RICK: THE COUNTDOWN IS ON AND WE ARE GOING TO PARTY LIKE IT’S 2022. 36 HUNDRED ATHLETES ON THEIR WAY TO THE MAGIC CITY NE SUMMER, WELCOMING THE WORLD AND WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT. ♪ RICK BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA EXPERIENCING A RENAISSANCE, IT’S PEOPLE, ITS HISTORY, ITS VIBE, ALL ON DISPLAY IN THE WORLD GAMES 2022. WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE WORLD GAMES FOR THE NEXT 60 MINUTES. WE HAVE A JAMPACKED PROGRAM. WHO WILL BE IN? WHY IS IT SO BIG FOR NOT ONLY BIRMINGHAM, BUT THE STATE OF ALABAMA? LET’S TALK ABOUT IT. FIRST OF ALL, WHAT IS ON THE SHOW? WE ARE JAMPACKED WE HAVE AN INSIDE LOOK AT EVENTS. THIS IS NOT YOUR FATHER’S OLYMPIC GAMES. THIS IS DIFFERENT. WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF FUN OVER THE NEXT HOUR SHOWING YOU WHAT IS COMIN WE HAVE A ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE MAYOR, TALKING ABOUT HOW BIG THIS IS FOR THE CITY. NFL IS PARTNERING WITH THE WORLD GAMES. HOW ABOUT SOME FLAG FOOTBALL AT THE OLD GRAY LAD YOU DON’T THINK THAT’S A BIG DEAL? WE WILL TALK ABO THAT. WE WILL VISIT WITH JENNIFER CHANDLER, 17 YEARS OLD, BACK IN 1976, SHE WON A GOLD MEDAL IN MONTREAL AT THE OLYMPICS. SHE WILL TALK ABOUT THE PRIDE THESE ATHLETES WILL FEEL WHEN THEY WIN A MEDAL IN 2022. WE HAVE NICK SELLERS, CEO OF THE WORLD GAMES, JUST AS INTELLIGENT AS NICK SABAN. WE WILL TALK WITH HIM. OLYMPIC STYLE FORMAT, EVERY FOUR YEARS, OFFSHOOT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE SPORTS FEDERATION THAT STARTED IN THE 1980’S. FIRST GAMES IN THE 1981. 100 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES REPRESENTED. 3600 ATHLETES COMING TO BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA. I WANT TO GIVE YOU A SAMPLE OF SOME OF THE SPORTS. WE MENTIONED, THE SPORTS ARE UNUSUAL AND DIFFERENT. DON’T THINK FOR A MINUTE THESE FOLKS AREN’T SERIOUS ABOUT THEIR CRAFT. FLAG FOOTBALL, KORFBL, EVER HEAR OF THAT? CANOE POLO. DANCE, WAKE BOARDING, SUMO. THAT WILL BE A LOT OF FUN. JUST SOME OF WHAT YOU WILL SEE. WE CAN’T NAME ALL THE SPORTS. I CAN GIVE YOU ABOUT 10 OF THEM. FISTBALL, I’M NOT EVEN SURE WHAT THAT IS, BUT WE WILL FIND OUT. ROLLERSKATING, SQUASH, BILLIARDS. IT WILL BE A LOT OF FUN. HOW DO YOU GET TICKETS? THE WORLD GAMES ALREADY HAS THEIR WEBSITE SET UP. TWG2022.COM/TICKETS. WOULD YOU LIKE TO VOLUNTEER? OF COURSE YOU WOULD! YOUR VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENT WILL COME TO YOU THIS JULY. YOU WILL HAVE A YEAR TO THINK ABOUT IT. WE MENTIONED VENUES. THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM IN BIRMINGHAM. 3600 ATHLETES COMING IN FROM THE MOTORSPORTS PARK TO THE UAB AREA TO BOUTWELL AUDITORIUM TO LEGION FIELD AND YES, THE BIRMINGHAM CROSS PLEX. IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN OVER THERE, IT IS ONE OF THE BIG-TIME INTERNATIONAL ATHLETIC FACILITIES YOU WILL EVER GO TO, POOL ON ONE SIDE, STATE-OF-THE-ART TRACK ON THE OTHER. IT H BROUGHT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS, WOR ATHLETES FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE. LET’S VISIT. SHE IS THE COMMISSIONER OF THE MAYORS’S OFFICE OF SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT, FILLING US IN. FAYE, JOINING US POOLSIDE, MY DAUGHTER SWIM AND A CLUB FOR YEARS THERE. I HAVE SPENT MANY DAYS UP IN THE STANDS AT CROSS PLEX, POOLSIDE. IT IS JUST FANTASTIC. YOU HAVE THE TOUCHPADS, THE ELECTRONIC SCOREBOARD. BIG-TIME STUFF. YOU HAVE TO BE PROUD. ABSOLUTELY. IT IS DEFINITELY A GYM. THE ONE THING THAT MAKES US SO UNIQUE IS WE HAVE THREE VENUES UNDER ONE ROOF. THE TRACK,THE ARENA, THE POOL. A LOT OF THE FANS WHO ATTEND THIS POTENTIALLY CAN GET THREE EVENTS, THREE TYPES OF EVENTS FOR ONE. YOU JUST WALKED DOWN THE HALL, YOU WILL HAVE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERE. RICK: THAT POOL DRAWS SWIMMERS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. NCAA COMPETITION,, THE PRIVATE CLUBS FROM WESTERN MOBILE AND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. THAT