The president of the International World Games Association (IWGA), the Spaniard José Perurena, will explore the possibility Ukrainian athletes who qualified for the mega-event in Birmingham, Alabama, can be received in the United States weeks in advance to train.
In exclusive statements to Around The Rings, Perurena confirmed he will meet with the organizers of the Birmingham 2022 World Games next Friday, March 25, starting at 9:00 a.m. “but with no set time to finish.”
This will be the last meeting for Perurena on U.S. soil to analyze the preparations for the multidisciplinary contest, before his next visit days before the opening of the Games on July 7.
The Spanish manager confirmed to ATR the IWGA General Assembly will be held in Madrid on May 19, and the progress of the World Games will be examined again, along with other unavoidable issues for the 39 international federations that comprise it.
The organizers of the Birmingham 2022 and Chengdu, China 2025 Games have been invited to the capital of Madrid.
This IWGA Congress was planned to be held within the context of the Sportaccord Convention postponed in 2021 and canceled in 2022 in Yekaterinburg, Russia as an effect of the sanctions on Russia over their invasion of Ukraine.
Athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus were banned from participating in the upcoming World Games in line with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) recommendation. The World Games are recognized by the IOC.
This meeting with Birmingham 2022 this week had already been planned since last December in Perurena’s previous visit, to assess the visa process in general, the epidemiological situation and the qualifying tournaments.
But the Russian invasion has added an unforeseen circumstance to the agenda of a Games postponed in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The IWGA president has explained he intends to discuss the implications of the Ukraine situation at the new meeting with the organizers in Alabama
“We are urging our colleagues at the Birmingham Organizing Committee to do everything in their power to persuade the U.S. State Department to facilitate the issuance of visas to participants from Ukraine.
“The IWGA will do everything possible to help Ukrainian athletes and officials to participate, despite all the difficulties they face,” Illia Shevliak, president of the Sports Committee of Ukraine (SCU), said in a letter.
Perurena also wrote to each of the international federations that make up the IWGA with the exhortation to support Ukrainian athletes who qualify.
“The problem in theory is how this senseless war is developing,” the Spanish director told ATR, alluding to the decisions to be adopted at all times.
It is estimated around 60 athletes could qualify for Birmingham but the exact number will be known after the March 31 deadline.
Perurena drew attention to the fact that neither Russia nor Belarus will compete, the ranking will move and more Ukrainians could get tickets.
As a rule, Ukrainian competitors who could potentially compete in the American city are enlisted in the military defense units.
“Birmingham 2022 is willing to do everything possible to help those athletes.
“But of course they cannot get a visa there, there is no U.S. embassy or consulate in Kyiv, they cannot go out to another country to process it because they have to fulfill their duties.
“Well, we have to find a solution,” said Perurena.
The multi-sport event will take place from July 7-17. The program includes 34 sports with 58 disciplines and 223 medal events. During the 10 days of competition, 3,600 athletes from some 100 countries are expected.
“Our deepest condolences for the losses your community has already suffered in this senseless war. Our hearts go out to you and to the entire Ukrainian people, especially the sports community. We are in awe of the bravery that all of your people are showing. Rest assured of our continued support,” Perurena wrote to Shevliak.
Perurena also described the first actions taken by the IWGA, which has already made “a substantial contribution” to the Aid Fund created by the SCU, which brings together more than 60 non-Olympic sports federations. The director declined to comment on how much the IWGA donation amounted to. .
Illia Shevliak in her reply to the IWGA President said many Ukrainian athletes, including those who are qualified for the 2022 World Games, are defending their country with arms or volunteering to help the army and people in need.
Several of the athletes have died.
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