The 2017 World Games are in the history books. Held every four years and organized by the Colorado Springs, Colorado-based International World Games Association, they take place the year following the Summer Olympic Games and date back to 1981. This year’s festivities were held from July 20-30 in Wroclaw, Poland.
Here are some key numbers to help put the World Games in perspective, and some interesting figures to look forward to when the event comes to Birmingham, Alabama, in 2017.
31: Number of non-Olympic sports as diverse as bowling, sport climbing and tug of war that are part of the World Games
3,251: Number of athletes that participated in the World Games
111: Number of countries represented by athletes at the World Games
103: Number of countries represented by athletes at the 2013 World Games in Cali, Colombia
84: Number of countries represented by athletes at the 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei
240,000: Number of spectators that attended 2017 World Games events
63: Most medals won by a single country, Russia (including 28 gold)
22: Number of medals won by the United States (including six gold)
5: Most medals collected by one athlete, Columbian roller skater Fabriana Arias (including three gold)
30: Number of medals Poland won (9 gold, 10 silver, 11 bronze)
400: Number of hours of content that were broadcast in 130 countries
861: Number of media credentials issued to individuals from 50 countries
1,600: Number of volunteers who journeyed from 59 countries to help assist with events
2021: The year Birmingham, Ala., will host the World Games
11th: The edition of the Games that will be held in Birmingham
2: Number of times the United States has hosted the World Games; the other was in 1981, for the inaugural World Games held in Santa Clara, Calif.
3.4: Number of people, in millions, who live within 100 miles of Birmingham
0: Number of times Birmingham has previously hosted an international sports event
256.5: Estimated economic impact, in millions of dollars, of the World Games for Birmingham
125,000: Cost, in dollars, of the application fee Birmingham paid to bid on hosting the World Games
50: Amount, in millions of dollars, that Birmingham 2021 CEO DJ Mackovets estimates for the World Games’ budget
83.5: Amount, in millions of dollars, that Wroclaw invested in hosting the event, including infrastructure and venue renovation
400-Plus: The number of hours of live television the event enjoyed.
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