L.A. Named Inaugural World Urban Games Host

LOS ANGELES, CA — Los Angeles is on a roll. The Global Association of International Sports Federations chose the City of Angeles to host the first World Urban Games in 2019 Monday. And if that goes well, the city will host the second games as well in 2021. The announcement is another feather in the cap of city leaders who have worked to boost the city's world profile by being chosen to host the 2028 Olympics and bidding for a chance to host 2026 World Cup games.

LA beat out finalists such as Budapest for a chance to host the World Urban Games, a sports program that would include up to 14 disciplines in Olympic and Non- Olympic sports. Potential sports to be included are 3×3 Basketball, BMX Freestyle Cycling, Boulder Sports, Breakdance, Climbing, Freestyle Flying Disc, Inline Freestyle, Parkour, Roller Freestyle, Skateboard and Sprint Orienteering.

"The first World Urban Games will be a historic event and we are confident that we couldn't have a better host than the city of Los Angeles," said GAISF Senior vice President Raffaele Chiulli. "L.A. is a young, vibrant and creative city which has helped to shape youth culture and the urban sports which are the very heart of the World Urban Games.

"These games will be a five-day festival combining new-generation sports, music and culture and L.A. promises a huge welcome for the world*s leading urban sports athletes and fans from across the world.

Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, chairman and CEO of NantWorks and owner and executive chairman of the Los Angeles Times, will chair the World Urban Games L.A. Organizing Committee.
"We are honored that the GAISF council chose Los Angeles and we're excited to bring youth-focused sports competitions to the community," he said.

The agreement for the 2021 edition is conditional on the success of the 2019 event, a statement said. The GAISF made the decision Monday morning in Lausanne, Switzerland.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report. Photo: MARINA DEL REY, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: Breakdancers perform at Lupus LA's MBJAM 17 on September 16, 2017 in Marina del Rey, California. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images for Lupus LA)