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Birmingham has been selected as the host city for the 2021 World Games.
The International World Games Association announced the selection at 4:42 Thursday morning in Lausanne, Switzerland. Birmingham placed a bid in June 2014. It was the only city from the United States to bid on the games.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for our city, state and region,” said Edgar Welden, Co-Chairman for the Birmingham Local Organizing Committee. “The World Games will use numerous venues during the 11-day event and this will be a wonderful way to show case Birmingham and Alabama to the world.”
The city competed for the bid against Lima, Peru and Ufa, Russia. All three cities submitted videos and then hosted the site selection committee.
Birmingham City Council President Johnathan Austin and Scott Myers with the state's Sports Hall of Fame traveled to Lausanne making a final push. Austin spoke once the announcement was made and said he's having to pinch himself.
Myers says they have been working on this since July 2013 after visiting a game himself.
The city plans on using venues around the city will be used to for the games. Meyers says Birmingham has the capacity to host the games because of all the great sporting venues in the city including: Boutwell Auditorium, the BJCC, Crossplex, Barbers Motorsports, Samford, UAB, and Birmingham Southern.
Legion Field would be used for the open and closing ceremonies.
"This was a tremendous effort involving many companies and individuals throughout Birmingham, including both the public and private sectors, all pulling together and working hard to secure this bid," Myers. "Hosting the 2021 World Games will provide us with a tremendous opportunity to showcase our city to the world."
Birmingham's budget for this is $75 million. Some of that is public funds, but most of it is coming from corporate sponsorships.
The city's convention and visitor's bureau pledged $125,000 to make a bid on the games.
The World Games are similar to the Olympics, only much smaller. The games happen every four years and were last hosted in Colombia. They feature lacrosse, bowling, softball and racquetball along with several other sports during the 11-day event.
The International World Games Association announced the selection at 4:42 Thursday morning in Lausanne, Switzerland. Birmingham placed a bid in June 2014. It was the only city from the United States to bid on the games.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for our city, state and region,” said Edgar Welden, Co-Chairman for the Birmingham Local Organizing Committee. “The World Games will use numerous venues during the 11-day event and this will be a wonderful way to show case Birmingham and Alabama to the world.”
The city competed for the bid against Lima, Peru and Ufa, Russia. All three cities submitted videos and then hosted the site selection committee.
Birmingham City Council President Johnathan Austin and Scott Myers with the state's Sports Hall of Fame traveled to Lausanne making a final push. Austin spoke once the announcement was made and said he's having to pinch himself.
Myers says they have been working on this since July 2013 after visiting a game himself.
The city plans on using venues around the city will be used to for the games. Meyers says Birmingham has the capacity to host the games because of all the great sporting venues in the city including: Boutwell Auditorium, the BJCC, Crossplex, Barbers Motorsports, Samford, UAB, and Birmingham Southern.
Legion Field would be used for the open and closing ceremonies.
"This was a tremendous effort involving many companies and individuals throughout Birmingham, including both the public and private sectors, all pulling together and working hard to secure this bid," Myers. "Hosting the 2021 World Games will provide us with a tremendous opportunity to showcase our city to the world."
Birmingham's budget for this is $75 million. Some of that is public funds, but most of it is coming from corporate sponsorships.
The city's convention and visitor's bureau pledged $125,000 to make a bid on the games.
The World Games are similar to the Olympics, only much smaller. The games happen every four years and were last hosted in Colombia. They feature lacrosse, bowling, softball and racquetball along with several other sports during the 11-day event.
