SportAccord 2015 Day 3: Birmingham, USA Signs World Games Host Agreement; ASOIF considers its Membership
April 21, 2015
On day three of the SportAccord Convention in Sochi, the focus was on a city on the other side of the world – as Birmingham, Alabama was officially signed off as the host for the World Games in 2021.
Following the Annual General Meeting of the International World Games Association, President José Perurena, and Mayor of Birmingham William A. Bell signed the Host Agreement for the 11th edition of the multi-sport event.
The World Games operate under the patronage of the IOC and are a quadrennial and multidisciplinary sports event. The event is a significant showcase for more than 25 sports, including those with Olympic aspirations such as Squash, Tug of War, Sumo and Roller Sports.
It’s a homecoming for the Games which were first held in Santa Clara, California in 1981.
”We are happy to celebrate our anniversary back in the USA,” Perurena said after the signing ceremony.
“We are sure that we will be offered optimal conditions for our sportsmen and women in Birmingham. We have to deliver nothing less than outstanding World Games. We are convinced that Birmingham will exceed these expectations.”
Birmingham was chosen as host in Lausanne in January ahead of other candidate cities Lima, Peru and Ufa, Russia.
Mayor Bell was visibly thrilled to be in Sochi to confirm his city’s status as 2021 World Games host.
”This in important day for us,” he said. “The citizens of Birmingham are excited about this opportunity to showcase ourselves to the rest of the as a great sports city. We do our very best to make sure this is the best World Games you have in some times.”
ASOIF considers SportAccord membership
Meanwhile, the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) announced in the Russian city that they have suspended their membership of SportAccord.
The move comes after SportAccord president Marius Vizer’s criticism of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Monday.
An ASOIF statement said: “ASOIF Council unanimously decided to suspend ASOIF’s association with SportAccord with immediate effect pending a full review and formal clarification of the following points:
“1. SportAccord mission
“2. SportAccord activities (SportAccord Convention, multi-sport games events and IF services etc)
“3. SportAccord governance and management (including its constitution, participation of stakeholders and levels of consultation)”
The council will review the decision and put it before the ASOIF General Assembly which takes place on Wednesday.
The International Association of Athletics Federations and International Shooting Sport Federation already announced the withdrawal of their membership of SportAccord on Monday.
2019 World Beach Games
Sochi will be the host city for the inaugural World Beach Games in 2019, SportAccord have announced.
The announcement was made by president Marius Vizer at the SportAccord General Assembly, which convened for the 2015 SportAccord Convention.
Vizer said SportAccord will be taking a much bigger role in the organisation of the event, which was initially to be done in collaboration with the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC).
He stated that ANOC can still be involved as well as other National Olympic Committees (NOC).
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