The Annual General Assembly (AGM) of the International World Games Association (IWGA) held on 3 June in Athens, Greece, ratified the Executive Committee's decision to award The World Games 2013 to Duisburg and Duesseldorf by acclamation. The AGM empowered the IWGA executive to formalize the Host City Contract with the two German cities in the near future.

After the death of Duesseldorf Mayor Joachim Erwin, the signing of the contract, which was originally planned to take place immediately after the ratification of the award, needed to be postponed. Duisburg Mayor Adolf Sauerland had opted not to travel to Greece.

'I was moved by the death of Lord Mayor Joachim Erwin and express my deepest condolences to his family,' IWGA President Ron Froehlich announced in Athens. 'We don't want to set a date for the signing yet - and we are aware that the Duesseldorf City Council still needs to formally approve its commitments. But we know that our Duisburg + Duesseldorf partners will expedite the matter,' Froehlich showed confidence that the three parties will meet to sign the Host City Contract in the upcoming months. Most likely in Germany.