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]
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Host city | Chengdu, Sichuan Province |
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Country | ![]() |
Motto | 运动无限,气象万千 (Boundless Sports, Countless Wonders) |
Athletes | 5,000 (expected) |
Events | 35 sports |
Opening | 7 August 2025 |
Closing | 17 August 2025 |
Website | theworldgames2025.com |
Bidding process
editLuo 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
editOn 21 May 2024, the International World Games Association announced venues for the 2025 World Games.[3]
Chengdu Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone
edit- Guixi Park – Flying disc (Disc Golf Team Mixed)
- Hi-Tech Zone Sports Centre Gymnasium – Powerlifting, Wushu
- Hi-Tech Zone Sports Centre Public Fitness Gymnasium – Racquetball, Squash
Eastern New Area
edit- Chengdu No. 7 High School Eastern Campus Athletics Field – Flag football, Lacrosse
- Chengdu Sport University Sancha Lake Campus Athletics Field – Flying disc (Ultimate Team Mixed)
- Chengdu Sport University Sancha Lake Campus Ball Games Gymnasium – Wheelchair rugby
- Chengdu Sport University Sancha Lake Campus Boules Sports Court – Boules Sports
- Chengdu Sport University Sancha Lake Campus Natatorium – Lifesaving, Underwater sports
- Eastern New Area Orienteering Venue 1&2 – Orienteering
- Sancha Lake Ma'anshan Arena – Powerboating, Wakeboarding (Wake Surf Skim, Wakeboard Freestyle)
- Sancha Lake Taohuadao Arena – Wakeboarding (Cable Wakeboard)
- Tianfu International Hotel Complex – Billiards Sports
Jianyang
edit- Jianyang Cultural and Sports Centre Gymnasium – Ju-jitsu, Karate, Sambo
- Jianyang Cultural and Sports Centre Natatorium – Canoe sports (Canoe polo)
Jinniu District
edit- Chengbei Gymnasium – Dancesport
Longquanyi District
edit- Dong'an Lake Sports Park Athletics Field – Air sports
- Dong'an Lake Sports Park Central Square – Tug of war
- Dong'an Lake Sports Park Multi-Function Gymnasium – Cheerleading, Gymnastics (Acrobatic gymnastics, Aerobic gymnastics, Trampoline gymnastics)
- Qinglong Lake Park – Archery
- Longquan High School Gymnasium – Korfball (Indoor Team Mixed)
Tianfu New Area
edit- Tianfu Park – Fistball, Sport climbing
- Xinglong Lake Beach Arena – Beach handball, Korfball (Beach Team Mixed)
- Xinglong Lake Hubin Arena – Duathlon, Canoe sports (Canoe marathon, Dragon boat), Gymnastics (Parkour)
Wuhou District
edit- Sichuan Baseball-Softball-Hockey Centre – Softball
- Sichuan Gymnasium – Kickboxing, Muaythai
Xindu District
edit- Chengdu Roller Sports Centre – Roller sports
- Xindu Xiangcheng Sports Centre – Floorball
The Games
editSports
editThirty-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]
- Air sports (1) T
- Archery (7) P
- Beach handball (2) B
- Billiard sports
- Boules sports (6) P
- Canoe sports
- Canoe marathon (4) T
- Canoe polo (2) B
- Dragon boat (6) T
- Cheerleading (1) AD
- Dancesport (12) AD
- Duathlon (2) T
- Fistball (2) B
- Flag football (1) B
- Floorball (2) B
- Flying disc (2) T
- Gymnastics
- Acrobatic gymnastics (5) AD
- Aerobic gymnastics (4) AD
- Parkour (4) AD
- Trampoline gymnastics (6) AD
- Ju-jitsu (19) M
- Karate (12) M
- Kickboxing (12) M
- Korfball (2) B
- Lacrosse (1) B
- Lifesaving (16) T
- Muaythai (6) M
- Orienteering (5) T
- Powerboating (3) T
- Powerlifting (16) S
- Racquetball (3) B
- Roller sports
- Freestyle inline skating (4) T
- Inline hockey (1) B
- Road speed skating (8) T
- Track speed skating (10) T
- Sambo (11) M
- Softball (2) B
- Sport climbing (6) T
- Squash (2) B
- Tug of war (3) S
- Underwater sports
- Finswimming (16) T
- Freediving (9) T
- Wakeboarding (6) T
- Wheelchair rugby (1) B
- Wushu (12) M
- Notes[a 1]
- AD: Artistic and Dance sports
- B: Ball sports
- M: Martial arts
- P: Precision sports
- S: Strength sports
- T: Trend sports
Participants
editUnder 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]
Participating Nations |
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Calendar
editOn 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)
OC | Opening ceremony | ● | Event competitions | 1 | Event finals | CC | Closing ceremony |
