UAB providing venues and more in support of World Games 2022 in Alabama

The World Games 2022 (TWG2022) and UAB have partnered to add competition venues and other support for the international event coming to the metro area next year.

The Birmingham Organizing Committee for TWG2022 and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) announced Monday that UAB will host several competitions across its campus, including at BBVA Field (lacrosse), UAB Track and Field facilities (tug of war) and UAB’s University Recreation Center (racquetball and squash).

“UAB is uniquely situated and prepared to support The World Games and ensure that Birmingham makes the most of this great, unique opportunity to showcase our city and state to the world,” said UAB President Ray L. Watts. “The UAB community looks forward to being gracious hosts for athletes and spectators alike, and our campus and its amenities offer a beautiful and modern setting that will leave a lasting, positive impression.”

UAB will serve as the foundation sponsor for TWG2022 Legacy Memorial and the presenting sponsor of UAB Athlete Village, which will offer housing in UAB residence halls for athletes, coaches and officials. UAB Medicine will be the presenting sponsor for athletics and spectator medical services at TWG2022 venues.

The university will also provide language services for international athletes and visitors.

“This is an enormous partnership for The World Games 2022,” said TWG2022 CEO Nick Sellers. “Not only is UAB opening up their world-class campus as host for competitions and ‘Athlete’s Village’ for many of our athletes and coaches, but their partnership extends to several other areas, including leadership and support for our entire medical committee. Having this academic, athletic and medical cornerstone of Birmingham as a major partner of The World Games 2022 represents a strong commitment from our community to this historic moment.”

The official partnership announcement came Monday at BBVA Field, featuring remarks from Sellers, Watts and TWG2022 Chairman Jonathan Porter.

TWG2022 is an international multisport event organized with the support of the International Olympic Committee and will take place in Birmingham July 7-17, 2022. An anticipated 3,600 athletes will participate in more than 30 sports throughout TWG2022.

Other venues that have been announced include Protective Stadium (opening and closing ceremonies), Legion Field (Flag Football @TWG2022 Presented by the NFL), Birmingham CrossPlex (inline hockey, artistic roller skating, indoor and outdoor speed skating, wheelchair rugby, lifesaving, finswimming and canoe polo), Boutwell Auditorium (sumo, kickboxing and Muaythai), Hoover Metropolitan Complex (softball), Sloss Furnaces (sport climbing, breaking, parkour and beach handball), Birmingham-Southern College (fistball, karate, wushu, ju-jitsu and orienteering), Oak Mountain State Park (waterski/wakeboard, canoe marathon and middle distance orienteering), Barber Motorsports Park (drone racing and canopy piloting), Avondale Park (target archery and field archery) and John Carroll Catholic High School (flying disc).