World Games - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The World Games, first held in 1981, are an international multi-sport event

Multi-sport event

A multi-sport event is an organized sporting event, often held over multiple days, featuring competition in many different sports between organized teams of athletes from nation-states. The first major, modern, multi-sport event of international significance was the modern Olympic Games.Many...

, meant for sport

Sport

A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...

s, or disciplines or events within a sport, that are not contested in the Olympic Games

Olympic Games

The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...

. The World Games are organised and governed by the International World Games Association

International World Games Association

The International World Games Association is an international association, recognized by the IOC, that organizes every four years since 1981 the multi-sport event called the World Games.-Member federations:...

(IWGA), under the patronage

Patronage

Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...

of the International Olympic Committee

International Olympic Committee

The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...

(IOC).

Some of the sports that were on the program of the World Games eventually made it as Olympic sports (such as triathlon

Triathlon

A triathlon is a multi-sport event involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance events. While many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular form, involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances...

) or have been Olympic sports in the past (like tug of war

Tug of war

Tug of war, also known as tug o' war, tug war, rope war or rope pulling, is a sport that directly pits two teams against each other in a test of strength. The term may also be used as a metaphor to describe a demonstration of brute strength by two opposing groups, such as a rivalry between two...

). Participation in past World Games is included in the evaluation criteria used to select new Olympic sports adopted by the IOC on August 12, 2004. However, with the current position of the IOC to limit the Olympic Games to 10,500 participants, it is unlikely that many of the World Games sports will be elevated to the Olympic sports.

Some of the sports that are currently held at the World Games are orienteering

Orienteering

Orienteering is a family of sports that requires navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, and normally moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a specially prepared orienteering map, which they...

, body building, powerlifting

Powerlifting

Powerlifting is a strength sport. It resembles the sport of Olympic weightlifting, as both disciplines involve lifting weights in three attempts. Powerlifting evolved from a sport known as 'odd lifts' which followed the same three attempt format but used a wide variety of events akin to Strongman...

, finswimming

Finswimming

Finswimming is the progression of a swimmer using monofins or normal swimfins either on the water surface or underwater, using only muscle strength. It is a discipline of underwater sports. The competition distances are same as for swimming...

, squash

Squash (sport)

Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...

, netball

Netball

Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...

, water skiing

Water skiing

thumb|right|A slalom skier making a turn on a slalom waterski.Waterskiing is a sport where an individual is pulled behind a boat or a cable ski installation on a body of water, skimming the surface.-History:...

, casting, etc. The sports that are included in the World Games are limited by the facilities available in the host city; no new facilities may be constructed for the games. Typically, between 25 and 35 sports are contested at any particular World Games. Sports that have been classified as "invitational" are still played, but no medals are awarded. Even if some sports are official sports of the IWGA, they can be classified as invitational by the hosting city.

Editions

Year	Location	Athletes* / Countries	Sports (Off./Inv.)
1981 World Games 1981 The 1981 World Games were the very first World Games and they were held in Santa Clara, California in the United States. The games featured sports that were not included in the Olympics, including tug-of-war, racquetball, baseball and softball, "artistic roller skating, fin swimming, karate,...	Santa Clara, California Santa Clara, California Santa Clara , founded in 1777 and incorporated in 1852, is a city in Santa Clara County, in the U.S. state of California. The city is the site of the eighth of 21 California missions, Mission Santa Clara de Asís, and was named after the mission. The Mission and Mission Gardens are located on the...	1265	18/0
1985 World Games 1985 The second World Games were held in 1985 in London, the capital city of England. Three venues were used, the main one being Crystal Palace. Sports included Taekwondo, Karate, Sambo, Powerlifting, Flipper/Snorkel swimming, roller skate sports, casting, korfball, waterskiing and netball...	London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...	1550	19/4
1989 World Games 1989 The third World Games were held in 1989 in Karlsruhe, then part of West Germany. There were 4.000 athletes from over 50 countries participated in 25 sports at the World Games.- Medal Table :-External links:* *...	Karlsruhe Karlsruhe The City of Karlsruhe is a city in the southwest of Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, located near the French-German border.Karlsruhe was founded in 1715 as Karlsruhe Palace, when Germany was a series of principalities and city states...	1965	19/0
1993 World Games 1993 The fourth World Games were held in 1993 in The Hague, part of the Netherlands.- Medal Table :-External links:* *...	The Hague The Hague The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...	2275/69	22/3
1997 World Games 1997 The fifth World Games were held in 1997 in Lahti, Finland on August 7-17, 1997. The Opening and Closing Ceremonies took place at the Lahti Sport Centre.-Sports:Official sports-Medal count:-Bodybuilding:...	Lahti Lahti Lahti is a city and municipality in Finland.Lahti is the capital of the Päijänne Tavastia region. It is situated on a bay at the southern end of lake Vesijärvi about north-east of the capital Helsinki...	2600/78	25/5
2001 World Games 2001 The sixth World Games were held in 2001 in Akita, Japan.-Sports:Official sports-Medal count:...	Akita	3200/93	26/5
2005 World Games 2005 The World Games of 2005 took place in Duisburg, Germany from 14 July 2005 until 24th July 2005.More than 3000 athletes competed in 39 non-Olympic sports:-Sports:Official sportsInvitational sports*Aikido The World Games of 2005 took place in Duisburg, Germany from 14 July 2005 until 24th July...	Duisburg Duisburg - History :A legend recorded by Johannes Aventinus holds that Duisburg, was built by the eponymous Tuisto, mythical progenitor of Germans, ca. 2395 BC...	3200/93	34/6
2009 World Games 2009 The World Games of 2009 took place in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, from July 16, 2009 to July 26, 2009. The games featured sports that are not contested in the Olympic Games....	Kaohsiung Kaohsiung Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...	3235/90	26/5
2013 World Games 2013 The World Games of 2013 will take place in the city of Cali, from July 25 to August 4.The Games was originally scheduled to be held in the cities of Duisburg and Düsseldorf of Germany. However, the cities could not secure enough funding partly as a result of the global economic downturn in 2009,...	Cali Calì Calì, also written in English as Cali, is an Italian surname, widespread mainly in the Ionian side of Sicily.For the surname Calì is assumed the origin of the Greek word kalos , or from its Sanskrit root kali, "time."The surname refers to:...

