EVENT AND MEDICAL OVERVIEW
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The World Games 2022 international sports event was held in Birmingham , Alabama ( USA ) between July 7 and July 19 , 2022 . There were 3,459 athletes
FOUNDATION PARTNER and 1,417 coaches / extra delegates from around the world who came together to compete in 45 unique sports , at venues across the Birmingham metropolitan area . This highly visible stage showcased elite athletes from 99 countries to compete for gold , silver , and bronze medals in each event . More than 600 medals were awarded , including 200 gold medals for the ultimate champions in each sport . This was the first The World Games ( TWG ) event held in the United States since the 1981 The World Games in Santa Clara , California .
Medical care for The World Games 2022 was a huge success . There were 772 medical encounters : 289 ( 37.4 %) involved athletes , and 483 ( 62.6 %) involved spectators . Most medical concerns ( 92.5 %) were managed at the field of play , resulting in few urgent care ( 22 total ) and emergency room visits ( 34 total ) and only two known hospitalizations ( 0 among athletes ).
Two official medical partners , UAB Medicine and the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center , were selected by TWG as sponsors for the medical coverage of all athletes , teams , delegates , and the spectators for each of the events . Two chief medical officers , one from UAB Medicine and one from the Andrews Sports Medicine Institute , served to oversee all sports medicine coverage . Physician venue directors were assigned to oversee the sideline medical care , special events , arrival / departure , after-hours , and recovery and acute care of the athletes at each venue . The aim of the medical program was to provide comprehensive preventive and acute medical care for all athletes , with the goal of treating and returning them ( as appropriate ) to competition as quickly as possible . The medical team also provided essential medical care for spectators during the event to prevent an influx of cases to the medical system given the size , scope , and heat associated with a July event in Birmingham , AL .
In order to provide a consistent and high level of medical care , each venue was assigned a sports medicine physician director who was either on site or immediately available to staff volunteers during all events and activities . The director ’ s role was to ensure that staffing , resource , and general medical oversight needs were met at the venue . Each field of play was staffed by physicians , athletic trainers , advanced practice providers , and other staff who were coordinated by the venue medical director . A medical room was equipped and available for athletes who needed to be taken off the field of play for care ( such as IV fluids ) and observation . RNs staffed the medical rooms and followed the field of play physician ’ s orders for monitoring and care of athletes .
The local emergency medical systems ’ Emergency Medical Technician ( EMT ) and paramedic staff were assigned to each venue and worked cohesively with on-site medical teams to provide emergency medical support and ambulance transfer to local hospitals . Good working relationships that already existed between emergency medicine physicians and sports medicine providers contributed to them working together as a collaborative , successful team .
UAB Medicine provided all medical coverage for the spectators . Spectator first aid locations were created and clearly marked at every venue . These stations were staffed by physicians , advanced practice providers , registered nurses ( RNs ), licensed practical nurses ( LPNs ), certified medical assistants ( CMAs ), and students . The aim of the spectator first aid program was to provide first aid care and advanced , moderate emergency care that could potentially eliminate the need for transport to local emergency rooms — which could overwhelm a medical system given the influx of potential spectators for an event this size . This care included IV fluid / medication therapy and other medical therapies that could be administered on site . Each venue had emergency medicine physician oversight , and an assigned RN leader responsible for staffing shifts , training staff , and managing logistics and resources . Staffing and / or logistical needs that could not be met were escalated to our 24 / 7 centralized Incident Command Center for resolution .
The World Games Playbook : Event and Medical Overview 3