New downtown venues to host World Games inline speed skating, drone racing
The World Games 2022, scheduled for July 7-17, has moved its drone racing and speed skating competitions to new venues downtown.
The competition for drone racing is moving from Barber Motorsports Park to Protective Stadium, and the track speed skating competition is moving from the Birmingham CrossPlex to the Powell Steam Plant, located on 18th Street next to Railroad Park.
This is the same inline speed skating event that 2022 Olympic gold medalist Erin Jackson competed in for the United States at The World Games 2017 in Poland.
In February, Jackson made history in Beijing as the first Black woman to win a speed skating gold medal.
“Moving drone racing and speed skating to downtown Birmingham brings both of these action-packed competitions to the very heart of the city,” said Nick Sellers, CEO of The World Games 2022.
Officials say the downtown venues should enhance the experience for fans and athletes.
The new venues allow the city to show off Protective Stadium and the “exciting redevelopment” underway in Parkside, Sellers said.
Historic Powell Steam Plant, which is being renovated as a mixed-use project, is “the perfect site” for speed skating, due in part to the numerous entertainment options nearby in Parkside, said Jonathan Porter, chair of the Birmingham Organizing Committee for the Games and an Alabama Power senior vice president.
The facility is also “a national landmark that played a vital role in the story of Birmingham’s growth,” Porter said.
Tad Snider, executive director and CEO of the BJCC, which owns and operates Protective Stadium, called drone racing “an incredible competition that will light up the night.”
The stadium is adjacent to City Walk Bham, the site of The World Games Plaza, where there will be free entertainment options for spectators, Snider said.
The competition for a second type of speed skating — road speed skating — will take place on the streets downtown. At press time, the route and other information had not been announced.
“As exciting as speed skating is, can you imagine just how much more thrilling it will be to watch international athletes go zipping by on streets in downtown Birmingham?” Sellers said.
It will be “an incredible sight,” he said.
Barber Motorsports Park will remain the venue for canopy piloting, and Birmingham CrossPlex will host such competitions as wheelchair rugby, canoe polo, finswimming and inline hockey.
It is estimated The World Games 2022 will draw about 500,000 visitors to the Birmingham area and bring an estimated $256 million in economic impact.
For details, go to twg2022.com.
This story was edited by the Iron City Ink staff.