What are The World Games?
The World Games are the premier international multi-sport event for sports not on the Olympic program — disciplines from squash, lacrosse (historically) and tug of war to powerlifting, karate, orienteering, artistic roller skating and air sports. The 2025 edition in Chengdu gathered 4,000 athletes from more than 110 countries in the event's 12th edition.[1] [2]
Who organizes The World Games?
The International World Games Association (IWGA), an association of international sports federations recognized by the IOC, owns the Games; each edition is staged with a host organizing committee, and the IOC formally supports the event.[1] [3]
When and where are they held?
Every four years, in the year following the Summer Olympics. The next edition returns to Karlsruhe, Germany — host of the 1989 Games — on 19–29 July 2029.[3] [4]
Since when do they exist?
The first World Games were held in Santa Clara, California in 1981, created to give world-championship-level sports outside the Olympics a shared global stage; the series has run every four years since.[1] [3]
How do athletes qualify?
Qualification is controlled by each sport's international federation: places are earned through world championships, world rankings and continental qualifiers, and athletes compete for their national federations within IWGA quotas — invitation is by sporting merit, not open entry.[1] [5]
Why do The World Games matter?
For the sports on its program, The World Games are the closest equivalent to an Olympic appearance — the highest multi-sport stage available, with IOC recognition and strictly merit-based qualification. World Games medals are top-tier international honors in their disciplines, and strong performances have historically supported sports' cases for Olympic inclusion.[1] [2]
Who competes?
The world's best athletes in some 30-plus non-Olympic disciplines — 4,000 qualified competitors from over 110 countries at Chengdu 2025, selected through their international federations' systems.[2]
References
- IWGA — The World Games (official site). Accessed August 2026.
- IWGA — TWG Chengdu, 7–17 August 2025. Accessed August 2026.
- IWGA — 40 years later: The World Games return to Karlsruhe in 2029. Accessed August 2026.
- IWGA — The World Games 2029 Karlsruhe visual identity. Accessed August 2026.
- IWGA — The World Games 2029 sports programme. Accessed August 2026.