( *without including the numbers of athletes and officials participating in the invitational sports (limited to 800 athletes and officials) )

Sports

Disciplines from the same sport are grouped under the same color:

Gymnastics

Gymnastics

Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...

Roller sports

Boules sports

Official sports

Sport (Discipline)	Body Sport governing body A sport governing body is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function. Sport governing bodies come in various forms, and have a variety of regulatory functions. Examples of this can include disciplinary action for rule infractions and deciding on rule changes in the sport...	81 World Games 1981 The 1981 World Games were the very first World Games and they were held in Santa Clara, California in the United States. The games featured sports that were not included in the Olympics, including tug-of-war, racquetball, baseball and softball, "artistic roller skating, fin swimming, karate,...	85 World Games 1985 The second World Games were held in 1985 in London, the capital city of England. Three venues were used, the main one being Crystal Palace. Sports included Taekwondo, Karate, Sambo, Powerlifting, Flipper/Snorkel swimming, roller skate sports, casting, korfball, waterskiing and netball...	89 World Games 1989 The third World Games were held in 1989 in Karlsruhe, then part of West Germany. There were 4.000 athletes from over 50 countries participated in 25 sports at the World Games.- Medal Table :-External links:* *...	93 World Games 1993 The fourth World Games were held in 1993 in The Hague, part of the Netherlands.- Medal Table :-External links:* *...	97 World Games 1997 The fifth World Games were held in 1997 in Lahti, Finland on August 7-17, 1997. The Opening and Closing Ceremonies took place at the Lahti Sport Centre.-Sports:Official sports-Medal count:-Bodybuilding:...	01 World Games 2001 The sixth World Games were held in 2001 in Akita, Japan.-Sports:Official sports-Medal count:...	05 World Games 2005 The World Games of 2005 took place in Duisburg, Germany from 14 July 2005 until 24th July 2005.More than 3000 athletes competed in 39 non-Olympic sports:-Sports:Official sportsInvitational sports*Aikido The World Games of 2005 took place in Duisburg, Germany from 14 July 2005 until 24th July...	09 World Games 2009 The World Games of 2009 took place in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, from July 16, 2009 to July 26, 2009. The games featured sports that are not contested in the Olympic Games....	13 World Games 2013 The World Games of 2013 will take place in the city of Cali, from July 25 to August 4.The Games was originally scheduled to be held in the cities of Duisburg and Düsseldorf of Germany. However, the cities could not secure enough funding partly as a result of the global economic downturn in 2009,...

Acrobatic gymnastics Gymnastics at the World Games Gymnastics has been part of all World Games. Among the disciplines, there are rhythmic gymnastics, trampolining and tumbling as well as acrobatics and aerobics.-Rope:-Hoop:-Ball:-Clubs:-Ribbon:-Pairs:-Groups:-Pairs:-Groups:-Mixed:...	FIG Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique The Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique or International Federation of Gymnastics is the governing body of competitive gymnastics. Its headquarters is in Lausanne, Switzerland. It was founded on July 23, 1881 in Liège, Belgium, making it the oldest international sport organisation...				5	5	5	5	5	•
Aerobic gymnastics Gymnastics at the World Games Gymnastics has been part of all World Games. Among the disciplines, there are rhythmic gymnastics, trampolining and tumbling as well as acrobatics and aerobics.-Rope:-Hoop:-Ball:-Clubs:-Ribbon:-Pairs:-Groups:-Pairs:-Groups:-Mixed:...						4	4	5	5	•
Rhythmic gymnastics Gymnastics at the World Games Gymnastics has been part of all World Games. Among the disciplines, there are rhythmic gymnastics, trampolining and tumbling as well as acrobatics and aerobics.-Rope:-Hoop:-Ball:-Clubs:-Ribbon:-Pairs:-Groups:-Pairs:-Groups:-Mixed:...							4	4	4	•
Trampoline Gymnastics at the World Games Gymnastics has been part of all World Games. Among the disciplines, there are rhythmic gymnastics, trampolining and tumbling as well as acrobatics and aerobics.-Rope:-Hoop:-Ball:-Clubs:-Ribbon:-Pairs:-Groups:-Pairs:-Groups:-Mixed:...		8	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	•

