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Following a meeting of the city council on Monday, the city of Duisburg, Germany, has announced to withdraw as host city for the 2013 World Games, just nine months after Ron Froehlich, President of the International World Games Association (IWGA), announced the IWGA Executive Committee's decision to award the 9th World Games 2013 to the two German cities of Duisburg and Düsseldorf.

The World Games, first held in 1981, are an international multi-sport event, meant for sports that are not contested in the Olympic Games. The World Games are organized and governed by the IWGA, under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The sports that are included in the World Games are limited by the facilities available in the host city. Typically, between 25 and 35 sports are contested at any particular World Games. One of the official medal sports in the World Games is Tenpin Bowling.

Duisburg and its partner cities Mülheim on the Ruhr, Oberhausen and Bottrop hosted the 7th World Games in the year 2005, the most successful event in the IWGA history.

Duisburg Mayor Adolf Sauerland who was also the myor in 2005, couldn't hide his disappointment about the decision. "We have made the 2005 World Games a great sporting event which attracted worldwide attention. I am sure that we in cooperation with Düsseldorf would have made the 2013 Games even better. Nevertheless, with the background of the legal restrictions (economizing plans) I understand and respect the decision of the council."

Sauerland has immediately informed IWGA president Froehlich, the president of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB, the umbrella sports association in Germany), Dr. Thomas Bach as well as his counterpart in Düsseldorf, Mayor Dirk Elbers, of the council's decision.

As a consequence of Duisburg's decision, Elbers announced on Tuesday that Dusseldorf will also withdraw its candidacy.

Though disappointed by the withdrwal, IWGA president Froehlich is confident to find another German bidding city for the 2013 World Games.

The 2009 World Games will be held from July 16-26, 2009 in Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei. The bowling competition will be staged at Happy Bowling Alley from July 20-22.

(Source: bowlingdigital.com)