IS A DRAWING CARD. >> IT REALLY IS. WE POSTE WE HOSTED DIVISION II NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HERE, THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA, AUBURN SWIMS HERE. A LOT OF THE S SCHOOLS PARTICIPATE. IT HAS BECOME A GEM OF THE SOUTH. WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE I WE, AS A CITY, WE WANT THIS TYPE OF EVENT, WE WANT THE INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION OF BEING A FAST POOL. RICK: I LOOK FORWARD TO IT. IF YOU WANTED TO ADD ANOTHER EVENT, I WELCOME TO DO A CANNONBALL OFF THE HIGH DIVE. [LAUGHTER] >> I THINK WE SHOULD SOLICIT THE WORLD GAMES AND ASK FOR CANNONBALLING THAT CAN BE A NEW SPORT AND YOU SHOULD BE THE STAR. RICK: THE VISUAL IS NOT PLEASANT. [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU. WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT CANOE POLO. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT YOU WILL SEE IN THE POOL AT CROSS PLEX DURING THE ’22 ROAD GAMES. -- WORLD GAMES. RICK: DID I TELL YOU YOU WOULD SEE SOME CRAZY STUFF? WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT YOU WILL SEE POOLSIDE AT THE BIRMINGHAM CROSS PLEX. COUPLE WEEKS AGO, OFFICIALS AND DIGNITARIES ON HAND AS THE FINAL BEAM WAS LOWERED INTO PLACE AT PROTECTIVE STADIUM, UPTOWN AREA, ACROSS FROM THE ALABAMA HALL OF FAME AND SEC HEADQUARTERS. PROTECTIVE STADIUM, READY TO GO THIS FALL. IT WILL BE THE SITE OF THE OPENING AND CLOSING CEREMONIES FOR 2022. THAT PLACE IS BEAUTIFUL. LATER ON, WE VISIT WITH JENNIFER CHANDLER JONES AND MAYOR WOODFIN, COMING UP IN A FEW MINUTES. HE WILL TALK ABOUT HIS PRIDE IN PROTECTIVE STADIUM. WHAT’S IT DO FOR BIRMINGHAM AND THE UPTOWN AREA? THE MAYOR WOODFIN, ONE-ON-ONE, IN JUST A MINUTE. WE WILL BE BACK. RICK: PROTECTIVE STADIUM NOT THE ONLY PLACE GETTING BUILT BUT GETTING A GREAT MAKEOVER. HOW ABOUT THE BJCC GETTING SPRUCED UP, INCLUDING THE ARENA? TED SNYDER AND THE GUYS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB AT THE CIVIC CENTER. WE CAN’T WAIT FOR THE NEW LOOK IN A COUPLE MONTHS. WELCOME BACK. BIRMINGHAM WELCOMES A WORLD ON JULY 7, 2022 AND WE HAVE BEEN MENTIONING THE UNUSUAL SPORTS YOU WILL SEE IN THE ’22 WORLD GAMES. WHAT IS CORFBALL? A COMBINATION BETWEEN BASKETBALL AND NET BALL. IT IS NOT AS EASY AS YOU THINK. FOR A LOOK, LET’S GO BACK TO THE ' ’17 WORLD GAMES. >> HE WILL STRIKE GOLD. THE GOLD-MEDAL MATCH BETWEEN THE NETHERLANDS AND THE CHINESE IS UNDERWAY. COFBALL HAS CAUGHT THE IMAGINATION OF MANY HERE IN POLAND. THE CHINESE TAIPEI LOOKING TO STRIKE EARLY. MAYBE JUST MAYBE, THE FIRST GOAL! THERE IT I WHAT A START! WHAT A START INDEED WHAT A RESPONSE FROM THE NETHERLANDS! THE WORLD CHAMPIONS, THE BEST THAT THERE IS. A QUITE WONDERFUL -- LONG-DISTANCE EFFORT. KORFBALL REALLY HAS BEEN GIVEN THE PLATFORM TO SHOW EXACTLY WHAT IT IS ABOUT HERE AT THE WORLD GAMES. TWO OF THE VERY BEST IN THE FINAL. GOLD IS AT STAKE. WHICH WAY WILL THE PENDULUM SWING? HERE SHE IS AGAIN, GOES FOR IT, FINDS THE GOAL! SENSATIONAL START! MAGNIFICENT GOALS ALREADY! QUICK FIRE FOR THE NETHERLANDS, THEIR SIXTH GOAL HERE AT THE WORLD GAMES. BLISTERING FIRST COUPLE MINUTES, TO THIS FINAL. ALREADY SEEN BELGI AND THE BRONZE MEDAL -- SO USED TO BE PLAYING IN THE FINAL. RICK: CRAZY STUFF. TALK ABOUT CRAZY STUFF. HOW ABOUT SUMO WRESTLING? BOUTWELL AUDITORIUM WILL BE BUSY AS THE BIG GUYS WILL GO AT IT. BOUTWELL AUDITORIUM, HISTORIC, BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA BY THE COURTHOUSE RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE PARK, YOU KNOW IT WELL. THAT PLACE, AS WE SAY IN THE SOUTH, WILL BE COVERED UP IN 18 MONTHS. FOR A LOOK AT SUMO, BACK TO THE WORLD GAMES FOUR YEARS AGO. [APPLAUSE] RICK: I DO NOT WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THOSE FOLKS. I AM SURE THEY ARE NICE. STAY CLEAR OF THOSE FOLKS. THEY ARE TOUGH INDEED. LET’S TAKE A BREAK. LATER ON, WE VISIT WITH JENNIFER CHANDLER, THE GOLD MEDALIST AND OUR A NICK SEGMENT. AS WE GO TO