2022 World Games closing ceremony

The 2022 World Games closing ceremony was held on the evening on Sunday, July 17 at Protective Stadium to mark the formal end of the 2022 World Games.

The winning proposal to produce the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the World Games Plaza venue, was submitted by LRY Media Group, a firm founded in 2017 by former Alabama Power Company marketing executive Rashada LeRoy. The bid was awarded on December 23, 2019.

A music, dance and film presentation showcased the culture of Chengdu, China, host of the 2025 World Games.

Randy Owen of Alabama led a performance of the theme "Hope of Alabama".
The national anthem was sung by Worth The Wait.
Winston Strickland, founder of M. A. D. Skillz, choreographed the dance performances during the closing ceremony. Mezzo-soprano * Allison Sanders performed "Alabama", the state song.
The Blind Boys of Alabama joined with Jamey Johnson to perform "I Saw The Light" with a dance troupe from Alabama State University.
"Pastor Mike" McClure performed with M.A.D. Skillz
The Divine Nine steppers performed with a drum line from various HBCUs in Alabama.
Former "American Idol" contestants Bo Bice, Taylor Hicks and Ruben Studdard sang together with M.A.D. Skillz and the Alabama State University Ballet.
Lionel Richie closed the show as headliner.

2022 World Games
Venues	Avondale Park · Barber Motorsports Park · Birmingham CrossPlex · BJCC · Bill Battle Coliseum · Bill Harris Arena · Boutwell Auditorium · Bessie Estell Park · Goldfarb Field · Hoover Metropolitan Stadium · John Carroll Catholic High School · Legacy Arena · Legion Field · Oak Mountain State Park · PNC Field · Powell Steam Plant · Protective Stadium · Railroad Park · Sheraton Birmingham Hotel · Sloss Furnaces · UAB Campus Recreation Center · UAB Track and Field Complex
Events	Acrobatic gymnastics · Aerobic gymnastics · Air sports · Archery · Artistic roller skating · Beach handball · Billiards · Boules sports · Bowling · Canoe polo · Canoe marathon · Dancesport · Duathlon · Finswimming · Fistball · Flag football · Floorball · Flying disc · Inline hockey · Ju-jitsu · Karate · Kickboxing · Korfball · Lacrosse · Lifesaving · Muaythai · Orienteering · Parkour · Powerlifting · Racquetball · Rhythmic gymnastics · Road speed skating · Softball · Sport climbing · Squash · Sumo · Track speed skating · Trampoline gymnastics · Tug of war · Water skiing · Wheelchair rugby · Wushu
Other	Birmingham Organizing Committee · Medals · Opening ceremony · Closing ceremony ·Ride the Line · Vulcan and Vesta

References

Lloyd, Owen (July 27, 2021) "Bootsy Collins named Master of the Ceremonies for Birmingham 2022 World Games." Inside the Games
Thomason, Shannon (July 4, 2022) "For The World Games 2022, Birmingham puts on its biggest shows ever — with help from UAB artists" UAB News
"Interview with Rashada LeRoy" (March 9, 2022) by Chris Breece for CBS42.com
Garrison, Greg (July 17, 2022) "‘Thank you, Birmingham’: World Games closing ceremony celebrates athletes with music" The Birmingham News
"The World Games Conclude In Birmingham, Alabama With Extraordinary Closing Ceremony Celebrating Unifying Power Of Sport And Music." (July 18, 2022) The World Games, press release
Garrison, Greg (July 18, 2022) "Fans waited ‘All Night Long’ to see Lionel Richie" The Birmingham News