World Games

The World Games are a massive international multi-sport event. They feature sports and disciplines that are not part of the Olympic Games. These games usually occur every four years. They typically take place one year after the Summer Olympic Games. The entire competition lasts for 11 days. This event provides a global stage for unique athletic pursuits. It allows athletes to showcase skills that the public might not see during the Olympics.

Organizing such a large event requires a complex system. The International World Games Association, known as the IWGA, is in charge. The IWGA is based in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee. The IWGA manages 39 international sporting federations. These federations work with Local Organising Committees, or LOCs. The LOCs are temporary groups created to run each specific edition. Once the games conclude, these local committees are dissolved.

Athlete selection follows a specific process to ensure high quality. Unlike the Olympics, athletes are not chosen by National Olympic Committees. Instead, they are selected by their own sport's international federation. This system aims to balance world rankings with fair representation for many nations. Federations are required to send their best competitors. Most athletes qualify through high rankings at world championships. This ensures the highest level of skill is present at the games.

Sustainability is a core principle of the World Games. Host cities are not required to build new venues or facilities. They often repurpose existing locations for unique competitions. In Birmingham, 2022, athletes used Sloss Furnaces. This site was once a pig iron-producing blast furnace. In Duisburg, Germany, organizers used Landschaftspark Nord, a former iron foundry. In Wrocław, Poland, the zoo served as a venue. Even when new buildings are constructed, they often serve other purposes. For example, the 2022 main stadium in Birmingham was built for American football.

The history of the games began with the GAISF. This group realized non-Olympic sports needed more publicity. In 1979, a steering group began planning the first event. They chose Santa Clara, California, as the first host. The inaugural games were held in 1981. There were 15 sports at this first event. These included badminton, racquetball, and taekwondo. The first gold medal was awarded to an English tug-of-war team in the 640 kilo class.

Over the decades, the games have grown significantly. The first edition had about 1,400 to 1,546 participants. By the 2022 games in Birmingham, there were 3,457 athletes. The number of sports has also increased. The inaugural games had 15 sports. Recent editions have included between 25 and 34 sports. The 2025 games in Chengdu, China, are expected to feature 35 sports. This growth shows the expanding reach of non-Olympic disciplines.

Ceremonies play a vital role in the event's culture. The opening ceremony marks the official start. Until 2005, athletes paraded by sport. Now, they march in alphabetical order by nation. An athlete from the host nation takes the Athletes' Oath. The chairman of the Tournament Judges' Commission takes the Judges' Oath. Since 1993, an athlete party has been held mid-competition. This ensures every participant can attend at least one major ceremony. The closing ceremony concludes the event with speeches and a flag handover.

Challenges and changes are part of the games' journey. In 2001, the games moved to Akita, Japan. This was the first time they were held outside North America or Europe. A typhoon caused some competitions to be delayed. In 2013, the Cali games in Colombia saw 500,000 spectators. However, the rhythmic gymnastics ribbons event was cancelled due to heat concerns. The 2022 Birmingham games were the first to include parasports, such as wheelchair rugby. This shows how the games continue to evolve and connect with different athletic communities.