After being rescheduled by one year, due to the postponement of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, The World Games Birmingham 2022 (TWG2022) in Alabama, America is less than 300 days away, starting on 7 July 2022 and finishing just over a week later, on 17 July.
 
The World Games is a multi-sport event staged every four years by the International World Games Association (IWGA) under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee. Birmingham 2022 will be the 11th edition of the event and it is set to feature 600 athletes from more than 30 sports and 100 countries – including wheelchair rugby.
 
“This is the first major international multi-sport event with sport competitions for athletes with and without disabilities on the same programme,” said Nick Sellers, CEO of The World Games 2022 to local media. “The Paralympics and the Olympics are coming together, but not before Birmingham, Alabama can lay claim.”
 
Beach handball has been part of the World Games since it was introduced as a demonstration/invitational sport back in Japan in 2001. It followed in Germany (2005) and Chinese Taipei (2009), before becoming a full sport at the 2013 edition in Colombia. Poland was next in 2017, with the USA now scheduled for 2022.

Qualification procedure
 
Eight (8) men’s and eight (8) women’s teams qualify for the beach handball competitions of TWG2022 with three (3) in each competition already through, leaving five (5) teams in each to qualify.

Women’s Competition

1. Host: United States of America (USA)

2. World: Greece (GRE) winners of the 2018 IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship

3. Europe: Germany (GER) winners of the 2021 EHF Women’s Beach Handball European Championship

4. Africa: (TBC) winners of the CAHB Women's Beach Handball African Championship

5. Asia: (TBC) winners of the AHF Women's Beach Handball Asian Championship

6. North America and the Caribbean: (TBC) winners of the NACHC Women's Beach Handball North America and the Caribbean Championship

7. Oceania: (TBC) winners of the OCHF Women's Beach Handball Oceania Championship

8. South and Central America: (TBC) winners of the SCAHC Women's Beach Handball South and Central America Championship

Men’s Competition

1. Host: United States of America (USA)

2. World: Brazil (BRA) winners of the 2018 IHF Men’s Beach Handball World Championship

3. Europe: Denmark (DEN) winners of the 2021 EHF Men’s Beach Handball European Championship

4. Africa: (TBC) winners of the CAHB Men's Beach Handball African Championship

5. Asia: (TBC) winners of the AHF Men's Beach Handball Asian Championship

6. North America and the Caribbean: (TBC) winners of the NACHC Men's Beach Handball North America and the Caribbean Championship

7. Oceania: (TBC) winners of the OCHF Men's Beach Handball Oceania Championship

8. South and Central America: (TBC) winners of the SCAHC Men's Beach Handball South and Central America Championship

In case a Continental Confederation is not able to organise a continental championship by 31 March 2022, the place will be awarded to the previous champions from the corresponding continent.

To see the qualified teams on the TWG2022 website, click here.
 
Competition format

In total, 60 beach handball matches will be played at TWG2022, 30 in each competition per gender.

Preliminary round
This initial stage features two (2) groups (Group A and Group B) of four (4) teams each, in both the men’s and women’s competitions. Teams play the other teams in their group once, across a total of 12 matches (three per team):

Group A: A1, A2, A3, A4
Group B: B1, B2, B3, B4

Matches:
Round 1: A1-A3; A2-A4; B1-B3; B2-B4
Round 2: A4-A1; A3-A2; B4-B1; B3-B2
Round 3: A1-A2; A3-A4; B1-B2; B3-B4

Intermediate round
After the preliminary round, teams ranked 1st and 2nd in Group A and 3rd and 4th in Group B pass to Intermediate Round - Group I and teams ranked 1st and 2nd in Group B and 3rd and 4th in Group A pass to Intermediate Round - Group II.

This phase will be played with two groups of four teams each. The respective preliminary round results from the matches played against opponents who also go through to this round remain valid for the ranking. A total of eight (8) matches will be played, with each team playing two matches. 

Group IR I: 1A, 2A, 3B, 4B
Group IR II: 1B, 2B, 3A, 4A

Matches:
Group IR I: 1A-4B; 2A-3B & 1A-3B; 2A-4B          
Group IR II: 1B-4A; 2B-3A & 1B-3A; 2B-4A

Final phase
The 1st ranked teams from Group IR I and IR II pass directly to the semi-finals, while teams ranked 2nd and 3rd in Groups MRI and MRII will play in the quarter-finals, as follows:

Quarter-finals
QF1: 2IR I-3IR II
QF2: 2IR II-3IR I

Placement round 5-8
PL1: Loser QF1-4 IR I
PL2: Loser QF2-4 IRII

Placement 7/8: Loser PL1-Loser PL2
Placement 5/6: Winner PL1-Winner PL2

Semi-finals
SF1: 1st MRI-Winner QF2
SF2: 1st MRII-Winner QF1 

Medal matches
Bronze-medal match: Loser SF1-Loser SF2
Gold-medal match: Winner SF1-Winner SF2

The final daily match schedule will be released following the next TWG2022 Competition Manager meeting, set for 29-30 November 2022.
 
