2025 World Games Explained

The World Games 2025
Size:190
Host City:Chengdu, Sichuan Province
Athletes:5,000 (expected)
Motto:运动无限,气象万千 (Boundless Sports, Countless Wonders)
Events:35 sports
Previous:2022 Birmingham
Next:2029 Karlsruhe
Opening:7 August 2025
Closing:17 August 2025

The 2025 World Games (Chinese: 2025年世界运动会 ), commonly known as Chengdu 2025, is the 12th edition of the World Games, which includes sports and sporting disciplines that are not contested in the Olympic Games. It is expected to be held from 7 to 17 August 2025 in Chengdu, Sichuan, China. This is the first edition to be held under the guidelines set by the strategy paper "Growth Beyond Excellence", the third edition to be held in Asia, and the first time for the nation to host the World Games.[1]

Bidding process

Luo Qiang, Mayor of Chengdu, signed the Organiser Agreement for TWG 2025, with the Vice President of IOC and the Chinese Olympic Committee as witness. President José Perurena signed on behalf of the International World Games Association (IWGA).[2]

Venues

On 21 May 2024, the International World Games Association announced venues for the 2025 World Games.[3]

Chengdu Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone

Eastern New Area

Jianyang

Jinniu District

Longquanyi District

Tianfu New Area

Wuhou District

Xindu District

The Games

Sports

Thirty-five sports have been chosen for the 2025 World Games. For the first time, powerboating and cheerleading will be represented at The World Games. In the sector of para sports, para freediving and para ju-jitsu will make their debut.[4] Three sports which have been in all previous editions of The World Games are dropped from the 2025 program: bowling, water-skiing, and artistic roller skating. Esports will also be showcased as part of a partnership between the IWGA and the Global Esports Federation.[5] Sumo, which originally debut at the World Games in 2001, was dropped due to issues during competition at the 2022 World Games.[6] [7] [8] [9]

Notes
  • AD: Artistic and Dance sports
  • B: Ball sports
  • M: Martial arts
  • P: Precision sports
  • S: Strength sports
  • T: Trend sports

    Participants

    Under the 'Growth Beyond Excellence' guidelines, the maximum permitted number (including athletes and technical officials) for the sports program of the 2025 World Games and onwards will be increased from 4,200 to 5,000. 4,000 participants are proposed by the IWGA Member Federations; while the remaining 1,000 participants consists of disciplines in consultation with the organizing committee, disciplines in determination with the International Olympic Committee's consultation and para disciplines which will be determined through consultation with the International Paralympic Committee.[2]

    Calendar

    On 21 May 2024, the International World Games Association announced dates for the 2025 World Games.[3]

    All times and dates use China Standard Time (UTC+8)

