The 2025 World Games (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]

The World Games 2025
Host cityChengdu, Sichuan
Country China
Motto运动无限,气象万千 (Boundless Sports, Countless Wonders)
Athletes5,000 (expected)
Events35 sports
Opening7 August 2025
Closing17 August 2025
Websitetheworldgames2025.com
Location of Chengdu, China
Chengdu
Chengdu
Location of Chengdu, China

Bidding process

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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

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

Chengdu Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • Jianyang Cultural and Sports Centre Gymnasium – Ju-jitsu, Karate, Sambo
  • Jianyang Cultural and Sports Centre Natatorium – Canoe sports (Canoe polo)

Jinniu District

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  • Chengbei Gymnasium – Dancesport

Longquanyi District

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • Sichuan Baseball-Softball-Hockey Centre – Softball
  • Sichuan Gymnasium – Kickboxing, Muaythai

Xindu District

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  • Chengdu Roller Sports Centre – Roller sports
  • Xindu Xiangcheng Sports Centre – Floorball

The Games

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Qualification

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Sports

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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[a 1]
AD: Artistic and Dance sports
B: Ball sports
M: Martial arts
P: Precision sports
S: Strength sports
T: Trend sports
  1. ^ José Perurena, IWGA President, stated, "In Birmingham, for the first time, invitational sports were no longer presented separately but were also part of the official programme."[10] This is now TWG policy.

Participants

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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]

Participating Nations

Calendar

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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)
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

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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.

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ a b "The World Games 2025, Chengdu (CHN)". World Games. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Venues and the competition days finalised". The World Games. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Sports Programme set for TWG 2025 in Chengdu". World Games. 24 July 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  5. ^ "IWGA and Global Esports Federation partner at World Games 2025". Inside the Games. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  6. ^ Berkeley, Geoff (10 July 2022). "Egyptian sumo team banned from World Games over "poor sportsmanship"". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  7. ^ "Hanamichi: Sumo Dropped from World Games". tachiai.org. July 16, 2023.
  8. ^ Gunning, John (Oct 18, 2023). "Sumo's Olympic dream requires fresh approach". The Japan Times.
  9. ^ Gunning, John (Jul 13, 2022). "World Games chaos highlights amateur sumo's structural flaws". The Japan Times.
  10. ^ "Interview of the Month | IWGA". The World Games. 22 Dec 2022. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
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