The International Word Games Association on Thursday announced Birmingham will host the July 2021 event, selection the Magic City over Russian and Peruvian bids. Association President José Perurena said in a Thursday statement that Birmingham offers all of the prerequisites to stage the event, including sporting venues, infrastructure, and support of the city administration and the National Olympic Committee.
The World Games premiered in the U.S. in 1981 and have not returned to the country since. The international sporting events held every four years under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee feature more than 4,000 athletes and officials from about 100 countries, according to the IWGA website.
Gov. Robert Bentley on Thursday congratulated Birmingham and said in a statement the economic impact will be significant. According to AL.com, the Birmingham region could see an economic impact of more than $256 million.
The 10th edition of The World Games will be held in Poland in the summer of 2017. The 11th edition of the World Games will be held in Birmingham in July 2021.