Roller hockey Roller hockey at the World Games Roller Hockey was introduced as a World Games sport for men at the 1981 World Games in Santa Clara.-Medalists:...	FIRS International Roller Sports Federation The International Roller Sports Federation or Fédération Internationale de Roller Sports is the world governing body for roller sports, including rink hockey, inline hockey, Inline speed skating and artistic roller skating...	1	1	1	1		1
Inline hockey								1	1	•
Inline speed skating		6	12	10	10	10	10	12	10	•
Inline figure skating		4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	•

Boules Lyonnaise Boules sports at the World Games Boules sports, including boules Lyonnaise, petanque and raffa, were introduced as World Games sports at the World Games 1985 in London.-Doubles:-Triples:-Doubles:-Triples:-Progressive shooting:-Precision shooting:-Doubles:-Progressive shooting:...	CMSB						2	4	4	•
Petanque Boules sports at the World Games Boules sports, including boules Lyonnaise, petanque and raffa, were introduced as World Games sports at the World Games 1985 in London.-Doubles:-Triples:-Doubles:-Triples:-Progressive shooting:-Precision shooting:-Doubles:-Progressive shooting:...			1	2	2	2	2	2	2	•
Raffa Boules sports at the World Games Boules sports, including boules Lyonnaise, petanque and raffa, were introduced as World Games sports at the World Games 1985 in London.-Doubles:-Triples:-Doubles:-Triples:-Progressive shooting:-Precision shooting:-Doubles:-Progressive shooting:...									2	•

