More than 68,000 performers and spectators watched or took part in the 2019 championships, which injected about $24 million into the local economy, according to the Dayton Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The bureau says the turnout may be lower this year because of COVID’s ongoing impact on travel and live entertainment. WGI is shortening its competitive activities by a day.
Dayton hosts the Color Guard World Championships part of the event from Thursday through this Saturday. Competition will be held at the University of Dayton Arena and Wright State’s Nutter Center, as wel
l as two arenas in the greater Cincinnati area. Saturday’s finals are all at UD Arena.
Winter Guard is the sport of indoor color guard. The sport is a combination of the use of flags, sabers, mock rifles, and other equipment, as well as dance and other interpretive movement, according to WGI.
“It is called the Sport of the Arts because it brings music to life through performance in a competitive format,” said Bart Woodley, WGI director of operations and sponsor relations. “WGI competitions combine the athleticism of an Olympic event with the pageantry of a Broadway stage performance.”
Color guards from more than a dozen local high schools — including Centerville, Fairmont, Northmont, Beavercreek, Miamisburg and Springboro — will compete this weekend against teams from around the country.
The WGI Percussion World Championships are April 21 to 23, largely at UD Arena and the Nutter Center. The WGI Winds World Championships are April 23 and 24, exclusively at those two venues.
WGI Sport of the Arts is a nonprofit that puts on indoor color guard, percussion and wind ensemble competitions. WGI’s headquarters are in Miamisburg.
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