The American flag’s march through Alabama ahead of the 2022 World Games continued on Saturday with a stopover in Huntsville five days before arriving for Thursday’s Opening Ceremony at Protective Stadium in Birmingham.

“After traveling through the heartland of the United States and the great state of Alabama, it will be an electrifying moment to see former United States Army Sergeant Noah Galloway carry the flag during the opening ceremony before an audience. world live,” said Nick Sellers, CEO of World Games 2022.

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The flag traveled 3,100 miles across the country, taking turns in 15 states ahead of the global sports competition which will take place across the Birmingham metropolitan area.

The 11th edition of the World Games will take place from July 7 to 17. This year’s games mark the first time since 1981 that they have been played in the United States

The flag’s journey to Alabama began May 25 in Washington, DC, where it flew over the US Capitol before being handed out to veterans participating in the relay.

He arrived in Mobile on June 26 and was part of a ceremony at Bienville Square before passing through Africatown, Spanish Fort, Loxley and Robertsville before arriving in Pensacola, Florida on Monday.

The flag passed through many cities in Alabama such as Andalucia, the State Capitol in Montgomery, Clanton, Springville, Chelsea, Columbiana, Argo, Elmore and Deatsville in the past week.

He will travel to Madison, Decatur and Moulton on Sunday before arriving in Haleyville around 4:30 p.m.

The flag will travel to Columbus, Mississippi on Monday. Tuesday will arrive in Tuscalooa.

On Wednesday, the flag is expected to arrive at Hoover around 1 p.m. before passing through Vestavia Hills and Homewood. His arrival in Birmingham is scheduled between 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

The opening ceremony takes place around 8 p.m. on Thursday.

The Birmingham 2022 World Games welcomes approximately 3,600 athletes from more than 100 countries who will compete in 34 unique multidisciplinary sports.

The event will take place in more than 25 locations across the metropolitan area and is expected to generate an estimated economic impact of $256 million for the state.