Air sports	FAI Fédération Aéronautique Internationale The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale is the world governing body for air sports and aeronautics and astronautics world records. Its head office is in Lausanne, Switzerland. This includes man-carrying aerospace vehicles from balloons to spacecraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles...					5	4	5	5	•
Beach handball	IHF International Handball Federation The International Handball Federation, often referred to by the acronym IHF, is the administrative and controlling body for International team handball.- Championships :World Men's Handball ChampionshipWorld Women's Handball Championship...									•
Bodybuilding Bodybuilding at the World Games Bodybuilding was introduced as a World Games sport at the 1981 World Games in Santa Clara, California.-- 70 kg:-- 75 kg:-- 80 kg:-- 85 kg:-+ 85 kg:-- 55 kg:-Fitness Open:-- 65 kg:-- 90 kg:-+ 80 kg:-+ 90 kg:-- 52 kg:-- 57 kg:...	IFBB	6	6	6	7	9	7	7	7
Ten pin bowling Bowling at the World Games Bowling has been part of all World Games. Among the disciplines, Nine-pin bowling and Ten-pin bowling.-Schere Singles:-Schere Singles:-Schere Pairs:-Singles:-All-Events:-Singles:-All-Events:-Pairs:...	FIQ Fédération Internationale des Quilleurs The Fédération Internationale des Quilleurs is the world governing body of nine-pin and ten-pin bowling...	3	5	3	3	3	3	3	3	•
Canoe polo Canoeing at the World Games Canoeing was introduced as a World Games sport for men and women at the 2005 World Games in Duisburg.-Men:-Women:...	ICF International Canoe Federation The International Canoe Federation is the umbrella organization of all national canoe organizations worldwide. It is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, and administers all aspects of canoe sport worldwide...							2	2	•
Sport climbing	IFSC International Federation of Sport Climbing The International Federation of Sport Climbing is the international governing body for the sport of competitive climbing, which consists of the disciplines lead climbing, speed climbing, and bouldering...							4	4	•
Cue sports	WCBS World Confederation of Billiard Sports The World Confederation of Billiard Sports is the international umbrella organization encompassing the major cue sports , including carom billiards, pool games of several varieties, and snooker. The confederation is relatively new, having been founded in 1992...						4	4	4	•
Dance sports DanceSport at the World Games DanceSport has been part of the World Games since the 1997 edition. Among the disciplines, Standard, Latin and Rock'n'Roll.-Standard:-Latin:-Rock'n'Roll:...	IDSF International DanceSport Federation The World DanceSport Federation , formerly the International DanceSport Federation , is the international governing body of dancesport and Wheelchair DanceSport, as recognised by the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee .Originally founded in 1957 as the...					2	2	3	3	•
Field archery	FITA International Archery Federation The International Archery Federation is the governing body of the sport of archery. It is based in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is composed of 140 national archery associations, and is recognized by the International Olympic Committee.-History:FITA was founded on 4 September 1931 in Poland...		4	4	6	6	6	6	6	•
Finswimming Finswimming at the World Games Finswimming was introduced as a World Games sport at the 1981 World Games in Santa Clara, California.-100m surface:-200m surface:-400m surface:-50m apnea:-4x100m relay:-----100m surface:-200m surface:-400m surface:-50m apnea:...	CMAS	12	18	13	13	15	10	10	10	•
Fistball Fistball at the World Games Fistball was introduced as a World Games sport for men at the 1985 World Games in London. Women's fistball competition has not yet been introduced.- Men :...	IFA International Fistball Association The International Fistball Association is the umbrella organization of all national fistball organizations worldwide.-Membership:...		1	1	1	1	1	1	1	•
Flying disc Flying disc at the World Games Flying disc was introduced as a World Games sport at the 2001 World Games in Akita. Disc golf was discontinued and only competed in 2001.Ultimate is the only current event.-Mixed:The Ultimate tournament features just 6 teams....	WFDF World Flying Disc Federation The World Flying Disc Federation is the international governing body for flying disc sports, with responsibility for sanctioning world championship events, establishing uniform rules, setting of standards for and recording of world records...						3	1	1	•
Ju-Jitsu	JJIF Ju-Jitsu International Federation The Ju-Jitsu International Federation is an international sport federation founded in 1998 after the expansion of the European Ju-Jitsu Federation for the propagation of the modern competitive sports version of Jujitsu, also known as Sport Ju-Jitsu.As a member of the General Association of...					10	7	11	11	•
Karate Karate at the World Games Karate was introduced as a World Games sport at the 1981 World Games in Santa Clara, California.-Kata:-Kumite −60 kg:-Kumite −65 kg:-Kumite −70 kg:-Kumite −75 kg:-Kumite −80 kg:-Kumite +80 kg:-Kumite open:-Kata:-Kumite −53 kg:...	WKF World Karate Federation The World Karate Federation, or WKF, was formed in 1990 from former WUKO members and is the largest international governing body of sport karate with over 130 member countries. It is the only karate organization recognised by the International Olympic Committee and has more than ten million members...	9	12	12	12	12	12	13	13	•
Korfball Korfball at the World Games Korfball was introduced as a World Games sport at the 1985 World Games in London. -Medalists:...	IKF International Korfball Federation The International Korfball Federation was founded in Antwerp on the June 11, 1933 as a continuation of the International Korfball Bureau established in 1924 by the Dutch and Belgian Associations...		1	1	1	1	1	1	1	•
Life saving Life Saving at the World Games Life saving was introduced as a World Games sport at the 1985 World Games in London.-200 m obstacle swim:-50 m manikin carry:-100 m rescue medley:-100 m manikin carry with fins:-Surf race:-Board race:-Ironman:-Teams:...	ILS International Life Saving Federation The International Life Saving Federation is an organisation for drowning prevention, water safety, lifesaving and lifesaving sport.- Definition :...		12	16	16	16	26	26	16	•
Orientering Orienteering at the World Games Orienteering at the World Games is organized as an individual competition for both women and men, and a mix relay for teams of two men and two women....	IOF International Orienteering Federation The International Orienteering Federation is the international governing body of the sport of orienteering. The IOF head office is located in Helsinki, Finland....						3	3	5	•
Powerlifting Powerlifting at the World Games Powerlifting was introduced as a World Games sport at the 2001 World Games in Akita.-−67.5 kg:-−82.5 kg:-−100 kg:-+100 kg:-−52 kg:-−60 kg:-−75 kg:-+75 kg:-−90 kg:-+90 kg:-−67.5 kg:-+67.5 kg:...	IPF International Powerlifting Federation The International Powerlifting Federation is an international governing body for the sport of powerlifting as recognized by the General Association of International Sports Federations as well as the International Olympic Committee via inclusion into the World Games.The IPF was founded in 1971, and...	9	3	6	6	6	6	6	8	•
Racquetball Racquetball at the World Games Racquetball was part of the 1985 World Games in London and 1993 World Games in Den Haag. Also, racquetball was part of the first World Games in 1981 at Santa Clara...	IRF		2		2				2	•
Rugby sevens Rugby union at the World Games Rugby union was introduced as a World Games sport for men at the 2001 World Games in Akita. Women's rugby competition has not yet been introduced....	IRB International Rugby Board The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...						1	1	1	•
Squash	WSF World Squash Federation The World Squash Federation is the international federation for squash, an indoor racquet sport which was formerly called "Squash rackets."It is based in Hastings in England. As of 2009 it has 147 member federations...					2		2	2	•
Sumo Sumo at the World Games Sumo was introduced as a World Games sport at the 2005 World Games in Duisburg.-- 85 kg:-- 115 kg:-+ 115 kg:-Open:-- 65 kg:-- 80 kg:-+ 80 kg:-Open:-External links:**...	IFS							8	8	•
Tug of war Tug of war at the World Games Tug of war was introduced as a World Games sport at the first World Games in 1981 World Games in Santa Clara. It has been played at all editions since then.--640 kg:--680 kg:--720 kg:This is a discontinued event.-Indoor -600 kg:...	TWIF Tug of War International Federation The Tug of War International Federation is the international governing body for the sport of tug of war.-Member countries:Due to national organization, and rivalry many countries listed below have affiliated as their individual country, i.e...	2	2	2	2	2	3	3	3	•
Water skiing	IWWF	8	6	6	6	12	12	8	6	•

Total events								179	164

Discontinued sports

Included in the Olympic program

Olympic sports

Olympic sports, as defined by the International Olympic Committee, are all the sports contested in the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. The Summer Olympics, as of 2012, will include 26 sports, with two additionall sports due to be added in 2016...

