World Games Pulls Big Attendance In Colombia

By Jay Stuart

The World Games 2013 which ended yesterday in Cali, Colombia, racked up impressive attendance figures. Before the final weekend 73%of all available tickets were sold – a total of about 390,000 tickets. Three days before the closing ceremony the ticket sales had already surpassed the totals for The World Games editions in Kaohsiung 2009 (approx. 284,000 tickets) and Duisburg 2005 (estimated 200,000 tickets). The World Games in Cali began July 25.

The Dance Sport event in Cali was sold out on both days with more than 16,000 spectators in a bullfighting arena. Sumo sold out with more than 6,000 spectators per day. During the Cali competitions, Rugby bid farewell to The World Games – it will be part of the Olympic programme in Rio in 2016. Squash and Softball showcase their sports in Cali while bidding on the shortlist to be included in the Olympics for 2020.

One of the highlights of the Cali Games was a gold medal won by twin sisters. Mirnesa and Mirneta Becirovic  of Austria shared victory in the women’s duo final of the Jiu Jitsu competition.