games to speed up the construction of an indoor swimming pool and a speed skating ring.
Hosting these games costs only a fraction of the Olympics. The summer games in Tokyo devoured up to a reported 30 billion US dollars. World Games boss Gossow estimates the budget for his event at an average of 60 million US dollars. Birmingham planned to apply with 75 million, now the costs should even be lower according to media reports.
“The special thing regarding the games in the USA is that they are financed completely without public funds, I would like to say: almost without public funds. The organizers work together with sponsors from the economy,” explains association boss Gossow.
The organizer may take over the complete marketing. In contrast, the International Olympic Committee earns billions from its TOP sponsorship program at its major events, but only passes on part of the proceeds.
No billions from television rights
TV rights don’t bring in billions at the World Games either. But the 2017 games were already broadcast worldwide. The US network CBS, the Chinese state broadcaster CCCTV and ESPN cover the games in different regions. In countries without a TV contract, the Olympic Channel shows the images from Birmingham. Sport 1 also broadcasts live for a hundred hours. Editor-in-Chief Pit Gottschalk:
“Because sports are shown there that aren’t otherwise the focus of attention, such as tug-of-war, fistball or powerlifting. And there’s also wonderful feedback from our viewers that we’re showing it.”
Sports with Olympic ambitions
Of the 34 sports in the World Games program, there are also some with Olympic ambitions, Gossow says.
“For many associations, the World Games are also the so-called stepping stones to the Olympics. You can see that from the last recordings of the Olympic Games.”
This is how karate and climbing made it to Tokyo, breakdance will be in Paris in 2024. In the homeland of American football, flag football should be recommended for Los Angeles 2028. The disembodied version of football celebrates its premiere in Birmingham. In contrast to the original, the athletes do not wear a helmet or other protective clothing. For the German quarterback Benjamin Klever, the World Games are something special.
“I’ve been playing flag football for almost 20 years now, on the national team for 15 years and have played various European championships, world championships. But to play at Legion Field in Alabama, at this venerable place, for me it’s definitely in my sporting career is the greatest.”
It’s just as exciting for the hosts. According to Klever, Alabama is a football fanatic state, while Birmingham is home to a dominant college team. And the National Football League sponsors the World Games flag football tournament. Goal: the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. 32-year-old Benjamin Klever when asked if he wants to be there in six years:
“Then I always say: If Tom Brady can still play in the NFL at 45 or older, then I can still play flag football at the Olympics at 38. And that’s definitely a goal. So if it that’s where I want to go.”
The decision will be made next year. Then the Los Angeles organizing committee can propose flag football as a new sport at the IOC session.
