World Games rescheduled for 2022 as a result of delay to Tokyo Olympics

Following the delay of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games until the summer of 2021, the next World Games have also been pushed back a year. The Games will now take place on 7-17 July 2022 in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. 

The move prevents a clash between the major multisport events and athletes potentially having to choose one or the other.

“A great deal of detailed work is now required to implement this decision,” said International World Games Association president Jose Perurena. 

“But I am impressed by the flexibility and efficiency of the Birmingham Organising Committee; they have been able, just two days after the International Olympic Committee’s announcement, to get all the main organisational items in place.”

Target and field archery feature at the World Games. Compounders shoot the target discipline, while recurve and barebow athletes compete in the field archery events.

This delay is not expected to impact the sports programme or venues. 

Much like the Olympics, national teams must qualify quota places to send athletes to the archery competitions at the World Games. 

The qualification process for the field archery events has not yet been affected. It is planned to begin at the 2020 World Archery Field Championships in Yankton this September.

However, the qualification process for the target archery events has already been disrupted by the current suspension of international competition due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Potential adjustments to the qualification procedure will be assessed and an update announced when the hiatus ends.

World Archery secretary general Tom Dielen said: “Moving the Olympic Games has widespread implications for sport and particularly next year’s calendar. We fully support the decision to delay the World Games and look forward to a fantastic event in 2022.”