BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (April 22, 2021) Press Release: Dave McKinney – The World Games 2022 (TWG2022), a multi-sport event that will take place in Birmingham from July 7-17, 2022 and feature an anticipated 3,600 athletes participating in more than 30 different sports, today announced its sustainability program. The program has been designed to ensure The Games have a positive environmental impact on the host city of Birmingham, Ala.

Vulcan Materials Company is joining The World Games 2022 as the official Sustainability Sponsor. Vulcan joins more than 40 other companies to join in support of The World Games 2022.

The International World Games Association is extending this commitment to sustainability and will work alongside the Birmingham Organizing Committee to ensure a positive global environmental impact.

Initiatives announced by the Birmingham Organizing Committee include:

• Tree planting to both beautify the city and impact positive air quality. This initiative will be done with Francesca Gross of Trees Birmingham and will include four total trees planted near historic Legion Field
• Repurposing of signage as either garden compost or in the creation of totes or art pieces
• Food rescue which enables partner Grace Klein Community to provide more food to Birmingham’s hungry (#FeedBHM) and prevent food waste
• Creation of Birmingham’s first zero-waste venue
• Installation of Solar Energy Stations at Protective Stadium and the BJCC. The Solar Energy Stations will be created by Empower Solutions.

The World Games is partnering with Trees Birmingham, an initiative with plans to plant trees across the city.

Trees Birmingham aims to offer education about the public health and environmental benefits of urban trees and to offer support/expertise across Birmingham metro organizations and municipalities for tree planting, maintenance, and conservation.

Signage for The World Games 2022 is already being seen throughout the Birmingham area, the Birmingham Organizing Committee has taken steps to determine what signage material can be recycled. Signage developed from non-recyclable plastics will be repurposed into memorabilia, such as notebooks, tote bags and art pieces which will be made available for purchase or donated to local school systems.

As with any event of this size, there will likely be uneaten, untouched food from some of The Games’ facilities. The World Games is working with food service providers and Grace Klein Community to rescue good food and put it into the hands of Birmingham’s hungry.

The World Games 2022 is a global event, and no global events comes without its share of trash. The World Games 2022 has joined forces with Field Culture Compost, a local startup that won last year’s Alabama launchpad and is now part of the Velocity Accelerator at Innovation Depot, to provide a place to take compostable materials from The Games, providing the first ever no-waste venue event in Alabama history.

Multiple Solar Energy Stations will be installed in the area surrounding Protective Stadium and the BJCC, representing a lasting gift from The World Games to the city. The stations will include LED lights and will have the capability to charge cell phones and additional small electronic devices, as well as provided much needed shade.

“Each of these initiatives will be a legacy of The Games,” said Nick Sellers, CEO of The World Games. “One of our goals from the beginning has been to leave Birmingham a better place than before The Games. All of these initiatives will help us accomplish that goal.”