Founded in 1981, the International World Games Association (IWGA) is a non-governmental international organization constituted under Swiss law. Made up of International Sports Federations, the IWGA administers a quadrennial and multidisciplinary sports event, The World Games, which aspires to equal and exceed the importance of world championships organized by each federation individually.

The principal aim of the IWGA is to develop the popularity of the sports governed by its Member Federations, to improve their prominence through excellent sporting achievements, and to conserve all the traditional values of sport.

Since its founding meeting in Seoul, Korea, IWGA membership increased from 12 to 32 International Sports Federations. For an International Federation to become a Member of the IWGA, its recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and/or its membership with the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) are prerequisite. The IWGA is a member of GAISF and represented on the GAISF Council. Another requirement is that the sports, or disciplines of sports, proposed by the federations for inclusion in The World Games are not currently on the Sports Program of the Games of the Olympiad.

In the year following The World Games, the IWGA Annual General Meeting elects an Executive Committee of seven members. This board coordinates and supervises all matters related to The World Games on behalf of the Member Federations. The board's tasks include making recommendations for the selection of suitable hosts and serving as the permanent liaison between the IWGA and the hosts' Organizing Committees.

The IWGA Medical Commission  deals with the implementation of measures in the fight against doping. In close collaboration with the International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency, the IWGA makes every effort to ensure 'clean sport' at The World Games.

Part of the Olympic Movement

The International World Games Association (IWGA) is an organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Affirming that the IOC and the IWGA share the same values of promoting physical and sporting activities for the well-being of society, the IOC grants its patronage to The World Games. The IOC Honorary President for Life, Juan Antonio Samaranch, opened The World Games in Karlsruhe (1989) and Lahti (1997), while former IOC Vice President Kevan R. Gosper led the inaugurals for The Hague (1993) and Akita (2001). IOC President Jacques Rogge addressed the 'athletes of the world' during the Opening Ceremony in Duisburg (2005), relaying the greetings of the 'brothers and sisters of the Olympic Movement' to them.    Prior to his election to the presidency of the IOC, Jacques Rogge had served as permanent IOC Observer to the IWGA Executive Committee. On October 27, 2000, the IOC and the IWGA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), stipulating the terms of increased collaboration between the two organizations. In the MoU the IOC pledges to maintain its cooperation with the IWGA, to provide expertise and to help in the promotion of IWGA activities within the Olympic Movement. The IOC grants its patronage to the hosts of The World Games and provides the Organizing Committees with technical assistance through the IOC's knowledge management programs. With the IWGA recognizing the importance for athletes and officials in all sports to participate as nationally representative delegations in The World Games, the IOC encourages each National Olympic Committee to support and assist its multi-sport delegation taking part in the event. The IWGA and the IOC set out to jointly review and develop the sports programs of The World Games further, and to implement the Olympic Movement's World Anti-Doping Code.

The World Games /  30+ Sports / Organization / Athletes

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