Birmingham’s upcoming World Games will get the highest level of security attention from the federal government.
The games has been given a level-one Special Event Assessment Rating by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, a move that designates the games as a high-risk event but that will bring in federal officers to help secure the area.
Nick Sellers, the games’ chief executive officer on Thursday briefed the Jefferson County Commission on the move. The level-one designation is reserved for major events with large crowds, such as the Super Bowl, Kentucky Derby and Indianapolis 500 — usually about six events per year.
“We went to the (DHS) with a request … with respect to overall security coordination. There are five different levels that Homeland Security gives an event. We were a level three, and we asked for a two. They came back with a level one security rating for this event,” Sellers said. “With that comes great benefits in terms of having one of the safest and most secure events that our community has ever seen.”
The rating, and the federal assistance that comes with it, also comes with a bit of a price in terms of inconvenience for World Games participants and spectators.
“It’s very rare that you get the full benefits without some burdens,” Sellers said. “For instance, some parking decks are going to be shut down in and around the city center and perimeter area.” The full list of restrictions will be announced later as plans develop.
For past level-one events, federal assistance has included explosive detection canine teams, cyber risk assessments, venue screening and field intelligence teams, and air security and tactical operations support, according to a Homeland Security fact sheet.
The World Games is an international multi-sport event, similar in format to the Olympic Games. Most sports featured are those that are not on the official Olympic program, such as lacrosse, sumo wrestling, cue sports (nine-ball pool and snooker), drone racing and flag football. The games will be held July 7-17 at venues across metro Birmingham, including Protective Stadium, Legion Field and the Hoover Met.
Originally scheduled for 2021, the event was delayed a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic that forced the 2020 Summer Olympics to be moved a year later, which would have conflicted with the original World Games dates.
Relief Funds for Food Programs
The commission also approved allocating federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to programs that help feed people adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The allocations were the focus of debate in Tuesday’s committee meeting when objections were raised to the appearance that the funds were being provided by individual elected officials rather than being approved by the full commission.
Three of the requests for food insecurity program funds were approved unanimously: Mission Alabama, $64,900; Christian Service Mission, $190,000; and Jones Valley Teaching Farm, $70,000.
A fourth request – for $175,000 from Kikstart Inc. – was approved on a 3-1 vote, with Commissioner Lashunda Scales abstaining and Commissioner Joe Knight voting no.
Kikstart sponsored a food giveaway event that came under question Tuesday during which gas also was given away and potential voters were registered.
Commissioner Sheila Tyson said the gas giveaway portion was her event, one that did not use county funds, but concerns were raised that it appeared the food and gas giveaway events were interconnected.
Scales at that time expressed concern that the commission wasn’t receiving sufficient credit for its role in distributing the federal funds, as did commission President Jimmie Stephens. Stephens urged that federal money distributions be…