Venue
 
As reported on ihf.info back in March, beach handball at TWG2022 will take place in one of the most spectacular venues ever to host the sport, the National Historic Landmark of ‘Sloss Furnaces’ in Birmingham.
 
Originally operating as an iron-producing blast furnace from 1882 to 1971, Sloss Furnaces became one of the first industrial sites in the United States to be preserved and restored for public use and were designated as a landmark by the United States Department of the Interior in 1981.
 
As part of their promotion with local television channel and NBC Affiliate, WVTM 13, TWG2022 is running a series of programmes in the lead up to the event entitled ‘Birmingham Welcomes the World’ with the latest edition released this month featuring a brief overview of the venue. Be sure to check it out here (from 2:36-3:06).
 
The series of programmes can be viewed here.
 
Tickets
 
Tickets* are now on sale via the official website here.
 
As part of their programme to create a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience for everyone involved, TWG2022 are offering ‘Free General Admission Kids Tickets’ at the door (to any non-sold out event) at a number of venues, while all children under two years old are free at all venues.
 
For more information on these special deals visit https://twg2022.com/special-tickets.

*The final daily match schedule will be released following the next TWG2022 Competition Manager meeting.
 
Merchandise
 
The official TWG2022 merchandise shop is now open with a variety of items for sale, why not buy some in advance and show your support? Visit https://shop.twg2022.com to browse what is available.
 
Official mascots - Vulcan & Vesta
 
‘Vulcan’ and ‘Vesta’ are the official mascots of TWG2022 and embody the spirit of Birmingham’s history.
 
The near two-metre tall, grey Vulcan is a symbol of Birmingham’s history of iron and steel. He is joined by Vesta, Goddess of the Hearth and Home.
 
Together, they will explore Birmingham and the State of Alabama entertaining crowds, attending events and making special appearances leading up to TWG2022. In July 2022, they will be a common sight at venues, special events and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
 
And you could be involved as TWG2022 are inviting people to apply to be the mascots or their handlers, visit https://twg2022.com/mascots to apply.
 
Music, music, music
 
William ‘Bootsy’ Collins has been appointed to be the Master of Ceremonies by the Birmingham Organising Committee for TWG2022. A world renowned Master of Funk, his work dates back to the late 1960s, as a member of the backing band for the legendary James Brown and from there, he went on to create some of the most icon funk music of the 20th Century.
 
He will also be joined by country music icons Randy Owen and Sara Evans with many more musical acts to be announced as the event draws closer.
 
Volunteer and Intern for TWG2022
 
The organising committee of TWG2022 are looking for volunteers across numerous areas, including Operations, Hospitality, Venue service, Volunteer services, Transportation, Ceremonies, Medical and much more. For more information and to apply, visit https://twg2022.com/volunteer.
 
They are also welcoming applications for their internship programme entitled ‘The Parker Boswell Internship Program’. Applications can be made through the official website at https://twg2022.com/intern. 
 
Connect with TWG2022
 
Official website: https://twg2022.com/
Handball: https://twg2022.com/sports/handball/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TWG2022
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twg2022
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWG2022
 
Event hashtag: #RoadtoBHM
 
About The World Games
 
The World Games is an extraordinary, international sports event held every four years, in the year following each Summer Olympic Games. Staged over 11 days, The World Games represents the pinnacle of competition for 3,600 of the world’s best athletes in 30+ unique, multi-disciplinary sports. The World Games generates worldwide exposure for participating sports and provides a highly visible stage on which athletes from more than 100 countries compete for gold.
 
More than 600 medals will be awarded to the competing athletes, including 200 gold medals for the ultimate champions in each discipline. The World Games 2022 will be held in Birmingham, Alabama from 7 to 17 July 2022, generating an estimated economic impact of $256 million for the city. Marking The World Games’ 40th anniversary, this will be the first edition of the event to be hosted in the United States since the inaugural World Games in Santa Clara, California, in 1981.
 
The World Games is led by the International World Games Association (IWGA), a non-profit organisation that is composed of 37 International Sports Federations and recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
 
Visit www.theworldgames.org for more information.