Sport (Discipline)	Body Sport governing body A sport governing body is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function. Sport governing bodies come in various forms, and have a variety of regulatory functions. Examples of this can include disciplinary action for rule infractions and deciding on rule changes in the sport...	81 World Games 1981 The 1981 World Games were the very first World Games and they were held in Santa Clara, California in the United States. The games featured sports that were not included in the Olympics, including tug-of-war, racquetball, baseball and softball, "artistic roller skating, fin swimming, karate,...	85 World Games 1985 The second World Games were held in 1985 in London, the capital city of England. Three venues were used, the main one being Crystal Palace. Sports included Taekwondo, Karate, Sambo, Powerlifting, Flipper/Snorkel swimming, roller skate sports, casting, korfball, waterskiing and netball...	89 World Games 1989 The third World Games were held in 1989 in Karlsruhe, then part of West Germany. There were 4.000 athletes from over 50 countries participated in 25 sports at the World Games.- Medal Table :-External links:* *...	93 World Games 1993 The fourth World Games were held in 1993 in The Hague, part of the Netherlands.- Medal Table :-External links:* *...	97 World Games 1997 The fifth World Games were held in 1997 in Lahti, Finland on August 7-17, 1997. The Opening and Closing Ceremonies took place at the Lahti Sport Centre.-Sports:Official sports-Medal count:-Bodybuilding:...	01 World Games 2001 The sixth World Games were held in 2001 in Akita, Japan.-Sports:Official sports-Medal count:...	05 World Games 2005 The World Games of 2005 took place in Duisburg, Germany from 14 July 2005 until 24th July 2005.More than 3000 athletes competed in 39 non-Olympic sports:-Sports:Official sportsInvitational sports*Aikido The World Games of 2005 took place in Duisburg, Germany from 14 July 2005 until 24th July...

Badminton	BWF	5
Baseball Baseball at the World Games Baseball was introduced and only played at the 1981 World Games.-Men:...	IBAF International Baseball Federation The International Baseball Federation is the worldwide governing body recognized by the International Olympic Committee as overseeing, deciding and executing the policy of the bat-and-ball sport of baseball at the international level...	1			1992 1992 Summer Olympics The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same... -2008 2008 Summer Olympics The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
Casting Casting at the World Games Casting has been part of all World Games except in 1989. Among the disciplines, Fly and Spinning as well as multiplier.-Fly Accuracy Skish:-Fly Accuracy and Distance:-Fly Distance Single Handed:-Fly Distance Double Handed:-Fly Accuracy Skish:...	ICSF	11	12		13	11	6	6
Indoor cycling	UCI Union Cycliste Internationale Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....			5
Netball Netball at the World Games Netball was introduced as a World Games sport at the 1985 World Games in London and discontinued after 1993. It is only played by women. -Women:...	IFNA International Federation of Netball Associations International Federation of Netball Associations is the governing body for netball. The organisation has five regional areas: Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania. Leadership meets every two years. IFNA is responsible for world rankings, maintaining the rules for netball and organising the...		1	1	1
Nine pin bowling Bowling at the World Games Bowling has been part of all World Games. Among the disciplines, Nine-pin bowling and Ten-pin bowling.-Schere Singles:-Schere Singles:-Schere Pairs:-Singles:-All-Events:-Singles:-All-Events:-Pairs:...	FIQ Fédération Internationale des Quilleurs The Fédération Internationale des Quilleurs is the world governing body of nine-pin and ten-pin bowling...							3
Racquetball Racquetball at the World Games Racquetball was part of the 1985 World Games in London and 1993 World Games in Den Haag. Also, racquetball was part of the first World Games in 1981 at Santa Clara...	IRF	•
Roller hockey Roller hockey at the World Games Roller Hockey was introduced as a World Games sport for men at the 1981 World Games in Santa Clara.-Medalists:...	FIRS International Roller Sports Federation The International Roller Sports Federation or Fédération Internationale de Roller Sports is the world governing body for roller sports, including rink hockey, inline hockey, Inline speed skating and artistic roller skating...	1	1	1	1		1
Sambo	FIAS		17		9
Softball Softball at the World Games Softball was introduced as a World Games sport at the 1981 World Games in Santa Clara and discontinued after the 1985 games in London. It was reintroduced as a women's invitational sport in 2009 in Kaohsiung after it had been removed from the Olympic Games programme...	ISF International Softball Federation thumb\|Map of member states.\|400px\|rightThe International Softball Federation is the international governing body for the sport of softball. The ISF is a non-profit corporation recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the General Association of International Sports Federations .The...	2	1			1996 1996 Summer Olympics The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.... -2008 2008 Summer Olympics The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
Taekwondo	WTF World Taekwondo Federation The World Taekwondo Federation is the International Federation member of the International Olympic Committee for the competition events of the martial art of taekwondo...	10	8	12	12		since 2000 2000 Summer Olympics The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
Triathlon	ITU International Triathlon Union The International Triathlon Union or ITU is the international governing body for the multi-sport disciplines of triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon and other nonstandard variations...				2		since 2000 2000 Summer Olympics The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
Weightlifting (women)	IWF International Weightlifting Federation The International Weightlifting Federation , headquartered in Budapest, is the international governing body for the sport of Olympic weightlifting.The IWF was founded in 1905, and has 187 member nations. The IWF president is Dr...					9	since 2000 2000 Summer Olympics The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...

