Birmingham, Alabama, to Host 2021 World Games

The International World Games Association has chosen Birmingham, Alabama, as the host city of the 2021 World Games. The other finalists that bid to host the 11th edition of the multi-sports event were Lima, Peru, and Ufa, Russia.

“We are happy to showcase our sports in Birmingham in July 2021, and we are sure that we will be offered optimal conditions for our sportsmen and women there,” said IWGA President Jose Perurena. “All the bids we received were of very high quality, and it was not easy for us to reach a decision. We have to deliver nothing less than outstanding World Games. We are convinced that Birmingham will exceed these expectations.”

Birmingham will be the first U.S. city to host the World Games since the inaugural edition took place in Santa Clara in 1981. Its status as host city is subject to successful negotiation of contractual conditions and subsequent confirmation at the IWGA’s Annual General Meeting in April, after which the agreement will be signed.

The 10th edition of the World Games will be staged in Wroclaw, Poland. The IWGA flag will be handed over to the representatives of Birmingham during the closing ceremony on July 30, 2017.