Alabama Power Company helped Birmingham’s corporate community show a united front in support of the city’s efforts to host the 2021 World Games.

Birmingham is competing with two other cities to land the 11 days of competitions of non-Olympic sports with athletes from around the world. Members of the selection committee visited Birmingham this past week to learn more about the city’s bid and the facilities that would be used if the games are held here.

Included in their visit was a breakfast with corporate leaders which Alabama Power hosted at its downtown Birmingham headquarters.

Corporate support vital to World Games

“Welcome to Birmingham and welcome to Alabama Power Company,” Alabama Power CEO Mark Crosswhite said at the meeting. “We hope you find all you are looking for here, including the support the business community has for this venture.”

The Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates the 2021 World Games would have a $256.5 million economic impact on the state. More than 4,000 athletes from more than 100 countries are expected to participate and 26 existing venues have been identified to host different events.

Edgar Weldon, chairman of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and longtime community leader, is serving on the Birmingham organizing committee. He thanked Alabama Power for bringing the corporate community together during the World Games officials’ visit.

“We’re so fortunate to have Alabama Power Company who steps up and supports everything that is good for this community and this state,” Weldon said. “They’re so supportive of bringing things together and supporting projects.”

Weldon said the goal of everything planned during the selection committee’s visit was to convince them of Birmingham’s commitment and promise.

“This is a great sports town,” he said. “The No. 1 goal is to give y’all the best games you’ve ever had. You will not find anywhere, I don’t think, where you have the business community, the foundations, the city, county and state governments and even the federal leadership as united and supportive as what we have here.”

Top sports events and venues included in visit

The visit to Birmingham included stops to potential sporting venues like UAB, Samford University, Birmingham Southern College, Regions Field, Railroad Park, Barber Motorsports Park, CrossPlex, Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex and Lakeshore Foundation. It also included a visit to Tuscaloosa for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide football game against the Texas A&M University Aggies.

It was clear the selection committee members, led by Max Bishop, were impressed with the business leaders at the Alabama Power breakfast.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been in the presence of so many distinguished CEOs at one time,” Bishop, vice president of the World Games executive committee, said. “It is obvious Birmingham is making a very serious bid for the 2021 World Games. I’m always impressed in America how the corporate entities rally around to support the community.”

Bishop noted that in socialist countries the corporate community often feels compelled to support ventures rather than it being a voluntary effort.

Birmingham is competing against Lima, Peru, and Ufa, Russia for the 2021 World Games. A U.S. city has not hosted the games since the inaugural World Games in 1981 were held in Santa Clara, Calif.

Birmingham Mayor William Bell, who was also in attendance at the breakfast, reiterated the city’s bid to win the games extends into every segment of the community.

“This is a total effort of our entire community so you can see the real Birmingham,” Mayor Bell said. “It’s important for you to know the city and the state are committed to making the 2021 World Games are the best you’ve ever had.”

Organizers estimate it will cost $75 million to play host to the games. While state and local governments will carry some of the costs, the bulk is expected to come from the corporate community and foundations and organizations that support such events.

In a press conference at Alabama Power headquarters following the breakfast, Bell said there are plans in place to ensure the city is ready from a public transportation, facilities and public safety standpoint to handle the 2021 World Games.

Although the actual games will take place over an 11-day period, Bell said the city can expect athletes, officials and spectators to visit the city for up to a week before the games.

“We will have the world looking at Birmingham and we know that, like us, they will love what they see,” he said.