Invitational sports

Sport (Discipline)	Body Sport governing body A sport governing body is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function. Sport governing bodies come in various forms, and have a variety of regulatory functions. Examples of this can include disciplinary action for rule infractions and deciding on rule changes in the sport...	81 World Games 1981 The 1981 World Games were the very first World Games and they were held in Santa Clara, California in the United States. The games featured sports that were not included in the Olympics, including tug-of-war, racquetball, baseball and softball, "artistic roller skating, fin swimming, karate,...	89 World Games 1989 The third World Games were held in 1989 in Karlsruhe, then part of West Germany. There were 4.000 athletes from over 50 countries participated in 25 sports at the World Games.- Medal Table :-External links:* *...	93 World Games 1993 The fourth World Games were held in 1993 in The Hague, part of the Netherlands.- Medal Table :-External links:* *...	97 World Games 1997 The fifth World Games were held in 1997 in Lahti, Finland on August 7-17, 1997. The Opening and Closing Ceremonies took place at the Lahti Sport Centre.-Sports:Official sports-Medal count:-Bodybuilding:...	01 World Games 2001 The sixth World Games were held in 2001 in Akita, Japan.-Sports:Official sports-Medal count:...	05 World Games 2005 The World Games of 2005 took place in Duisburg, Germany from 14 July 2005 until 24th July 2005.More than 3000 athletes competed in 39 non-Olympic sports:-Sports:Official sportsInvitational sports*Aikido The World Games of 2005 took place in Duisburg, Germany from 14 July 2005 until 24th July...	09 World Games 2009 The World Games of 2009 took place in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, from July 16, 2009 to July 26, 2009. The games featured sports that are not contested in the Olympic Games....	13 World Games 2013 The World Games of 2013 will take place in the city of Cali, from July 25 to August 4.The Games was originally scheduled to be held in the cities of Duisburg and Düsseldorf of Germany. However, the cities could not secure enough funding partly as a result of the global economic downturn in 2009,...

American football	IFAF International Federation of American Football International Federation of American Football is the international governing body of American football associations. Its headquarters are in La Courneuve, France, and its current president is Tommy Wiking...						1
Baton twirling				•
Aikido	IAF		•	•		1	*
Bahn golf			•
Beach handball	IHF International Handball Federation The International Handball Federation, often referred to by the acronym IHF, is the administrative and controlling body for International team handball.- Championships :World Men's Handball ChampionshipWorld Women's Handball Championship...					2	2	2
Boules Lyonnaise	CMSB				2
Dragon boat	IDBF International Dragon Boat Federation The International Dragon Boat Federation is the international governing body for the team water sport of dragon boatracing. The IDBF was founded by representatives from Australia, People’s Republic of China, Chinese Taipei, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Norway, Philippines,...						4	4
Duathlon	ITU International Triathlon Union The International Triathlon Union or ITU is the international governing body for the multi-sport disciplines of triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon and other nonstandard variations...								•
Floorball	IFF International Floorball Federation The International Floorball Federation is the worldwide governing body for the sport of floorball. It was founded in 1986 in Huskvarna, Sweden, by the national floorball associations of Finland, Sweden and Switzerland. As of March 2011, it had 52 member associations, with 3,983 clubs and 277,752...				1
Gateball	WGU					1
Indoor hockey	FIH International Hockey Federation The International Field Hockey Federation is the global governing body of field hockey...						2
Indoor trial	FIM Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme is the governing body of motorcycle racing. It represents 103 national motorcycle federations that are divided into six regional continental unions....						1
Road roller speed skating	FIRS International Roller Sports Federation The International Roller Sports Federation or Fédération Internationale de Roller Sports is the world governing body for roller sports, including rink hockey, inline hockey, Inline speed skating and artistic roller skating...								•
Marthon canoeing Canoeing at the World Games Canoeing was introduced as a World Games sport for men and women at the 2005 World Games in Duisburg.-Men:-Women:...	ICF International Canoe Federation The International Canoe Federation is the umbrella organization of all national canoe organizations worldwide. It is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, and administers all aspects of canoe sport worldwide...								•
Military pentathlon	CISM				2
Pesäpallo					1
Softball	ISF International Softball Federation thumb\|Map of member states.\|400px\|rightThe International Softball Federation is the international governing body for the sport of softball. The ISF is a non-profit corporation recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the General Association of International Sports Federations .The...				1996 1996 Summer Olympics The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.... -2008 2008 Summer Olympics The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...			1	•
Sumo Sumo at the World Games Sumo was introduced as a World Games sport at the 2005 World Games in Duisburg.-- 85 kg:-- 115 kg:-+ 115 kg:-Open:-- 65 kg:-- 80 kg:-+ 80 kg:-Open:-External links:**...	IFS					5
Tchoukball	FITB							2
Tug of war Tug of war at the World Games Tug of war was introduced as a World Games sport at the first World Games in 1981 World Games in Santa Clara. It has been played at all editions since then.--640 kg:--680 kg:--720 kg:This is a discontinued event.-Indoor -600 kg:...	TWIF Tug of War International Federation The Tug of War International Federation is the international governing body for the sport of tug of war.-Member countries:Due to national organization, and rivalry many countries listed below have affiliated as their individual country, i.e...				2	2
Water polo (women)	FINA	•				since 2000 2000 Summer Olympics The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
Water skiing	IWWF			•
Wushu	IWUF International Wushu Federation The International Wushu Federation is an international sport organization established on October 3, 1990 in Beijing, China during the 11th Asian summer Games to promote competitive Wushu...							13	•

