With close to 100 delegates set to attend the International World Games Association (IWGA) Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 1 May 2024 in Esslingen (GER), the IWGA Executive Committee (ExCo) gathered today, 30 April 2024, for its third meeting of the year.
28 IF representatives with voting rights will be attending the AGM, while five International Federations will follow remotely (with no voting rights).
AGM agenda fine-tuning and final decisions were taken today during the meeting which was attended by all Executive Board Members: IWGA President José Perurena, Vice President Tom Dielen, Treasurer Lukas Hinder, and Members Anna Arzhanova, Volker Bernardi, Jan Fransoo, John Liljelund and CEO Joachim Gossow. Athletes Committee Chair Sandra Sanchez was excused for attending a Karate event in Mexico.
Deputy CEO Guillaume Felli, General Director Chantal Boehi, Sports Director Sebastian Garvens and Communication and Media Director Anna Jacobson, Liaison Manager Joy Wang and Media and Communication Manager Camille Bastin also took part in the discussions.
“I am very grateful to all members of the Executive Committee for their hard work and dedication. This AGM will be a memorable one,” commented President Perurena.
Following the approval of April’s ExCo meeting minutes and the formal proceedings, the focus was then on the AGM preparations. Amongst others, top matters discussed were:
TWG Chengdu 2025
The ExCo has approved The World Games 2025 venues and competition schedule (35 sports, 61 disciplines, 254 medal events). Details will be announced at the end of May on the IWGA website. Other Games Services information was presented to the ExCo Members.
Updates about the Broadcast Production Plan and budget revision were provided. On-going negotiations between IWGA Partner ISB and the LOC continue.
General updates about the TWG 2025 Registration and Accreditation process were shared. Things are moving in the right direction with IWGA partner Swiss Timing who will operate the Registration Platform System (EMS). An agreement running from 2025-2033 with Swiss Timing will be signed at the AGM.
OTT Platform (streaming platform)
Details about the concept and development phases of the OTT Platform were given to the Members as well as additional information regarding the timeline for the launch. Priorities regarding images distribution and the selling of The World Games linear rights were outlined and reminded.
Global Marketing Programme
Further to the signature of the Marketing Plan Agreement between Chengdu 2025 LOC and the IWGA at the CoCom meeting in April in Chengdu, efforts are being made to secure several global partners.
TWG Series
Deputy CEO Felli shared the latest developments with regard to the inaugural leg of The World Games Series to be held in Hong Kong. He stressed that Chengdu has shown a strong interest to host the second leg in March 2025. The programme of TWG Series is tailored towards the host city’s existing infrastructures and the local interest for specific sports in order to maximize the engagement.
Decision on the Host City 2029
After nomination by the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), the candidate city’s application bidding book and further proceedings on signing of the Organiser Agreement were discussed. The Members unanimously approved the proposed candidate city. The AGM delegates, composed of most of the IWGA Members, are asked to ratify the Executive Committee’s decision in a vote on 1 May 2024.
IWGA New Members Applications
Two International Federations, the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) and the International Cheer Union (ICU) have sent a membership application to the IWGA. The Executive Committee reviewed the individual voting process that will take place at the AGM.
Flag Football was already part of the invitational sports programme in Birmingham in 2022, but both sports will be included in the Chengdu 2025 sport programme now.
IWGA Partners – MoUs updates
- was noted again that Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) have already been established with the Austrian, Chinese, French, Israel, Japan, Latvia and Spanish NOCs / NSOs, reinforcing cooperation in the lead up to The World Games 2025. Hungary, Portugal and Chinese Taipei will also sign a MoU with the IWGA in Esslingen on 1 May 2024.
A MoU with FISC (International Federation of Sports Chiropractic) was also signed on 10 April in Birmingham (GBR), forging ongoing strategic partnership with the IWGA.
Sustainability Strategy
The ExCo received a detailed update in relation to progress made with regard to the sustainably strategy. This concept will be included in a sustainability chapter in the Organiser’s Agreement for future host cities. Concretes actions and goals for TWG 2025 were presented to the Members.
2024 Calendar
Finally, dates for upcoming meetings were approved:
- Working Meeting with Chengdu 2 May 2024, Esslingen (GER)
- Competition Manager Meeting 23-24 October 2024 Chengdu (CHN)
- NOC & NSO Meeting 25-26 October 2024, Chengdu (CHN)
- CoCom Meeting 26 October 2024 (afternoon), Chengdu (CHN)
- ExCo Meeting 27 October 2024, Chengdu (CHN)
Stay tuned for all decisions and announcements made at the AGM!
The International World Games Association (IWGA) is a non-profit-making international sports organisation recognised and supported by the International Olympic Committee. The IWGA comprises 38 International Member Sports Federations. It administers and promotes The World Games (TWG), a multi-sport event held every four years that features around 35 sports on its programme. The next edition of TWG will be in Chengdu (CHN) from 7-17 August 2025. 5,000 participants from more than 100 countries are expected to take part in this 12th edition. The latest Games were hosted by Birmingham, Alabama (USA).
For more information, please contact the IWGA Media and Communication team: [email protected], Tel: +41 21 311 12 97, or visit our website.