We’ve provided the lowdown on some of the more, um, unique sports at the 2022 World Games – korfball, muaythai and lyonnaise, anyone? But for casual sports fans coming to the international event in Birmingham this July, there are some competitions that may be a little more familiar (albeit with a twist or two).
Gymnastics
Long a staple of international competition, putting us on a first-name basis with the likes of Olga, Nadia, Mary Lou and Simone, this ancient sport will be a staple of the World Games. But don’t expect the traditional events you’ve grown accustomed to over summers past. The World Games version is quite varied:
- Acrobatic – Featuring five divisions, ranging from two to three-member teams, this form combines music, team synchronization and individual elements to award a winner. Defending champs: Great Britain (men), Russia (women), Germany (men’s pair), Russia (women’s pair) and Russia (mixed pair). Note: the Russian teams will not be back to defend their title. Russian and Belarusian athletes were banned from The World Games in the wake of the Ukraine invasion.
- Aerobic – Athletic teams perform complex and high-intensity movements to music, just as the ancient Greeks intended. Defending champs: Korea (dance mixed), China (group mixed), Spain (pair mixed), Russia (step mixed) and Japan (trio mixed).
- Rhythmic – For women only, this discipline includes five apparatus – rope, hoop, ball, clubs and ribbon (the latter event may be more familiar). Defending champs: Russia (ball, clubs, hoop, ribbon – women).
- Parkour – A training discipline where athletes get points for moves including running, climbing, swinging, vaulting, jumping, rolling, crawling and more. Defending champs: None. This is a new addition.
- Trampoline – Athletes perform acrobatics while flying through the air. Defending champs: Russia (double-mini men), United States (double-mini women), China (synchronized men), Ukraine (synchronized women)
- Tumbling – From the sound of it, this looks closer to the floor exercise we’re accustomed to, with athletes showing off jumps and tumbles while utilizing speed, rhythm and athleticism. Defending champs: China (individual men & women)
Flag Football
Now this will get crowds going. Instead of pads and taking down runners in the open field, defenders stop the offense by pulling a flag attached at the hip. Five-man teams have four downs to cross midfield and another four to score, so the action is wide open. Touchdowns are worth six points and coaches can opt for a 1-point conversion (from the 5-yard line) or a 2-point conversion from the 10. Oh, yeah, the length of the field is 50 yards long, so think back to the halcyon days of the Arena Football League, except this action is outdoors. Defending champ: None. This sport, featuring men’s and women’s divisions, is new for 2022, but we like it.
Lacrosse
A ball and stick sport that originated in upstate New York and spread to the Great Lakes was originally dominated by the Algonquian nation – the Crimson Tide of the era. Now a popular sport among NCAA powers (and pro leagues), lacrosse features six-on-six action across a field 70 meters long. The games are divided into four 8-minute quarters and there’s a 30-second shot clock. Defending champ: United States (women). After the sport’s 2017 World Games debut it expands to include men’s teams this year.
Softball
A fixture of college and international competition, the softball rosters will be loaded with stars from the Women’s College World Series and professional leagues. Defending champ: None. After a hiatus in 2017, softball is back at the World Games for the third time.
Sumo
Powerful wrestlers compete in this Japanese form of competition. Matches are typically short – from seconds to a minute. But the elaborate victory ritual makes up for the lack of sustained action. Defending champs: Russia men (Lightweight), Ukraine women (Lightweight), Russian men (Middleweight), Mongolia women (Middleweight), Russian men and women (Heavyweight) and Russia men and women (Open Weight). With the Russian ban, sumo titles are wide open.
The adventure for all begins July 7. Check doingmoretoday.com frequently for more updates and information on The World Games.