Event/Date | August 2025 | Events | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 Wed |
7 Thu |
8 Fri |
9 Sat |
10 Sun |
11 Mon |
12 Tue |
13 Wed |
14 Thu |
15 Fri |
16 Sat |
17 Sun | |||
Ceremonies | OC | CC | ||||||||||||
Air sports | ● | ● | ● | 1 | ||||||||||
Flag football | ● | ● | ● | ● | 1 | |||||||||
Archery | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | 7 | |||||
Softball | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | 2 | ||||||||
Billiard sports | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | 7 | ||||||||
Boules sports | ● | ● | ● | 6 | ||||||||||
Canoe sports | ||||||||||||||
Canoe marathon | ● | ● | 4 | |||||||||||
Canoe polo | ● | ● | ● | ● | 2 | |||||||||
Dragon boat | ● | ● | 6 | |||||||||||
Cheerleading | ● | ● | 1 | |||||||||||
Dancesport | ● | ● | ● | ● | 12 | |||||||||
Fistball | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | 2 | ||||||||
Floorball | ● | 2 | ||||||||||||
Flying disc | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | 2 | ||||||
Gymnastics | ||||||||||||||
Acrobatic gymnastics | ● | ● | ● | 5 | ||||||||||
Aerobic gymnastics | ● | ● | 4 | |||||||||||
Parkour | ● | ● | 4 | |||||||||||
Trampoline gymnastics | ● | ● | ● | 6 | ||||||||||
Beach handball | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | 2 | ||||||||
Ju-jitsu | ● | ● | ● | 19 | ||||||||||
Karate | ● | ● | 12 | |||||||||||
Kickboxing | ● | ● | ● | 12 | ||||||||||
Korfball | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | 2 | |||||
Lacrosse | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | 1 | ||||||||
Lifesaving | ● | ● | 16 | |||||||||||
Muaythai | ● | ● | ● | 6 | ||||||||||
Orienteering | ● | ● | ● | 5 | ||||||||||
Powerboating | ● | ● | ● | 3 | ||||||||||
Powerlifting | ● | ● | ● | ● | 16 | |||||||||
Racquetball | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | 3 | ||||||||
Roller sports | ||||||||||||||
Freestyle inline skating | ● | ● | 4 | |||||||||||
Inline hockey | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | 1 | ||||||||
Road speed skating | ● | ● | 8 | |||||||||||
Track speed skating | ● | ● | 10 | |||||||||||
Sambo | ● | ● | 11 | |||||||||||
Sport climbing | ● | ● | ● | 6 | ||||||||||
Squash | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | 2 | ||||||||
Duathlon | ● | ● | ● | 2 | ||||||||||
Tug of war | ● | ● | ● | 3 | ||||||||||
Underwater sports | ||||||||||||||
Finswimming | ● | ● | 16 | |||||||||||
Freediving | ● | ● | 9 | |||||||||||
Wakeboarding | ● | ● | ● | 6 | ||||||||||
Wheelchair rugby | ● | ● | ● | ● | 1 | |||||||||
Wushu | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | 12 | ||||||||
Event/Date | August 2025 | Events | ||||||||||||
6 Wed |
7 Thu |
8 Fri |
9 Sat |
10 Sun |
11 Mon |
12 Tue |
13 Wed |
14 Thu |
15 Fri |
16 Sat |
17 Sun |
Marketing
editThe 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.
References
edit- ^ Mackay, Duncan (10 October 2021). "World Games 2025 in Chengdu set to return to normal place on calendar". Inside the games. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ a b "The World Games 2025, Chengdu (CHN)". World Games. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ a b "Venues and the competition days finalised". The World Games. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ "Sports Programme set for TWG 2025 in Chengdu". World Games. 24 July 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
- ^ "IWGA and Global Esports Federation partner at World Games 2025". Inside the Games. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- ^ Berkeley, Geoff (10 July 2022). "Egyptian sumo team banned from World Games over "poor sportsmanship"". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
- ^ "Hanamichi: Sumo Dropped from World Games". tachiai.org. July 16, 2023.
- ^ Gunning, John (Oct 18, 2023). "Sumo's Olympic dream requires fresh approach". The Japan Times.
- ^ Gunning, John (Jul 13, 2022). "World Games chaos highlights amateur sumo's structural flaws". The Japan Times.
- ^ "Interview of the Month | IWGA". The World Games. 22 Dec 2022. Retrieved 2024-02-25.