BREAK, BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA WILL BE HOPPING. THE PRIDEFUL MAN AND BIRMINGHAM IS THE MAYOR. THE ONE-ON-ONE WITH MAYOR WOODFIN, WHEN WE COME BACK. RICK BOY, BIG THINGS HAPPENING IN THE UPTOWN AREA OF ALABAMA. SEC HEADQUARTERS, PROTECTIVE STADIUM, RESTAURANTS, BUZZ GOING AROUND THE GREENWAY BEING FINISHED IN TIME FOR THE GAMES. CONDOS GOING IN IN THE AREA. WHAT AN AREA IT IS! THAT WILL BE HOPPING COME JULY 7, 2022. WELCOME BACK. RICK KARLE HERE. WE TALK ABOUT THE PRIDE WE HAVE IN OUR CITY. YOU THINK ABOUT THE GREAT THINGS HAPPENING FROM RESTAURANTS TO PEOPLE TO CULTURE TO HISTORY. NO ONE IS MORE PROUD OF THE MAGIC CITY THEN MAYOR RANDALL WOODFIN. OUR ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE MAYOR. LET’S CHECK IN. IF THERE IS ANYONE WHO IS PUMPED UP IN THE MAGIC CITY ABOUT THE WORLD GAMES, IT IS MAYOR RANDALL WOODFIN. MAYOR, TELL ME. YOU GET READY FOR THE WORLD TO COME TO SEE WHAT WE ARE ABOUT. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON. YES, THE ENERGY AND EXCITEMENT I HAVE ISRAEL. FOR ONE THING, CORONAVIRUS HAS PRESENTED OUR COMMUNITY WITH CHALLENGES, FOR THE STATE, FOR AMERICA AND THE GLOBE. WE ARE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING OUT. AS WE PREPARE FOR THE WORLD GAMES, I AM EXCITED FOR US TO SHOWCASE OUR COMMUNITY, AT THE SAME TIME, FOR THE WORLD TO SEE BIRMINGHAM. RICK IT IS TAKING SUCH A COMMUNITY EFFORT TO PULL THIS OFF, THE SCHEDULING, BUT THE WAY THE CORPORATE COMMUNITY HAS HELPED YOU. >> I HAVE BEEN THE MAYOR FOR THREE YEARS. ANY COMMUNITY EFFORT, IF YOU CANNOT DO IT WITH A JOINT PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, YOU WILL NOT BE SUCCESSFUL. BIRMINGHAM PROMISE. THE STADIUM. THAT IS A PARTNERSHIP. THE WORLD GAMES. ANOTHER GREAT EXAMPLE OF A JOINT PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT PUTS BIRMINGHAM IN A POSITION TO BE SUCCESSFUL. RICK: THE STADIUM, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN TALK AND NOW IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING. WHAT THIS WILL DO TO THE DISTRICT IS EXCITING. TALK ABOUT THAT. >> HAVING YOUR CONVENTION SPACE NEXT TO YOUR ARENAS AND ALL THE DINING AND FOOD AND BEVERAGE AND BAR OPTIONS IS THE NEW MODEL. THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM, I AM GLAD WE HAVE CAUGHT UP WITH OTHER CITIES, THAT WE ARE TAKING A PAGE OUT OF OUR OWN BOOK AND MAKING IT TAILOR FIT TO OUR COMMUNITY. ALL OF THIS FITS AS FAR AS OUR ABILITY ATTRACT MORE EVENTS TO OUR CITY, MORE SPORTING EVENTS TO OUR CITY. THIS IS A WIN FOR THE COMMUNITY. YOU ARE RIGHT. I’M GLAD WE ARE ABLE TO MOVE BEYOD TALKING. RICK: WE’RE ARE EXCITED ABOUT SHOWING THE WORLD BIRMINGHAM. YOU HAVE TO BE EXCITED ABOUT SOME OF THE SPORTS. KORFBALL, CANOE POLO. YOU ARE A SPORTS FAN, WHAT DO YOU THINK? >> HEY MAN, IT IS COOL. I WAS ON YOUTUBE THE OTHER DAY WITH MY NIECE. SHE WAS SHOWING ME ALL THESE COOL THINGS. I FEEL OLD. SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE I DON’T KNOW EVERYTHING. IT WILL BE IMPORTANT, WHEN THE WORLD GAMES COMES TO BIRMINGHAM THAT SOME OF THESE GAMES WE SEE THAT WE HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE, THAT WE FIND A WAY TO INCORPORATE THEM FOR OUR CHILDREN TO BE EXPOSED TO THEM. I WILL NEVER FORGET, I HAVEN’T CHANCE -- I HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THE COMMITTEE WAS SHOWCASING SOME OF THE GAMES. I REMEMBER THE OOH’S AND AH’S. I FEEL THE SAME WAY THEY DO. RICK: WE APPRECIATE THE MAYOR TAKING MINUTES TO TALK TO US. HE IS A BUSY GUY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE WORLD GAMES. HOW ABOUT MIXED DANCE? I HEAR THE MAYOR IS A GOOD DANCER BUT THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF. AND YES, YOU HAVE TO BE A GREAT ATHLETE TO DO IT. ♪ >> YOU’RE WATCHING BENEDITO AND CLAUDIA FROM GERMANY. THEY HAVE BEEN DANCING TOGETHER FOR 14 YEARS SINCE JANUARY, 2003. ONE OF THE ELEMENTS THE JUDGES WILL BE LOOKING FOR IS JUST HOW THE COUPLES MOVE TOGETHER. RICK: I BROKE A HIP JUST LOOKING AT THE VIDEO. HOW ABOUT