The World Games, a multi-sport Olympic style event that will include both men’s and women’s lacrosse, has been postponed from next summer until July 2022.

The event, taking place in Birmingham, Ala., was scheduled for July 15-25, 2021 and will now be held July 7-17, 2022.

The International World Games Association (IWGA) cited the International Olympic Committee’s decision to move the Tokyo Olympic Games to July 2021 as having a significant impact on the planning of The World Games.

“A great deal of detailed work is now required to implement this decision, and further progress reports will be issued in due course,” said IWGA President José Perurena in a press release. “But I am impressed by the flexibility and efficiency of the Birmingham Organizing Committee: they have been able, in just two days after the IOC’s announcement, to get all the main organizational items in place.”

The World Games were first held in 1981 and feature more 3,600 athletes from more than 100 countries competing in over 30 unique, multidisciplinary sports.

Lacrosse was first contested at The World Games in 2017 in Wroclaw, Poland. The U.S. women’s team defeated Canada 11-8 to win the inaugural gold medal. Men's lacrosse has been added to the program for the Birmingham games.

Sixteen National Teams — eight women’s and eight men’s — will compete in The World Games utilizing the new, 6 v 6 international disciplines and playing rules currently being finalized by World Lacrosse.

The participating nations are:

Men: Australia, Canada, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Israel, Japan, United States.

Women: Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Great Britain, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, United States.

Qualification for The World Games was based primarily on final placement at the 2017 (women’s) and 2018 (men’s) World Championships organized by World Lacrosse.