    OCOpening ceremonyEvent competitions1Event finalsCCClosing ceremony
    style=width:18%; colspan=2 rowspan=2Event/DateAugust 2025style=width:6%; rowspan=2Events
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    Wed
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    Thu
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    Fri
    style=width:4%;9
    Sat
    style=width:4%;10
    Sun
    style=width:4%;11
    Mon
    style=width:4%;12
    Tue
    style=width:4%;13
    Wed
    style=width:4%;14
    Thu
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    Fri
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    Sat
    style=width:4%;17
    Sun
    Ceremonies<-- 6-->OC<-- 8-->CC<--Events-->
    Air sports <-- 6-->●<-- 15-->●<-- 16-->●<-- 17-->1
    Flag football <-- 6-->●<-- 15-->●<-- 16-->●<-- 17-->●<--Events-->1
    Archery <-- 6-->●<-- 9-->●<-- 10-->●<-- 12-->●<-- 13-->●<-- 14-->●<-- 15-->●<-- 16-->●<-- 17-->7
    Softball <-- 6-->●<-- 7-->●<-- 8-->●<-- 9-->●<-- 10-->●<-- 11-->2
    Billiard sports <-- 6-->●<-- 11-->●<-- 12-->●<-- 13-->●<-- 14-->●<-- 15-->7
    Boules sports <-- 6-->●<-- 16-->●<-- 17-->●<--Events-->6
    align=left rowspan=4Canoe sports
    Canoe marathon <-- 6-->●<-- 10-->●<-- 11-->4
    Canoe polo <-- 6-->●<-- 14-->●<-- 15-->●<-- 16-->●<-- 17-->2
    Dragon boat <-- 6-->●<-- 10-->●<-- 11-->6
    Cheerleading <-- 6-->●<-- 16-->●<-- 17-->1
    Dancesport <-- 6-->●<-- 9-->●<-- 10-->●<-- 17-->●<--Events-->12
    Fistball <-- 6-->●<-- 10-->●<-- 11-->●<-- 12-->●<-- 13-->●<-- 14-->2
    Floorball <-- 6-->●<-- 14-->2
    Flying disc <-- 6-->●<-- 9-->●<-- 10-->●<-- 11-->●<-- 13-->●<-- 14-->●<-- 15-->●<-- 17-->2
    align=left rowspan=5Gymnastics
    Acrobatic gymnastics <-- 6-->●<-- 9-->●<-- 10-->●<-- 11-->5
    Aerobic gymnastics <-- 6-->●<-- 16-->●<-- 17-->4
    Parkour <-- 6-->●<-- 13-->●<-- 14-->4
    Trampoline gymnastics <-- 6-->●<-- 9-->●<-- 10-->●<-- 11-->6
    Beach handball <-- 6-->●<-- 9-->●<-- 10-->●<-- 11-->●<-- 12-->●<-- 13-->2
    Ju-jitsu <-- 6-->●<-- 11-->●<-- 12-->●<-- 13-->19
    Karate <-- 6-->●<-- 9-->●<-- 10-->12
    Kickboxing <-- 6-->●<-- 13-->●<-- 14-->●<-- 15-->12
    Korfball <-- 6-->●<-- 9-->●<-- 10-->●<-- 11-->●<-- 12-->●<-- 13-->●<-- 16-->●<-- 17-->●<--Events-->2
    Lacrosse <-- 6-->●<-- 8-->●<-- 9-->●<-- 10-->●<-- 11-->●<-- 12-->1
    Lifesaving <-- 6-->●<-- 9-->●<-- 10-->16
    Muaythai <-- 6-->●<-- 9-->●<-- 10-->●<-- 11-->6
    Orienteering <-- 6-->●<-- 9-->●<-- 11-->●<-- 12-->5
    Powerboating <-- 6-->●<-- 16-->●<-- 17-->●<--Events-->3
    Powerlifting <-- 6-->●<-- 15-->●<-- 16-->●<-- 17-->●<--Events-->16
    Racquetball <-- 6-->●<-- 14-->●<-- 15-->●<-- 16-->●<-- 17-->●<--Events-->3
    align=left rowspan=5Roller sports
    Freestyle inline skating <-- 6-->●<-- 17-->●<--Events-->4
    Inline hockey <-- 6-->●<-- 8-->●<-- 9-->●<-- 10-->●<-- 11-->●<-- 12-->1
    Road speed skating <-- 6-->●<-- 15-->●<-- 16-->8
    Track speed skating <-- 6-->●<-- 13-->●<-- 14-->10
    Sambo <-- 6-->●<-- 14-->●<-- 15-->11
    Sport climbing <-- 6-->●<-- 15-->●<-- 16-->●<-- 17-->6
    Squash <-- 6-->●<-- 9-->●<-- 10-->●<-- 11-->●<-- 12-->●<-- 13-->2
    Duathlon <-- 6-->●<-- 15-->●<-- 16-->●<--Events-->2
    Tug of war <-- 6-->●<-- 10-->●<-- 11-->●<-- 12-->3
    align=left rowspan=3Underwater sports
    Finswimming <-- 6-->●<-- 11-->●<-- 12-->16
    Freediving <-- 6-->●<-- 11-->●<-- 12-->9
    Wakeboarding <-- 6-->●<-- 9-->●<-- 10-->●<-- 11-->6
    Wheelchair rugby <-- 6-->●<-- 14-->●<-- 15-->●<-- 16-->●<-- 17-->1
    Wushu <-- 6-->●<-- 9-->●<-- 10-->●<-- 11-->●<-- 12-->●<-- 13-->12
    style=width:18%; colspan=2 rowspan=2Event/DateAugust 2025style=width:6%; rowspan=2Events
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    Wed
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    Thu
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    Fri
    style=width:4%;9
    Sat
    style=width:4%;10
    Sun
    style=width:4%;11
    Mon
    style=width:4%;12
    Tue
    style=width:4%;13
    Wed
    style=width:4%;14
    Thu
    style=width:4%;15
    Fri
    style=width:4%;16
    Sat
    style=width:4%;17
    Sun

    Marketing

    The emblem for the games was revealed on May 17, 2024, designed by renowned British designer, John Fairley. The design was inspired by the giant panda, hibiscus flower and Chinese knot.

    The mascots for the games were revealed on August 6, 2024. Shubao, a giant panda and Jinzai, a golden snub-nosed monkey, were created to raise awareness about rare animals and biodiversity protection.

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. News: Mackay . Duncan . World Games 2025 in Chengdu set to return to normal place on calendar . 18 July 2022 . Inside the games . 10 October 2021.
    2. Web site: The World Games 2025, Chengdu (CHN) . World Games . 18 July 2022.
    3. Web site: Venues and the competition days finalised. The World Games. 21 May 2024. 30 July 2024.
    4. Web site: Sports Programme set for TWG 2025 in Chengdu. World Games. 24 July 2023. 31 August 2023.
    5. News: IWGA and Global Esports Federation partner at World Games 2025. 18 June 2024 . Inside the Games . 18 June 2024.
    6. News: Berkeley . Geoff . 10 July 2022 . Egyptian sumo team banned from World Games over "poor sportsmanship" . . 12 July 2022.
    7. Web site: Hanamichi: Sumo Dropped from World Games. July 16, 2023. tachiai.org.
    8. News: Sumo's Olympic dream requires fresh approach. John. Gunning. The Japan Times. Oct 18, 2023.
    9. News: World Games chaos highlights amateur sumo's structural flaws. John. Gunning. The Japan Times. Jul 13, 2022.