THE FLYING DISK COMPETITION. NOT YOUR BACK. WE WILL SEE THAT WHEN WE COME BACK. WE WILL CHAT WITH THE FORMER UAB STAR WHO WENT ON TO PLAY FOR THREE DIFFERENT NFL TEAMS ABOUT THE NFL PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WORLD GAMES. HE IS NOW A BIG SHOT AND WE VISIT WITH HIM AT THE OLD GRAY LADY, WHEN BIRMINGHAM, WELCOMES THE WORLD WHEN WE COME BACK. RICK: JUL 7-17, WORLD GAMES, BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, 2022. BARBECUE, MUSIC, SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY, SWEET TEA -- YOU CAN’T FORGET THAT -- WE CAN’T WAIT TO PLAY HOST TO SOME OF THE BEST AROUND THE WORLD. WELCOME BACK. WE TALK ABOUT THE NFL’S PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WORLD GAMES AND THAT TAKES US TO THE OLD GRAY LADY. DON’T FORGET LEGION FIELD. IT GETS A BAD RAP SOMETIMES BECAUSE IT HAS HOSTED SOME BIG-TIME EVENTS. 1927, IR BOWLS, ROCK CONCERTS, UAB FOOTBALL, STANLEY ROBINSON AND THE GUYS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB KEEPING IT IN GOOD SHAPE. LET’S GO TO LEGION FIELD AND VISIT EISELE REESE. WE TALK WITH HIM ABOUT THE VERY IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIP. HERE H IS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NFL -- YOU LOOK LIKE YOU COULD STILL PLAY FOOTBALL. >> I WISH. GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. RICK: THIS IS EXCITING. NFL PARTNERING WITH FLAG AT THE WORLD GAMES. TELL ME ABOUT THAT. IT’S FOOTBALL. THE NFL SUPPORTS ANY AND EVERY FACET OF FOOTBALL. WITH THE RAPID GROWTH OF FLAG FOOTBALL AROUND THE WORLD, WHAT BETTER BRAND TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE WORLD GAMES? RICK: YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT SOME ATHLETES. THIS IS NOT LIKE FIFTH GRADE, YOU PICKED BOBBY FIRST BECAUSE HE HAS A GOOD ARM. >> YES. FLAG FOOTBALL IS A RELIGION NOW. IT IS A SPORT WITHIN A SPORT. IT IS JUST AS COMPETITIVE AS TACKLE. WOMEN ARE JUST AS COMPETITIVE WITHIN THE SPORT WOMEN AND MEN NOW GET A CHANCE TO REPRESENT THEIR COUNTRY. YOU WILL SEE SOME OF THE BES REPRESENTING THEIR COUNTRY. WE ARE EXCITED. I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THE ACTION AND WATCH IT FIRSTHAND. RICK I WOULD IMAGINE YOU STARTED AS A KID WITH TOUCH OR FLAG FOOTBALL. IT WAS A VERSION OF FOOTBALL THAT SET THE STAGE FOR YOUR FUTURE COMPLIMENTS? >> YES, IT IS WHEN I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE SPORT. IT WAS IN THE BACKYARD, EXACTLY. IT WAS TOUCH. THIS IS AN ADVANCED VERSION OF TOUC IT IS REALLY EXCITING. IT HAS NO AGE LIMIT. RICK: YOU PLAYED FOOTBALL AT LEGION. >> A LITTLE BIT. RICK: ALL THESE BRAND-NEW FANCY STADIUMS AROUND THE COUNTRY -- THIS IS A CLASSIC. YOU WALK IN. TELL ME, WHAT IS IT LIKE AT THE OLD GRAY LADY? >> IT IS A DREAM COME TRUE. TO GROW UP BEING FRO ALABAMA, I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL PLAYING FOOTBALL AND THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WAS ALWAYS IN BIRMINGHAM AT LEGION FIELD. THE HISTORY OF ALABAM AUBURN, THE HISTORY OF UAB, THIS WAS OUR STADIUM TOO. THE MAGIC CITY CLASSIC. HIGH LEVEL HIGH SCHOOLS PLAYING. IT IS THE FOOTBALL CAPITAL OF THE SOUTH. RICK: YOU ARE NOT GETTING ANY YOUNGER. DON’T BREAK A HIP. YOU HAVE TO BE REAL CAREFUL DOWN THERE. [LAUGHTER] >> YOU ARE RIGHT. I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL. I AM A FAN NOW. I AM A FAN OF THE GAME AT ALL LEVELS. IT IS AN HONOR TO BE A PART OF THIS. IT IS AN HONOR TO WATCH THIS HAPPEN. TO HELP ORCHESTRATE THIS, PULLING THE NFL AND THE WORLD GAMES TOGETHER, THIS IS DEAFLY GOING TO BE SPECIAL AND ONE TO REMEMBER. I’M GLAD IT IS HAPPENING IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA. RICK: LEGION FIELD WAS BUILT IN 1927. HOME OF THE IRON BOWL FOR YEARS. GREAT MOMENTS. COLLEGE FOOTBALL, UAB FOOTBALL, IT HOSTED OLYMPIC SOCCER IN 1996. A LOT OF CONCERTS, THE ROLLING STONES, PINK FLOYD. ICONIC MENU. IT WILL COME BACK TO LIFE FOR FLAG FOOTBALL IN 18 MONTHS. HOW ABOUT SOME MARTIAL ARTS? KICKBOXING, NOW THAT IS STRENUOUS, DON’T