Sports at TWG2009 in Kaohsiung

Artistic and Dance Sports
- Acrobatic Gymnastics
  Acrobatic gymnastics
  Acrobatic gymnastics is a competitive partner sport combining the strength, flexibility and technical precision of gymnastics with the grace and musicality of dance as well as the trust and camaraderie of a dedicated partnership...
- Aerobic Gymnastics
- Rhythmic Gymnastics
  Rhythmic gymnastics
  Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which individuals or teams of competitors manipulate one or two pieces of apparatus: rope, clubs, hoop, ball, ribbon and Free . An individual athlete only manipulates 1 apparatus at a time...
- Trampoline and Tumbling Gymnastics
- DanceSport
  DanceSport
  Dancesport denotes competitive ballroom dancing, as contrasted to social or exhibition dancing. It is wheelchair dancesport where at least one of the dancers is in a wheelchair....
  
  (Latin, RnR, Standard)
- Artistic Roller Skating
  Artistic roller skating
  Artistic roller skating is a sport similar to figure skating but where constestants run on roller skates instead of ice skates. Within artistic roller skating there are several disciplines:* figures...
Ball Sports
- Beach Handball
  Beach handball
  Beach handball is a team sport where two teams pass and bounce a ball, trying to throw it in the goal of the opposing team. The game is similar to team handball, but is not played in a sports hall but on sand instead...
  
  (Invitational Sport)
- Canoe Polo
  Canoe polo
  Canoe Polo is a competitive ball sport played on water, in a defined "field", between two teams of 5 players, each in a kayak...
- Fistball
  Fistball
  Fistball is a sport which is of European origin and is similar to volleyball in that player tries to hit a ball over a net.-History:The earliest known written mention of the game is by Roman Emperor Gordian III and dates to the year 240. Rules for an Italian version of fistball were recorded by...
- Tchoukball
  Tchoukball
  Tchoukball is an indoor team sport developed in the 1970s by Swiss biologist Hermann Brandt, who believed that "The objective of all physical activities is not to make champions, but make a contribution to building a harmonious society"...
  
  (Invitational Sport)
- Korfball
  Korfball
  Korfball is a mixed gender team sport, with similarities to netball and basketball. A team consists of eight players; four female and four male. A team also includes a coach. It was founded in the Netherlands in 1902 by Nico Broekhuysen. In the Netherlands there are around 580 clubs, and over a...
- Racquetball
  Racquetball
  For other sports often called "paddleball", see Paddleball .Racquetball is a racquet sport played with a hollow rubber ball in an indoor or outdoor court...
- Rugby 7s
- Softball
  Softball
  Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
  
  (Invitational Sport)
- Squash
  Squash (sport)
  Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...
Martial Arts
- Ju-Jitsu
- Karate
  Karate
  is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
- Sumo
  Sumo
  is a competitive full-contact sport where a wrestler attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. The sport originated in Japan, the only country where it is practiced professionally...
- Wushu
  Wushu (sport)
  The sport of wushu is both an exhibition and a full-contact sport derived from traditional Chinese martial arts. It was created in the People's Republic of China after 1949, in an attempt to nationalize the practice of traditional Chinese martial arts...
  
  (Invitational Sport)
Precision Sports
- Billiards
  Billiards
  Cue sports , also known as billiard sports, are a wide variety of games of skill generally played with a cue stick which is used to strike billiard balls, moving them around a cloth-covered billiards table bounded by rubber .Historically, the umbrella term was billiards...
  
