The City of Birmingham, the Parks and Recreation Board and The World Games 2021 recently came to an agreement about which Birmingham venues would host events for the upcoming World Games. Here are five locations where you can witness The World Games, July 15-25!

1. Legion Field & McLendon Park

While the World Games originally planned to host their opening and closing ceremonies at the upcoming Protective Stadium, those ceremonies will now be held at Birmingham’s Legion Field.

“We have a unique opportunity to present Birmingham and the state of Alabama to the world; so, our mission will be to deliver the best and most innovative competitor, spectator and sponsor experience in the history of the World Games.”
Nick Sellers, CEO of World Games 2021

2. Sloss Furnaces

Sloss Furnaces will host the Breaking (also known as breakdancing) style of DanceSport. Breaking is usually set to hip-hop, funk, soul and breakbeat music.

During the Parkour section of Gymnastics, athletes will aim to get from one point to another in the most efficient way possible. I can’t wait to see athletes parkour their way through Sloss!

The World Games will also show Men’s Beach Handball at Sloss. During Handball, two teams of five will pass, bounce or roll a ball to each other in an attempt to score in the goal of the opposing team.

Finally, Sloss will host all three types of Sports Climbing: Bouldering, Speed, and Lead.

3. Crossplex & Bill Harris Arena

Inside the Bill Harris Arena at the Birmingham Crossplex, athletes will compete in all three styles of Roller Sports: Inline Hockey, Artistic, and Speed Skating.

Additionally, the Crossplex will host the Canoe Polo, Lifesaving and Underwater Finswimming competitions in the Crossplex Natatorium.

4. Boutwell Auditorium

FB IMG 1555888267017 5 Birmingham venues approved for events during 2021 World Games — Fans attending a concert at the Boutwell Auditorium. Photo via Boutwell Auditorium

If martial arts is your forte, head to the Boutwell Auditorium to see three different types! There will be Kickboxing, Muaythai, and Sumo at the auditorium.

5. Avondale Park

IMG 7111 5 Birmingham venues approved for events during 2021 World Games — Entrance to Avondale Park. Photo by Pat Byington for Bham Now

Avondale Park will host two types of archery: Field Recurve and Field Barebow. In addition, competitors will play Boules at the park. Boules is a sport in which athletes throw or roll heavy balls as close as they can to a small target ball.

Don’t know how to pronounce “boules?” Neither did we. See how Bham Now team members Nathan and Matthew (and other locals) tried to pronounce “Boules”