YOU THINK? WHAT WILL YOU SEE IN THE GAMES. LET’S GO BACK TO 2017. >> NO SLOUCH, SLIGHTLY SMALLER, THE FIGHTER IN BLUE. SHE WILL BE TRYING TO GET INTO CLOSE DISTANCE. >> STOP. FIGHT. GOOD STRAIGHT RIGHT HAND. WORKING AWAY TO THE BODY NICELY. >> FIGHT. >> THE JOB IN GOOD EFFECT. THE FIGHTER IN RED, DROPPING OVER THE SHOULDER. SHE TRIES WITH A SPINNING BACK FIST. YOU SPIN AROUND. WORKED THAT TIME. RICK: LIKE I ALWAYS SAY, TAT WILL LEAVE A MARK. WE WILL TAKE A BREAK. STRAIGHT AHEAD, NICK SELLARS, CEO OF WORLD GAMES, VISITS US AND TELLS US WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IF YOU WANT TO TAKE PART AND HELP HIM OUT. LATER, JENNIFER CHANDLER, 1976, GOES UP TO MONTREAL, WINS A GOLD MEDAL IN THE OLYMPI GAMES AND 44 YEARS LATER, SHE WILL JOIN US, AFTER THE BREAK. RICK: PROTECTIVE STADIUM. ASK ANYONE IN BIRMINGHAM. LOOK. A STADIUM IN BIRMINGHAM? NO WAY. WELL, IT IS HAPPENING. MONTHS FROM COMPLETION, IT IS A BEAUTY. WE WILL CHAT WITH NICK SELLARS MOMENTARILY. HE IS A BUSY GUY. HE HAS A GOO STAFF ACROSS FROM THE SEC BUILDING. THEY HAVE BEEN AT IT DAY AND NIGHT, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, TRYING TO PUT THESE GAMES TOGETHER. THEY ARE PUTTING THEM TOGETHER. LET’S VISIT WITH THE INFO MAN, NICK SELLARS, CEO OF THE WORLD GAMES 2022. WELCOME IN, NICK SELLARS, CEO, HOW YOU DOING? HOLDING UP OK? >> I AM DOING GREAT. I AM REALLY EXCITED. READY FOR THIS PANDEMIC TO BE IN THE REARVIEW SOON. LOOKING FORWARD TO 2022. RICK: WE ARE IN JANUARY ’21 AND BOY, THIS IS CREEPING UP ON US. TELL US HOW EXCITED YOU ARE FOR WHAT BIRMINGHAM IS ABOUT TO SEE. >> THIS, I SAY IT ALL TH TIME, IT IS NOT CLICHE, WILL BE A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY. THE MOMENTUM CONTINUES TO BUILD. STAFF IS GROWING AND GETTING EXCITED ABOUT THE UNDERTAKING FOR THE COMMUNITY. OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS AROU THE COMMUNITY ARE GROWING AND GETTING EXCITED ABOUT IT. MOVING THROUGH 2021, THE DRUMBEAT WILL CONTINUE TO GROW. RICK: HAVE YOU TAKEN TIME TO GET FAMILIAR WITH SOME OF THE SPORTS? >> THIS IS REALLY THE NEXT GENERATION OF COMPETITIONS OF GLOBAL SPORT FOR THE OLYMPICS. IT WILL BE SOMETHING WE HAVE NEVER SEN IN THIS COMMUNITY BEFORE. RICK YOU ENTERED A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NFL FOR FLAG FOOTBALL. A LOT OF FOLKS ARE EXCITED. THEY ARE PLAYING AT THE ICONIC OLD GRAY LADY, LEGION FIELD. HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT? >> IT IS HUGE. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO GET THE NFL IN BIRMINGHAM FOR DECADES. THE WORLD GAMES WILL BE THE ENTREE. WE HOPE THAT CREATES A LASTING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NFL. RICK: PROTECTIVE STADIUM WILL BE READY TO GO FOR OPENING CEREMONIES. YOU TALK ABOUT A HUB AND WHAT KIND OF LIFE THAT WILL BRING TO THE UPTOWN AREA. TALK ABOUT THE OPENING CEREMONIES. IT WILL BE REMINISCENT OF OLYMPICS. FOLKS MARCHING IN. THAT WILL BE A SPECTACLE TO SEE. >> IT IS GOING TO BE A HUGE SPECTACLE. THE PRODUCTION FOR THAT WILL LOOK JUST LIKE YOU WOULD SEE FOR OPENING CEREMONIES, SUPER BOWL HALFTIME SHOW. IT WILL BE FIRST FIVE-STAR PRODUCTION AT PROTECTIVE STADIUM. WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT YOU WILL SEE AND THE WORLD IS GOING TO SEE. 3600 ATHLETES WILL BE PARADING IN, OVER 1000 MEDIA WILL BE THERE TO WITNESS IT FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. THEY WILL BE LET IN BY THE GOVERNOR, OUR GREAT MAYOR, RANDALL WOODFIN, OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY AND FROM LOCAL ICONS WHO HAVE A CONNECTION TO THE HOME STATE. WE HAVE ANNOUNCED CHARLES BARKLEY. WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING SOME OTHER BIG ONES IN MUSIC AND BUSINESS VERY SOON. THOSE ICONS WILL LEAD THIS DELEGATION IN ON GLOBAL TV. I THINK TH FANS AND FOLKS IN THIS COMMUNITY AROUND THE STATE WILL WITNESS SOMETHING THEY WILL REMEMBER AND TALK ABOUT FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. RICK: WE ALL HAVE PRIDE IN THE CITY AND IN THE