A special guest for the World Games. IOC President Thomas Bach will travel to Birmingham, Alabama (USA), for the next edition of the multi-sport event, scheduled for 7 to 17 July 2022. The German leader accepted an invitation from Spain’s Jose Perurena, president of the International World Games Association (IWGA). He is expected to attend the Opening Ceremony on 7 July and several side events. This will not be Thomas Bach’s first visit to the World Games. He attended the 2013 edition in Cali, in his capacity as IOC Vice-President, and the following one four years later in Wroclaw, Poland. He had been President of the Olympic body for four years. The World Games, whose next edition will be held in Birmingham a year later than usual due to the pandemic, bring together sports and disciplines that are not on the Olympic programme.
