World Games Heading to China

(ATR) The 2025 World Games in the Chinese city of Chengdu could mark "a before and after" in the history of the mega-event.

Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan province and one of the three most populous cities in western China, with a population of more than 10 million.

Last week the International World Games Association (IWGA) President José Perurena met in Beijing with the Chinese Minister of Sports Gou Zhongwen to ratify Chengdu as the first Chinese host city for the World Games.

"Now only the ratification by our Assembly remains," says Perurena to Around the Rings.

On May 9, the IWGA will hold its General Assembly in Gold Coast, Australia.

"We will discuss changes of statutes with a view to a more open Games," he says.

While Perurena was in the Chinese capital, two representatives of the IWGA, Vice President Max Bishop and Executive Committee member Joachim Gossow inspected Chengdu for two days accompanied by the vice president of the IOC and the Chinese Olympic Committee, Yu Zaiqing.

"Their reports were very positive," said Perurena.

These reports will be analyzed by the Executive Committee and the General Assembly of the IWGA for evaluation, possible recommendations and ratification of the bid in less than two months.

"All facilities in Chengdu are of a high standard," said Perurena, who is also a member of the IOC, the executive of the Association of International Summer Sports Federations (ASOIF) and president of the International Canoe Federation.

"But first we have to go through Birmingham, Alabama, in 2021," he added.

Some 3,600 athletes from 100 countries in 34 disciplines are expected at the next World Games.

By 2025, the World Games must include paralympic sports included in its official program as a result of the conversations held with the International Paralympic Committee.

In Birmingham two modalities, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball, are included as guest sports proposed by the host city.

With the designation of Chengdu, the IWGA has also tried to find a balance in the continental rotation of the venues between the most developed regions in non-Olympic sports, after the celebrations in Wroclaw (Poland) in 2017 and Birmingham (USA) ) in 2021.

Perurena insists that the IWGA is willing to listen to the proposals of the 92 federations of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (Olympic and non-Olympic), known by GAISF, with a view to a "revolutionary" format that could be presented for the World Games in Chengdu.

Such an effort would undoubtedly be supported by the Chinese hosts who know that the World Games are a potential springboard for the Olympics.

Written by Miguel Hernandez

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