STATE. WHAT KIND OF PRIDE AND PARTNERSHIPS, COOPERATION HAVE YOU GOTTEN FROM THE CORPORATE COMMUNITY? WHY IS THAT SO IMPORTANT? WE HAVE CLOSE TO 30 CORPORATE SPONSORS THAT CONTINUES TO GROW. IT IS ALL THE NAMES WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THAT EMPLOYEE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS ACROSS THE STATE THAT HAVE JOINED WITH US. IT IS THE BLUE-CHI NAMES AND THE SMALL COMPANIES AS WELL. THEY WILL ALL BE A PART OF HISTORY. WE ARE TRYING TO INVITE MORE TO JOIN WITH US. SEEING ALL THOSE TOGETHER REGIONS BANK, BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD, ALABAMA POWER, MEDICAL TEST, AND THE LIST GOES O WANT TO SUPPORT PUTTING OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD FOR THE WORLD TO SEE. THAT IS WHAT HAS GOT ME EXCITED. WE CAN FIGHT ABOUT THINGS IN TH COUNTRY AND THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS THAT CAN DIVIDE US BUT SOMETHING THAT WILL REALLY UNITE US WILL BE THESE WORLD GAMES. SPORT AND MUSIC HAVE ALWAYS UNITED OUR COMMUNITY AND COUNTRY AND OUR WORLD. THAT IS WHY THIS WILL BE SO VERY SPECIAL. IT TAKES ON EVEN GREATER MEANING, IN MY JUDGMENT, OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC. RICK NONSTOP, 24/7, STAFF DESERVES OUR KUDOS PUTTING TOGETHER THE WORLD GAMES. HOW ABOUT WAKE BOARDING? YOU HAVE SEEN IT BUT WHAT IS IT ABOUT? IT IS NOT AS EASY AS YOU THINK. THIS IS NOT JUST SMITH LAKE. THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF. LET’S GO BACK TO THE WORLD GAMES TO GIVE YOU A TASTE. >> OF THE WOMEN’S WAKEBOARD FREESTYLE, SECON PASS FOR ALEX OF ITALY, PREPARI HERSELF FOR SOME REAL CONCENTRATION, REAL CONTROL. CONTROL WITH FLAIR OUGHT TO DO. ON THE TOP OF THE WAKE, MOVES TO THE FLAT, NOW SHE WILL COME BACK HARD INTO THE CENTER AND CONTROL, HERE WE GO, WITH THE LIFT AND GOOD AIR. AND NOW ONCE AGAIN, LOOKING FOR SOME LOVEL SWIFT CHANGES AND TURNS ON THE POINT WITH THE LEFT FOOT LEADING. OH, SHE IS GONE! THAT WAS UNFORTUNATE. SHE WILL GET ANOTHER GO. RICK: WILD STUFF. THESE FOLKS ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THEIR CRAFT. VERY TALENTED. CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THA FOR EVERY OLYMPIC GAMES, WORLD GAMES, MUSIC IS SUCH A PART OF THE ENTIRE 11 DAYS. THE OPENIN AND CLOSING CEREMONIES, THESE GAMES NEED A THEME SONG. THEY NEED THEME MUSIC THROUGHOUT. SOCIAL MEDIA, TELEVISION, BROADCASTING, BROADCAST ALL OVER THE WORLD, SO, WE GO TO DR. HENRY PANDIAN, MUSICAL PROFESSOR AT UAB AND HE HAS WORKED WITH ARETHA FRANKLIN, STEVIE WONDER. SUPER TALENTED. HE IS NOW IN CHARGE OF PUTTING TOGETHER THAT ENTIRE MUSICAL SCORE. AN ALABAMA ARTS HALL OF FAMER CAN ADD THE NEW TITLE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR FOR THE WORLD GAMES ’22 TO HIS LIST OF OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS. >> I WAS HONORED. THAT IS THE FIRST REASON I BECAME INVOLVED. JUST THE THOUGHT OF BEING INVOLVED, CREATING A MAGNU OPUS LIKE WE ARE PLANNING, VERY EXCITING. >> HE IS UAB’S DIRECTOR OF MUSIC AND TECHNOLOGY. THE GRAMMY AWARD WINNING COMPOSER HAS WORKED WI ARTISTS LIKE STEVIE WONDER AND ARETHA FRANKLIN. NOW HE WILL BE IN CHARGE OF WRITING THE OPENING AND CLOSING CEREMONY SONGS FOR THE WORLD GAMES ’22. ONCE A THEME IS CHOSEN, THE REST WILL FALL IN PLACE. >> ONCE THOSE IDEAS ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO CONVEY ARE LAID OUT GRAPHICALLY, THEN WHAT WE WILL DO IS TURN THOSE GRAPHIC ELEMENTS INTO LIVE PRODUCTION. THE GOAL IS TO REFLECT ON THE MAGIC CITY’S HISTORY AS WELL AS ITS HOPE AND FUTURE. >> I DON’T WANT TO GIVE IT ALL AWAY BUT LET ME SAY THAT IT IS OUR HOPE THAT WHEN YOU COME TO THE WORLD GAMES, BIRMINGHAM, 2022, YOU WILL LEAVE JUST SO MESMERIZED BY THE EXPERIENCE OF IT ALL. >> JOURNAL@C -- WVTM 13. RICK: WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING WHAT HE HAS TO PUT TOGETHER FOR THE GAMES IN 18 MONTHS. YOU CAN GET TICKETS, OR AT LEAST GET IN LINE ON T WEB. WOULD YOU LIKE TO VOLUNTEER? TW2022/VOLUNTEER. YOU WILL HAVE YOUR ASSIGNMENT ON THE VOLUNTEER FRONT JULY THIS YEAR. SO YOU HAVE A GOOD YEAR TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE DOING. LATER ON, JENNIFER CHANDLER TALKS ABOUT THE PRIDE OF WINNING A MEDAL FOR HER COUNTRY. WE WILL CHECK IN WITH HER. WHEN WE COME BACK, WE ARE GOING TRACK SIDE OF THE CROSS PLEX. IT IS SO FANCY, IT IS HYDRAULIC. ONE OF THE FASTEST INDOOR TRACKS IN AMERICA, WHEN YOU COME BACK. RICK: BIRMINGHAM WILL WELCOME THE WORLD IN JULY, 2022. REMEMBER, WE HAVE TO SHOW THEM THAT SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY. THAT IS WHAT THE STATE OF ALABAMA IS ALL ABOUT. