Chengdu, 28 October 2024 – The International World Games Association (IWGA) held its last Executive Committee (ExCo) meeting of the year on Sunday 27 October, in Chengdu, China, marking significant advancements in preparation for The World Games 2025 (TWG) and broader organisational initiatives.
Chaired by IWGA President José Perurena, the meeting gathered six ExCo members, including CEO Joachim Gossow, as well as Deputy CEO Guillaume Felli and Athletes Committee Chair Sandra Sanchez. They reviewed essential updates on TWG 2025, The World Games Series (TWG Series) and set strategic directions for future IWGA plans.
Progress on TWG 2025 and recent meetings debrief
Key discussions centred around the recent Competition Managers Meeting (CMM) and the NOC-NSO Meeting in Chengdu, China, both pivotal gatherings for operational readiness. The impressive turnout of about 270 delegates, including International Federations (IFs), National Olympic Committees (NOCs), National Sports Organisations (NSOs), Local Organising Committee (LOC), and partners representatives, underscored the global importance of this event.
Reflecting on the week’s progress, President Perurena commended Chengdu’s commitment, stating, “Our collaboration with Chengdu authorities and partners has been exceptional. With each meeting, our confidence grows that TWG 2025 will set new benchmarks for inclusivity and international engagement in sport.”
On Friday, 25 October, IWGA leadership met with Chengdu Party Secretary CAO Lijun, strengthening ties with local authorities and reaffirming their support for TWG 2025.
Expanding The World Games Series and sustainability initiatives
Beyond TWG 2025, IWGA continues to extend its global reach through The World Games Series. Following the first edition in Hong Kong, China, which concluded on 13 October, positive feedback highlighted the successful athlete experience and collaborative support from the services providers.
Plans are underway for the second The World Games Series, scheduled for March or April 2025 in Chengdu, showcasing four sports. This series aims to reinforce The World Games brand and to offer additional qualification opportunities.
In the spirit of environmental responsibility, the IWGA is intensifying its commitment to sustainability. The IWGA Sustainability Committee shared updates on green initiatives for TWG 2025, alongside guidelines tailored for future host cities to drive eco-friendly practices across the event.
Future Hosts: TWG 2029 Karlsruhe and the 2033 Bidding Process
A Kalsruhe delegation attended last week’s meetings in Chengdu as part of their planning for TWG 2029. Additionally, the IWGA is preparing to open the bidding process for TWG 2033, with several cities already expressing interest.
Committee reports
In his report given to Treasurer Lukas Hinder, Ethics Committee Chair Daniel Stehlin highlighted his recent participation in IOC-led governance programmes, recommending a Safeguarding Plan for TWG 2025.
Treasurer Lukas Hinder said, “Ethical transparency and fairness are pillars of the IWGA. By adopting these standards, we strengthen our commitment to clean, fair competition.”
The Anti-Doping Committee reviewed and approved minor adjustments to doping regulations, aligning them with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) standards established for The World Games 2022 Birmingham. The committee also welcomed a new member to reinforce its work in promoting integrity in sport.
Athlete Representation and voting protocol
The IWGA is finalising the election procedures for the Athletes Committee, with support from legal advisor. A proposal to have each participating country nominate a male and female flag bearer for TWG 2025 was also discussed, with final recommendations to be confirmed at the next ExCo meeting in January 2025.
Strengthening Partnerships with NOCs-NSOs
The meeting announced upcoming Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with NOCs from Italy, the Netherlands, and South Africa set to be signed at the upcoming ANOC General Assembly in Portugal. An MoU with Czechia was signed during the recent NOC-NSO meeting in Chengdu.
Finances reports
Treasurer Hinder provided an overview of the IWGA’s 2025 budget, laying a solid foundation for upcoming investments.
E-sports inclusion at TWG 2025
Potential collaborations with the E-sports Federation (GEF) are currently being explored, considering an e-sport activation for TWG 2025. Though e-sports will not be on the official TWG programme, its inclusion aims to leverage the significant interest in the Chinese market. It was stressed that inclusion of e-sport into the broadcasting production could be highly beneficial.
Finally, the date and venue for the 2025 IWGA AGM remain under consideration, contingent on SportAccord’s 2025 schedule.
President Perurena closed the meeting by saying, “Today’s discussions lay a solid foundation for TWG 2025 and the future of our organisation. We are proud of the steps we are making, ensuring that The World Games continues to be a recognised brand of excellence and innovation in international sport.”
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 40 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.
