Lausanne, Switzerland, 28 January 2025 – The International World Games Association (IWGA) Executive Committee (ExCo) gathered at the IWGA Lausanne Office on 24-25 January 2025 for a pivotal meeting.
With The World Games 2025 set to take place from 7-17 August in Chengdu (CHN), this year marks a critical milestone for the IWGA. The coming months will be decisive in shaping the strategic plans and ensuring the successful delivery of this event, making the ExCo's discussions all the more essential.
The meeting marked the participation of all seven Executive Committee members, including President José Perurena, Vice President Tom Dielen, Treasurer Lukas Hinder, and members Anna Arzhanova, Volker Bernardi and Jan Fransoo. John Liljelund attended the meeting online.
Athletes Committee Chair Sandra Sanchez, IWGA Ethics Committee Chair Daniel Stehlin, and the IWGA’s senior leadership team—CEO Joachim Gossow, Deputy CEO Guillaume Felli, Sports Director Sebastian Garvens, and Media & Communication Director Anna Jacobson—actively contributed to the discussions.
The ExCo’s comprehensive agenda addressed key topics such as the IWGA Strategy Review, financial matters, preparations for the 2025 edition of The World Games (TWG) and The World Games Series Chengdu (TWGS).
Highlights from the meeting
IWGA AGM 2025
The ExCo unanimously decided to hold the 2025 IWGA Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 30 April 2025 in Madrid (ESP). Member federations were notified accordingly.
IWGA Strategic Review
The IWGA Strategy Review, conducted in collaboration with consulting firm Quantum, was presented during the meeting. The review outlined over 30 strategic objectives designed to guide the organisation through 2033 and beyond. Discussions focused on prioritization, resource allocation, and implementation planning. The strategy will be presented to Member Federations during the IWGA Annual General Meeting (AGM)
TWG 2025 Chengdu
Preparations for The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, China, remain a central priority. It was reported that venue plans are on track and stakeholders are making good use of Sword Venue planning tool.
IWGA Sports Director confirmed that by the end of January 2025, most qualification events for TWG 2025 will be completed, with only nine events scheduled for February to April and two sports partially determining qualifications through ranking lists in this period. The qualification process is progressing smoothly and remains on track. Additionally, International Federations will begin the registration process on 10 February, which will run through to the end of April.
The ExCo expressed overall confidence in the LOC to deliver a successful event, supported by strong local collaboration and broadcast reach.
IWGA Athletes Committee elections
The IWGA Athletes’ Committee represented by Sandra Sanchez and IWGA Project Manager Pascal Zeller, provided an update on the ongoing election process for new committee members, officially launched on 16 December. With the submission deadline set for 17 March, candidates have yet to submit their application. Efforts are being made to ensure at least seven candidates are secured by the deadline. Additionally, the IWGA is evaluating potential voting systems with a final decision expected by the end of February. It was decided that all AC candidates will have the opportunity to stay in the Athletes’ Village during The World Games 2025.
Karlsruhe 2029
IWGA CEO Joachim Gossow reported on the progress for The World Games 2029, to be hosted in Karlsruhe, Germany. Discussions are now focusing on the participation of Karlsruhe in the Closing Ceremony of TWG 2025 and the flag handing over. The Karlsruhe Mayor has committed to inform the Member Federations on the partnership at the IWGA AGM.
Host City selection for TWG 2033
Early planning for TWG 2033 is underway. The bid book was released in December 2024, and discussions with potential host cities are ongoing. President Perurena highlighted interest from several cities across the globe.
Governance and leadership initiatives
The ExCo initiated drafting a Safeguarding Policy to protect athletes and stakeholders during TWG 2025.
The IWGA celebrated the success of its first Women in Sports Leadership initiative, with 22 participants completing the programme aimed at fostering gender equity in sports governance. The ExCo also approved new guidelines encouraging National Olympic Committees to select one female and one male flag bearer for the opening ceremony of TWG 2025.
The World Games Series 2025
Preparations for the TWG Series in Chengdu (28-30 March 2025) are progressing, with three sports confirmed for participation: Underwater (two disciplines), Lifesaving, and Boules. Additionally, it was decided that following the Chengdu event, a comprehensive review will be conducted to refine the strategy and concept for future TWG Series events.
Marketing, partnerships and broadcasting
The ExCo received updates on global sponsorship agreements, along with the sponsorship and promotional efforts being conducted by Chengdu 2025.
Progress on broadcasting agreements is ongoing, with significant opportunities identified for the TWG Live, the brand-new OTT platform, and international rights sales. Several major broadcasters, amongst others CCTV, have shown encouraging interest to acquire the rights.
Upcoming meetings
The next ExCo meeting is scheduled for 29 April 2025, in Madrid, followed by the IWGA AGM on 30 April 2025. A CoCom meeting will mostly be held in the afternoon or the following day on 1 May 2025.
IWGA President José Perurena noted: “I am proud of the progress made during this meeting as we align our strategy with future challenges and opportunities. Our focus on governance, financial stability, and inclusivity sets a strong foundation for delivering an exceptional 12th edition of The World Games in Chengdu and preparing for the years ahead. We remain committed to collaboration with our member federations, the Chengdu LOC, and the IOC, to achieve our shared goals.”