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING WITH US. BEFORE WE WIND DOWN, WE WANT TO GO BACK TO THE BIRMINGHAM CROSS PLEX. THAT TRACK ON THE OTHER HALF OF THE FACILITY IS ONE OF THE FASTEST IN THE WORLD. THE FOLKS HAVE HOSTED NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS, FUTURE OLYMPIANS HAVE RUN IN THAT FACILITY. LET’S REVISIT. ALL RIGHT, THIS IS EXCITING. YOU SEE A LOT OF TRACK AND FIELD WHERE YOU ARE. BOY, SOME OF THESE SPORTS, YOU WILL SEE ALL SORTS OF WILD STUFF. >> WE ARE READY. THIS VENUE H HELD AN NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP EVERY YEAR SINCE 2013. THIS IS ANOTHER FEATHER IN OUR CAP. WE ARE EXTREMELY EXCITED. RICK: ISN’T IT GREAT THAT WE HAVE SUCH A GREAT VENUE? EVERY MONTH OR SO YOU SEE THESE HUGE EVENTS AND THESE GREAT ATHLETES COMING FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO THE CROSS PLEX IN BIRMINGHAM. THIS IS A STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY. >> IT IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE FASTEST TRACKS IN THE COUNTRY. WE HAV HOSTED ALL SORTS OF TRACK EVENTS HERE. OFF-SEASON, VOLLEYBALL. THIS IS HOME TO ONE OF THE LARGEST VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THE COUNTRY. WE HAVE SET MANY RECORDS HERE. WE HAVE HAD MANY OLYMPIANS COMPETING HERE. WE ARE SUPER EXCITED TO HAVE SPEEDSKATING HERE. WHOEVER THOUGHT? CROSS PLEX, WORLD-CLASS TRACK. RICK: ANOTHER SPORT IS WHEELCHAIR RUGBY. THE LAKESHORE FOLKS ARE INVOLVED. >> ABSOLUTELY. FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD GAMES, AN ADAPTIVE SPORT WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO OVERALL COMPETITION. WE ARE REALLY EXCITED. WE ARE AT A TIME OF INCLUSIVITY. THERE IS NOT A BETTER WAY TO SH ATHLETES COME IN ALL DIFFERENT SHAPES AND SIZES AND HAVING WHEELCHAIR RUGBY IS ANOTHER FEATHER IN OUR CAP. IT WILL BE IN THE CENTER. WE POTENTIALLY CAN HAVE TW SPORTS GOING ON AT ONCE. I AM KIND OF HOPEFUL OF THAT BUT THAT IS NOT UP TO ME. [LAUGHTER] IT IS UP TO THE FOLKS PUTTING THIS ON. RICK: THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. WE WILL CHECK IN ON ONE OF THOSE EVENTS YOU WILL SEE AT THE TRACK AT CROSS PLEX. RICK GOOD TIME COMPETITION AT THE CROSS PLEX. HAVE A GREAT TIME WHEN YOU GO. THE FOLKS ARE VERY HOSPITABLE AND ALWAYS DO A GREAT JOB. HOW ABOUT FLYING DISK. IT IS NOT A GAME YOU PLAY WITH YOUR FRAT BOYS. THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF. >> EXCELLENT MATCH UP. SO EXCITING. GREAT WAY TO START THIS. LET’S SEE WHAT THE AMERICANS CAN DO ON DEFENSE AFTER THAT LOVELY OFFENSE. THE COLOMBIANS WILL BE EAGER. >> IF YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN THE SPORT OF ULTIMATE BEFORE, YOU WILL NOTICE THE TEAMS WILL CHANGE ENDS AFTER EVERY POINT, TO ACCOUNT FOR THE WIND. ABSOLUTELY NO WIND. THE STORM HAS PASSED. RICK FLYING DISK, ONE OF 34 OR MORE SPORTS YOU WILL SEE IN THE WORLD GAMES ALONG WITH CANOE POLO, BEACH HANDBALL, ROLLERSKATING, SQUASH, SUMO, LACROSSE, ARCHERY, VERY POPULAR IN THE ALABAMA AREA. A COUPLE OF THEM THAT YOU WILL SEE IN THE WORLD GAMES 2022. WHEN WE COME BACK, JENNIFER CHANDLER WON A GOLD MEDAL 44 YEARS AGO IN MONTREAL. SHE STILL WEARS THE PRIDE. WHAT WILL IT BE LIKE FOR THESE 3600 ATHLETES? WHAT WILL THEY FEEL LIKE WHEN THEY WIN? WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT, WHEN YOU COME BACK. THIS IS WVTM 13. RICK: YOU JUST WAIT. UPTOWN, BIRMINGHAM HOPPING IN 2022. WHEW. THINGS