The World Games 2022 announced its new official theme song, “Hope of Alabama.”
The song will feature a handful of artists such as Randy Owen of ALABAMA, Yung Bleu, Sara Evans, Jamey Johnson, Pastor Mike Jr., Worth the Wait, Chuck Leavell of the Rolling Stones, Ruben Studdard, Taylor Hicks, Bo Bice, Martha Reeves, the Blind Boys of Alabama and the combined youth and adult choirs of the World Games 2022. The music will blend a wide range of genres, including rock, country, R&B, gospel and hip-hop.
It was produced by World Games Artistic Director Dr. Henry Panion III.
“The song says what we always say," said Ricky McKinnie of the Blind Boys of Alabama. "It shows that even then and now that people need people and working together can work, in the past and the present. You have younger artists and older artists working together. Speaking for the Blind Boys of Alabama, we are proud to know that our music still is relevant from the past into the future, and we are proud to be a part of the World Games.”
The 40th annual World Games will be held in Birmingham and is estimated to generate $256 million in economic impact. The event will showcase 3,600 athletes from all around the world competing in 34 unique, multi-disciplinary sports such as archery, ju-jitsu, sumo wrestling, billiards and more.
“[‘Hope of Alabama’] is a clarion call for the world when we need it the most – a call for hope and unity,” says the World Games 2022 CEO Nick Sellers. “'Hope of Alabama’ is a testament to music’s power to lift humanity to a better place.”
The World Games will kick off on July 7 at Protective Stadium with Unlocking the Magic: Celebrating the Power of The One, an event hosted by Alabama Power to celebrate the history of sport and Birmingham. The presentation will offer live entertainment and include a parade of athletes from over 100 countries.
The games will conclude on July 17 also at Protective Stadium with the grand finale, One World-One People: Celebrating Legacy, Achievement & Unity.
You can listen to the theme song below.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email will.blakely@1819news.com.
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