  (Pool, Carom, Snooker)
- Boules Sports
  Boules
  Boules is a collective name for games played with metal balls.Two of the most played boule games are pétanque and boule lyonnaise. The aim of the game is to get large, heavy balls as close to the 'jack' as you can. It is very popular especially in France, but also Italy, where it may often be seen...
  
  (Petanque, Lyonnaise, Raffa)
- Bowling
  Bowling
  Bowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...
- Archery
  Archery
  Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
  
  (Field)
Strength Sports
- Bodybuilding
  Bodybuilding
  Bodybuilding is a form of body modification involving intensive muscle hypertrophy. An individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. In competitive and professional bodybuilding, bodybuilders display their physiques to a panel of judges, who assign points based on their...
- Powerlifting
  Powerlifting
  Powerlifting is a strength sport. It resembles the sport of Olympic weightlifting, as both disciplines involve lifting weights in three attempts. Powerlifting evolved from a sport known as 'odd lifts' which followed the same three attempt format but used a wide variety of events akin to Strongman...
- Tug of War
  Tug of war
  Tug of war, also known as tug o' war, tug war, rope war or rope pulling, is a sport that directly pits two teams against each other in a test of strength. The term may also be used as a metaphor to describe a demonstration of brute strength by two opposing groups, such as a rivalry between two...
  
  (Men Outdoor, Women Indoor)
Trend Sports
- Air Sports
  Parachuting
  Parachuting, also known as skydiving, is the action of exiting an aircraft and returning to earth with the aid of a parachute. It may or may not involve a certain amount of free-fall, a time during which the parachute has not been deployed and the body gradually accelerates to terminal...
- Climbing
  Climbing
  Climbing is the activity of using one's hands and feet to ascend a steep object. It is done both for recreation and professionally, as part of activities such as maintenance of a structure, or military operations.Climbing activities include:* Bouldering: Ascending boulders or small...
  
  (Lead, Speed)
- Dragon Boat
  Dragon boat
  A dragon boat is a human-powered watercraft traditionally made, in the Pearl River delta region of southern China - Guangdong Province, of teak wood to various designs and sizes. In other parts of China different woods are used to build these traditional watercraft...
  
  (Invitational Sport)
- Fin Swimming
- Flying Disc
  Flying disc at the World Games
  Flying disc was introduced as a World Games sport at the 2001 World Games in Akita. Disc golf was discontinued and only competed in 2001.Ultimate is the only current event.-Mixed:The Ultimate tournament features just 6 teams....
- Lifesaving
  Lifesaving
  Lifesaving is the act involving rescue, resuscitation and first aid. It often refers to water safety and aquatic rescue however it could include ice rescue, flood and river rescue, swimming pool rescue and other emergency medical services. Lifesaving also refers to sport where lifesavers compete...
  
  (Pool, Beach)
- Orienteering
  Orienteering
  Orienteering is a family of sports that requires navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, and normally moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a specially prepared orienteering map, which they...
  
  (Sprint, Middle Distance, Team Relay)
- Roller Sports (Inline Hockey, Speed)
- Water Ski (Barefoot, Tournament, Wakeboard)

Past TWG sports and disciplines

Baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
Lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...

– Last contested in 1989
Pelota
Pelota
Pelota can refer to the popular and shortened names for a number of ball games:* Baseball* Basque pelota* Bocce* Jai alai* Valencian pilota...
Basque Pelota
Sambo
Sambo (martial art)
Sambo is a Russian martial art and combat sport. The word "SAMBO" is an acronym for SAMooborona Bez Oruzhiya, which literally translates as "self-defense without weapons". Sambo is relatively modern since its development began in the early 1920s by the Soviet Red Army to improve their hand to hand...

– Last contested in 1989 (may return to World Games) [6]
Surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
Nine Pin Bowling
Cable Wakeboard

The following sports were part of past editions of the World Games, but have since been adopted by the Olympics as official events.

Badminton
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...

– became an Olympic sport at the 1992 Summer Olympics
Taekwondo
Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...

– became an Olympic sport at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Trampoline
Trampoline
A trampoline is a device consisting of a piece of taut, strong fabric stretched over a steel frame using many coiled springs. People bounce on trampolines for recreational and competitive purposes....

– certain individual events were introduced at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Triathlon
Triathlon
A triathlon is a multi-sport event involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance events. While many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular form, involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances...

– became an Olympic sport at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Weightlifting (women) - became an Olympic sport at the 2000 Summer Olympics. (Men never competed in weightlifting in The World Games because it has been in all Summer Olympics since 1920.)

All-time medal table

1		120	120	111	351
2		114	106	91	311
3		81	58	44	183
4		76	71	75	222
5		70	70	71	211
6	United Kingdom	47	49	66	162
7		41	37	20	98
8		37	29	43	109
9		37	13	17	67
10		35	50	36	121

External links

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