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The World Games 2022 is the most accessible sporting event ever—why it matters
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When you watch The World Games 2022, you’ll see an event that’s changing Birmingham and the world for the better. The sports event is partnering with Birmingham’s Lakeshore Foundation and Drummond Company to create an event that embraces accessibility for athletes and fans alike. Check out what they’re doing and why it matters—then, buy your tix to see it all happen.
The world is coming to Birmingham next summer
In The World Games 2022 (TWG 2022), over 3600 top international athletes will compete in 34 sports in venues throughout Birmingham. From July 7-17, 2022, you can see how this major event impacts our city.
Thanks to a partnership with Birmingham-based nonprofit Lakeshore Foundation and Drummond Company, the Games will be the most accessible in its 40-year history. Pretty cool that it’s happening here, right?
Don’t miss the action—get your tickets to The World Games 2022 today.
Creating a legacy of inclusion in Birmingham
When the Birmingham Organizing Committee began planning for TWG 2022 to come to The Magic City, they wanted to make inclusivity a priority.
So, TWG 2022 is partnering with Lakeshore Foundation and Drummond Company to make everything about the event inclusive and accessible, from the flyers to the sports. Their initiative, A Journey to One World, One Games, won’t just make a difference right now + in our city—it’ll impact disability inclusion in future sporting events everywhere.
“Accessibility inclusion is like flipping on a light switch. Once the light is on, you always see it. The most important thing is we shine a light on inclusion and access.
In Birmingham, we understand that having people go in the back door or having people not be able to sit with their families when they watch sporting events is not okay.”
Amy Rauworth, Chief of Development and Strategic Partnerships, Lakeshore Foundation
A Journey to One World, One Games
The Initiative for Disability Inclusion and Access presented by Drummond Company will focus on four strategies:
1. Establishing a diverse & representative steering committee for The World Games 2022
An important part of creating the initiative was making sure that the committee itself is representative of a wide variety of abilities and perspectives. By partnering with Lakeshore Foundation and Drummond Company, the team at TWG can design a program that’s accessible.
“Inclusivity is making sure you have people at the table who it matters to. If you don’t have a person at the table, it is often not something that is thought about.”
Kathy Boswell, VP of Community Engagement, TWG 2022
2. Creating an inclusive & accessible experience for athletes
In 2022, The Games will introduce wheelchair rugby for the first time. The sporting event will showcase the talent and passion that each athlete has.
Beyond the sports, an accessible athlete experience means that international athletes will be able to see our city. The TWG 2022 team will share accessible options with athletes and shine a light on businesses that prioritize inclusion.
3. Enhancing accessibility & inclusion for fans
A major part of how this will be the most accessible sporting event yet is through the fan experience. The Birmingham Organizing Committee will work to ensure the venues used during The Games have plenty of accessible seating. Plus, they’ll share transportation options, so fans can get to and from the venues.
“By showcasing this as an initiative, even small business owners will understand that the more universal you can be, the more customers you can provide service to. The disabled community values that, and they bring along their family and their friends. That’s something really important our whole community will learn from.”
Amy Rauworth, Chief of Development and Strategic Partnerships, Lakeshore Foundation
4. Developing a training & education program for staff, volunteers & partners
Have you ever thought about how the font on a poster might make something harder to read? If you haven’t, you aren’t alone—but that’s why the Lakeshore Foundation and Drummond Company is educating everyone involved with TWG 2022. From sharing the importance of accessibility to actionable steps that individuals can take, this training will help everyone bring what they learn into their own communities.
The World Games 2022 is creating a brighter future for Birmingham accessibility now
Next year, Birmingham will make history. Thanks to The Games’ partnership with the Lakeshore Foundation and Drummond Company, we’ll be able to see the way this changes our community for the better for years to come. Trust me—you don’t want to miss it.
“I know what The World Games represents; I know what it can do for Birmingham and the state of Alabama. It’s good for the community, the athletes, all of us. In 2022, it’s a new generation of sports.”
Noah Galloway, Honorary Co-Chair, The World Games 2022
The World Games 2022 Disability Inclusion Initiative, presented by Drummond Company Inc., will be a must-see.
Are you ready to see history made in Birmingham? Get your tickets for The World Games 2022 today, and sign up to volunteer during The Games.
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