The Fédération Internationale de Sambo (FIAS) and the International Wushu Federation (IWUF) are applying for membership of the International World Games Association. The decision on whether to approve either of the two martial arts’ applications will be made by the representatives of the 37 current IWGA member federations during the Annual General Meeting on 27 May 2021.
At its February meeting, the IWGA Board postponed a decision on whether to hold this year’s AGM remotely, as happened last year. This was announced by IWGA President José Perurena after the virtual meeting. The Executive Committee wants to wait and see whether the SportAccord Convention planned for May in Ekaterinburg, Russia, can take place as a 'physical event'. This should be clarified in the near future, according to information received by José Perurena.
During the AGM 2020, the IWGA had already adapted its constitution to be able to organize the annual members' meeting remotely in the future. The new statutes also allow for decisions, for example about membership applications, to be made virtually in a legally-binding manner.
FIAS and IWUF submitted their official request to join The World Games family by the deadline of 15 February 2021. Admission will be granted if a two-thirds majority of the existing member federations approves the application. Membership does not grant automatic participation in the official programme of The World Games. Sambo was already part of the official programme in London (GBR) at The World Games 1985 and in The Hague (Netherlands) at The World Games 1993. Wushu was represented at The World Games as an invitational sport in 2009 in Kaohsiung (Chinese Taipei) and in Cali (Colombia) in 2013. In 2022 in Birmingham, Alabama, Wushu will again participate in the programme as an invitational sport.
During the February meeting, Treasurer Lukas Hinder gave the Board an overview of the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the related financial impact of the necessity of the postponement to the coming year (7-17 July 2022) of the next edition of The World Games in Birmingham, Alabama. Without wanting to publish concrete figures, Lukas Hinder made clear that the IWGA had come through the pandemic year 2020 better than originally expected. The Board will present the exact figures and data to the member federations during the Annual General Meeting.
The agenda of this year's meeting will also include a concept on sustainability, which the IWGA board is currently preparing and discussing with the 2022 Host, Birmingham and will discuss with all IWGA members.
The World Games is a multi-sport event staged every four years by the International World Games Association under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee. The 11th edition of The World Games will be held in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, 7-17 July 2022. 3,600 athletes from over 30 sports and 100 countries will take part in The World Games.
