International World Games Association : The World Games Of The Past

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Successful Editions of The World Games

Since their inception - since 1981 Santa Clara - a total of seven editions of The World Games were staged successfully at quadrennial intervals and on three continents: America, Asia and Europe.

Akita Yabase Stadium With steadily increasing numbers of participating sports, nations and athletes, and with growing interest paid to The World Games by public and media, these have developed into the premier contest and showcase for over 30 sports by their sixth edition in 2001.

The World Games	Year	Total Sports	Official Sports	Invitational Sports	Total Nations	Total Athletes
Santa Clara	1981	18	18	0	n/a	1265
London	1985	23	19	4	n/a	1550
Karlsruhe	1989	19	19	0	n/a	1965
The Hague	1993	25	22	3	69	2275
Lahti	1997	30	25	5	78	2600
Akita	2001	31	26	5	93	3200
Duisburg	2005	38	32	6	89	3400

At the core of a successful edition of The World Games are first and foremost the athletes' experiences.

JPN, SUI

More than 3,000 athletes participate in the event by now, their collective experience of being the focal point in the premier sporting contest staged jointly by the host, by the IWGA and by their International Federation, marks the essence of The World Games.

Being part of a nationally representative multi-sport delegation and receiving sanction and support from the National Olympic Committees greatly enhances the experience of these athletes. It brings out the best in the best - by instilling in them the values of belonging and sharing.

'We are happy to be going home winning the first rugby 7s title from The World Games. This will give the people of Fiji something to celebrate and bring them together!'

Waisale Serevi, FIJ, captain of the rugby 7s team, gold medal in 2001 Aikita and 2005 Duisburg

Outstanding performances in one of 30+ popular sports qualify these athletes to take part in The World Games. Once there, they not only represent their nations, they represent their sports and the millions of people around the globe who practice them too.

'During the opening ceremony, just as soon as the music started and thousands of people cheered, I had goose bumps. It always was a dream of mine to participate in such an event - as an Olympian of sorts. This was it!'

Alexandra Fiedler, GER, skydiving athlete, 5th place in 2001 Akita

ALL THOSE OTHER SPORTS

Under the title ALL THOSE OTHER SPORTS the Olympic Museum in Lausanne exhibited the very best photographs taken by an international team of photographers during The Seventh World Games 2005 Duisburg.
For the first time ever, the Olympic Museum dedicated a temporary exhibition to the sports on the program of the 'other' multi-sport games, The World Games. 25 years after their first edition was held in Santa Clara, USA, the Olympic Movement thus rendered homage to those sports which have been Olympic in the past (rugby through 1924, tug of war through 1928), which were considered for inclusion into the program of London 2012 (karate, roller skating, rugby, squash), and all of which (from aikido to water ski) take pride in upholding the ideals of Olympism.