Publication date: 05 Sep 2022
About the World Games
The World Games are an international event in sports not included in the program of the Olympic Games. They are held every four years. The sporting event is organized by the International World Games Association (IWGA). The World Games always last 11 days. In contrast to other multi-sport events, the World Games do not oblige the host cities to build new sporting facilities for the Games.
Official website of the International World Games Association
2025 World Games
The 2025 World Games is the largest international sporting tournament dedicated to non-Olympic sports. In 2025, the competition will be held in Chengdu, China, from August 7 to 17, bringing together the best athletes from around the world. The tournament is held under the auspices of the International World Games Association (IWGA) and will be the 12th since its inception.
Where will the 2025 World Games be held?
Chengdu is a modern Chinese metropolis known for its developed sports complex and rich culture. The city has already established itself as an organizer of major competitions, such as the 2021 Summer Universiade. The Universiade infrastructure will be used for the World Games, including modern stadiums, swimming pools and sports arenas.
Who will participate?
The 2025 Games will feature more than 100 countries and around 4,000 athletes competing for medals in non-Olympic events. The tournament will feature both professional athletes and rising stars in the world of sports looking to make a name for themselves on the international stage.
Sports
The World Games program includes more than 30 sports, which are divided into several categories:
- Martial arts – kickboxing, sumo, wushu
- Team sports – lacrosse, floorball, beach handball
- Extreme sports – rock climbing, wakeboarding, parkour
- Technical and water disciplines – scuba diving, motorboat racing
- Developing sports – korfball, petanque, orienteering
Some disciplines – rock climbing and breakdancing, have already been included in the Olympic program, but at the World Games they are presented in alternative competition formats.
All the most interesting about the 2025 World Games
China will host the World Games for the first time, and the organizers promise a grand opening using the latest technology.
Chengdu is set to host spectacular events including trampoline jumping, drone racing and freestyle roller slalom.
The tournament is a great opportunity for athletes to showcase their skills before the 2028 Olympics, as some disciplines may be included in the Olympic program.
The broadcasts will be available online, allowing fans from all over the world to follow the performances of their favorites.
History of the World Games
The idea of a multi-sport event for non-Olympic sport was discussed in 1979. The non-Olympic federations desired to create their own sporting event as a way of further promoting their sports.
In 1981, the first World Games were held in Santa Clara, USA. 1265 athletes competed in 18 sports. As time passed, the World Games program expanded by more than 2 times.
Such sports as biathlon, taekwondo and triathlon, which were earlier included in the program of the World Games, nowadays are included in the program of the Olympics.
Previous World Games winners
| The year | Venue | Results/ Medal standings |
| 2022 | Birmingham, Alabama, USA | 1st place – Germany (24 gold, 7 silver, 16 bronze)
2nd place – USA (16 gold, 18 silver, 10 bronze) 3rd place – Ukraine (16 gold, 12 silver, 17 bronze) |
| 2017 | Wroclaw, Poland | 1st place – Russia (28 gold, 21 silver, 14 bronze)
2nd place – Germany (18 gold, 10 silver, 14 bronze) 3rd place – France (14 gold, 14 silver, 15 bronze) |
| 2013 | Cali, Colombia | 1st place – Italy (18 gold, 13 silver, 18 bronze)
2nd place – Russia (17 gold, 24 silver, 12 bronze) 3rd place – France (16 gold, 11 silver, 13 bronze) |
2029 World Games
The exact date of the event is not yet known.
Keep an eye on the dates of the World Games and other events in our Sports Events Calendar.
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