Racquetball and Softball return to The World Games

The official Sports Programme for The World Games 2021 in Birmingham, Alabama has just been published at the Annual General Meeting of the International World Games Association (IWGA), which is taking place during the SportAccord summit in Bangkok, Thailand. 3,600 athletes from more than 100 countries will compete in 30 official sports when The World Games return to the United States for the first time since 1981.

“Racquetball and Softball will return to the programme of The World Games,” announced Joachim Gossow, CEO of the IWGA. Racquetball was last played as an official sport at The World Games in 2013 and Softball as an official sport in 1985.

A total of 30 official sports will be showcased at the multi-sport event, to be held from 15 to 25 July 2021 in Birmingham, Alabama. Information regarding to disciplines from each sport that will feature in the Games will be published later this year.

IWGA President José Perurena says: “I’m sure this programme will be attractive for spectators, both on site and on screen. It strikes a good balance between team and individual sports, and demands widely varying skills such as strength, precision, control, artistry, endurance, courage and agility. We took account of all the reports on last year’s Wroclaw Games and the performance of our various federations. Now we have to fine tune the specific events in association with our federations. We’re all set for great Games in Birmingham 2021.”

Some of the 30 sports were on the official programme of the very first edition of The World Games in Santa Clara (USA) in 1981: for Bowling, Finswimming, Gymnastics, Karate, Powerlifting, Racquetball, Roller Sports, Softball, Tug of War and Water Ski, the 11th edition of The World Games will also be their 40th anniversary at the Games.

Sports at The World Games 2021:

Artistic & Dance Sport

DanceSport (WDSF)

Gymnastics (FIG)

Martial Arts

Ju-Jitsu (JJIF)

Karate (WKF)

Kickboxing (WAKO)

Muaythai (IFMA)

Sumo (IFS)

Ball Sports

Canoe (ICF)

Fistball (IFA)

Floorball (IFF)

Handball (IHF)

Korfball (IKF)

Lacrosse (FIL)

Racquetball (IRF)

Softball (WBSC)

Squash (WSF)

Precision Sports

Archery (WA)

Billiards (WCBS)

Boules Sports (CMSB)

Bowling (WB)

Strength Sports

Powerlifting (IPF)

Tug of War (TWIF)

Trend Sports

Air Sports (FAI)

Finswimming (CMAS)

Flying Disc (WFDF)

Lifesaving (ILS)

Orienteering (IOF)

Roller Sports (World Skate)

Sport Climbing (IFSC)

Waterski & Wakeboard (IWWF)

The World Games is a multi-sport event staged every four years by the International World Games Association under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee. The 11th edition of The World Games will be held in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, 15-25 July 2021. 3,600 athletes from over 30 sports and 100 countries will take part in the Games.