El Segundo will Host Inaugural World Urban Games LA in 2019

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Nov. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF)  has selected the City of El Segundo in Los Angeles County to host the inaugural World Urban Games in September 2019 and second edition in 2021.

The World Urban Games will be a five-day outdoor festival combining sports, music, food, art and digital entertainment, including e-sports. Up to 700 athletes will compete in various urban sports and Olympic disciplines, including 3x3 basketball, BMX freestyle, bouldering, break dancing, freestyle flying disc, skateboarding, roller skating and parkour. An urban sports showcase will feature up to 100 athletes in at least four other disciplines. The sporting events will be held in El Segundo. 

Thousands of spectators are expected to visit El Segundo for the Games. The city, which is easily accessible by public transportation and close to freeways, plans to close streets for the five-day event near Los Angeles International Airport and the new Los Angeles Times headquarters. Indoor and outdoor venues in a compact Games Hub in El Segundo will be utilized for the events and an urban park is planned to be constructed before September. El Segundo is the ideal location to host the Games as the city is already home to professional sports teams the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Kings. 

"El Segundo has a strong tradition of fostering game-changing innovation and we are thrilled to support the Local Organizing Committee in hosting the first World Urban Games. We look forward to welcoming visitors and athletes from around the globe to our world-class city," says El Segundo Mayor Drew Boyles. 

Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, chairman and CEO of NantWorks and owner and executive chairman of the Los Angeles Times, will chair the World Urban Games Organizing Committee. He was an advocate for the World Urban Games to be held in El Segundo. Soon-Shiong was El Segundo's 2017 Champion of Business award recipient and owns several buildings in the city. 

"El Segundo has a can-do attitude and like the city's slogan, 'Where big ideas take off,' this city is the place to create big ideas and projects," says Soon-Shiong.

Soon-Shiong is currently building the L.A. Times Center next to the paper's headquarters on a 10 acre campus in El Segundo. The Times Center will be a state-of-the-art, multi-media event space, including an e-sports arena. The World Urban Games events will be centered around these venues.

About the City of El Segundo
The city of El Segundo is a thriving coastal community in southwestern Los Angeles County. Recognized as the aerospace capital of the world, it is renowned for maintaining a quaint, small town atmosphere as well as a vibrant economy that includes leaders in aerospace and defense, bioscience, information technology, energy, real estate and creative media. 

The city has seen tremendous growth and evolution over the past several years. Recently, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong moved the paper's headquarters from downtown Los Angeles to El Segundo. El Segundo is also home to the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Kings and Los Angeles Air Force Base.

For further information regarding innovative businesses and opportunities in the city of El Segundo, please visit www.elsegundobusiness.com and www.destinationelsegundo.com.

About the Global Association of the International Sports Federations (www.GAISF.sport) 
GAISF is an association of independent international sports federations, and is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The mission of GAISF is to serve and represent the common interests of all international federations and coordinate the efforts of all those who aspire to become IOC recognized and, eventually, wish to enter the Olympic program. 

Media Contact:
Rebecca Steadly
[email protected] 
310-752-4400 ext. 4220

SOURCE The City of El Segundo