The signing of the Host City Contract for The World Games 2013 will be delayed after the death of Duesseldorf Lord Mayor Joachim Erwin. The contract between the IWGA and the two host cities was due to be signed in Athens, Greece, during next week’s SportAccord.

“Pending ratification by our Annual General Meeting, and subject to the signing of the Host City Contract in June 2008, our executive has decided to award The World Games in 2013 to the cities of Duisburg and Duesseldorf,” IWGA President Ron Froehlich announced on 17 March.

After the passing of Duesseldorf Mayor Joachim Erwin on 20 May, the proceedings will need to be altered somewhat. The IWGA Annual General Meeting held on 3 June in Athens will still vote on the award of The World Games 2013 to the two German cities. But the formal signing of the Host City Contract will have to be delayed until the Duesseldorf City Council approves its financial contributions once more.

The City Director and Treasurer of Duesseldorf, Helmut Rattenhuber, released a statement on 30 June, reaffirming the second host city’s commitment to contribute to the organization and staging of the multi-sport games in 2013: “In all the conversations with our partner city we have made it clear that Duesseldorf will put in an amount of up to seven million euros. Nothing has changed on this basis.”

Aside from the financial pledge, the City of Duesseldorf also reconfirmed its extensive organizational support to The World Games 2013. This will be provided through its Sports Department and Duesseldorf Marketing & Tourism.