A distinguished guest for the World Games. Thomas Bach, IOC President, will travel to Birmingham, Alabama (United States), for the next edition of the multisport event, scheduled for July 7 to 17, 2022. The German leader responded favorably at an invitation from the Spaniard Jose Perurena, president of the International World Games Association (IWGA). He is expected to attend the opening ceremony on July 7 and several meetings on the sidelines of the competitions. Thomas Bach will not be making his first visit to the World Games. He attended the 2013 edition in Cali, as vice-president of the IOC, then the next one four years later in Wroclaw, Poland. He had then chaired the Olympic body for four years. The World Games, of which Birmingham will receive the next edition a year late due to the pandemic, bring together sports and disciplines not included in the Olympic Games program.