ARE HAPPENING THERE WHAT WITH THE STADIUM, THE RESTAURANTS, THE CONDOS, THE GREENWAY, GOOD STUFF HAPPENING IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA. WE WELCOME YOU BACK. A YOUNG LADY OUT OF MOUNTAIN BROOK 44 YEARS AGO, 1976, JENNIFER CHANDLER CAME OUT OF MOUNTAIN BROOK HIGH SCHOOL, WENT MONTREAL, CAME HOME TO BIRMINGHAM WITH AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL. WHAT WILL IT BE LIKE FOR ATHLETES COMING TO BIRMINGHAM IF THEY SHOULD PIN ONE ON THEIR CHEST? WE VISIT WITH THE 1976 GOLD MEDAL WINNER. HERE SHE IS. JENNIFER CHANDLER, GOLD MEDALIST, 1976. HOW YOU DOING? >> I AM DOING GREAT. GREAT TO BE HERE. RICK: APPRECIATE YOU BEING WITH US. HOW DOES A TEENAGER FROM MOUNTAIN BROOK, ALABAMA TURN INTO A DIVER, OF ALL SPORTS? STRANGE, I THINK. >> IT WAS KIND OF SERENDIPITY. MY FIRST COACH WAS THE CUBAN OLYMPIC SWIMMING AND DIVING COACH. CRAZY. HE ESCAPED FROM CUBA, CAME OVER TO BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN COLLEGE AND WAS COACHING. HE TOOK A SUMMER JOB AT MOUNTAIN BROOK. RICK: SEVEN-TIME NATIONAL CHAMP, YOU GO TO MONTREAL, THE THREE METER, YOU WIN GOLD. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE BEING SO YOUNG? HOW DID YOU HANDLE THAT? >> I HAD JUST TURNED 17 IN JUNE. SPENT MOST OF MY TIME AT THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE, AT THE POOL, TRYING TO THINK OF THIS AS JUST ANOTHER MEET. SAME 10 DIVES YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DOING. I DIDN’T LISTEN TO ANYBODY ELSE’S SCORES. I NEVER WATCHED ANYBODY ELSE DIVE. I HAD NO CLUE I WON. IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE FEELING OF ACCOMPLISHMENT TO SHARE WITH MY COACHES AND ALL THE PEOPLE FROM ALABAMA. RICK: WHAT IS IT LIKE BEING ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE REPRESENTING THE GOOD OLD U.S. OF A? >> COMPLETELY OVERWHELMING. NEVER FELT SO PROUD OF MY LIFE. EVEN WHEN I DO ZOOM MEETINGS NOW, WHEN I PLAY THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, I WILL STAND UP. RICK: YOU NEVER FORGET THAT. REGARDLESS OF WHAT COUNTRY YOU’RE FROM, THAT WILL ALWAYS BE WITH YOU. YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE THAT FEELING WITH YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. ABSOLUTELY. YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE THAT FEELING. RICK: DO YOU HAVE YOUR GOLD MEDAL WITH YOU? >> THIS IS THE COOLEST BOX. THE OLYMPIC RINGS, THE TOP OF THIS REPRESENTS THE AWARD STAND AND THE M FOR MONTREAL. HERE IS THE PRIZE INSIDE. THE BOXES REALLY COOL. BUT THIS IS THE MEDAL. I WILL TELL YOU, WHEN THEY PUT THIS AROUND MY NECK, I COULDN’T BREATHE. THERE WAS A PICTURE OF ME WITH MY SHOULDERS AROUND MY NECK. I DIDN’T BREATHE RIGHT FOR I DON’T KNOW HOW MANY MINUTES. I WAS ABOUT TO PASS OUT. IT IS KIND OF HEAVY. IT IS UNUSUAL THAT IT IS ON A CHAIN. WHEN I PUT THIS AROUND MY NECK, I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE PROUD TO BE FROM THE UNITED STATES A AND ALABAMA THAN I WAS IN THAT MOMENT. RICK: WHAT A LEGEND. JENNIFER CHANDLER, GOLD MEDAL WINNER, 1976, SHE HAS CALLED MOUNTAIN BROOK HOME FOR DECADES. TICKET INFORMATION, WE DON’T WANT TO STRESS THIS ENOUG CHECK IT OUT. NO NEED TO GET IN LINE. THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU AS YOU GET READY FOR THE GAMES. OPENING CEREMONIES, JULY 7, PROTECTIVE STADIUM, TIPTOP SHAPE. TRUST ME, YOU WILL HAVE A PARADE OF ATHLETES JUST LIKE ANY OLYMPICS. MUSIC, GUESTS, BIG TIME MUSICAL GUESTS WITH ALABAMA ROOTS. I DON’T WANT TO NAME NAMES BUT YOU CAN PROBABLY FIGURE IT OUT. CELEBRATING THE PAST, RESENT AND FUTURE, THE OPENING CEREMONIES. WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. THIS IS ONE OF MANY PROGRAMS WE WILL BRING YOU ABOUT THE WORLD GAMES 2022. SEVERAL MORE TO COME, 18 MONTHS OUT, A LOT TO TALK ABOUT. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. FOR ALL THE FINE FOLKS HER I, LIKE YOU, ARE PROUD TO BE WAITING AND EXCITED ABOUT THE 2022 WORLD GAMES. STAY SAFE, BE WELL, HAVE A GREAT DAY. WE WILL SEE YOU DOWN THE ROAD.