# 2025 World Games

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.

## 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).

## Development and preparations
### Venues

On 21 May 2024, the International World Games Association announced venues for the 2025 World Games. Some of the venues selected were also used during the 2021 Summer World University Games, also held in Chengdu.

#### Longquanyi District

* Longquan High School Gymnasium – Korfball
* Chengdu Sport University Sancha Lake Campus
** Athletics Field – Flying disc (Ultimate)
** Outdoor Courts – Boules Sports
** Natatorium – Lifesaving, Underwater sports

##### Dong'an Lake Sports Park

** Main Stadium - Opening and Closing Ceremonies
** Athletics Field – Air sports
** Central Square – Tug of war
** Arena – Cheerleading, Gymnastics (Acrobatic, Aerobic, Trampolining)
** Qinglong Lake – Archery

#### Eastern New Area

* Chengdu No. 7 High School Eastern Campus Athletics Field – Flag football, Lacrosse
* Eastern New Area Orienteering Venue 1&2 – Orienteering

#### Tianfu New Area

* Tianfu Park – Fistball, Sport climbing
* Xinglong Lake
** Arena – Beach handball, Korfball (Beach)
** Hubin – Duathlon, Canoe sports (Canoe marathon, Dragon boat), Gymnastics (Parkour)
* Tianfu International Hotel Complex – Billiards Sports

##### Chengdu Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone

* Guixi Park – Flying disc (Disc Golf)
* Tianfu Software Park Sports Center – Powerlifting, Wushu, Racquetball and Squash

#### Wuhou District

* Sichuan Baseball-Softball-Hockey Centre – Softball
* Sichuan Provincial Gymnasium – Kickboxing, Muaythai

#### Xindu District

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

#### Jianyang

* Sancha Lake Ma'anshan Arena – Powerboating, Wakeboarding (Wake Surf Skim, Wakeboard Freestyle)
* Sancha Lake Taohuadao Arena – Wakeboarding (Cable Wakeboard)
* Jianyang Cultural and Sports Centre Gymnasium – Ju-jitsu, Karate, Sambo
* Jianyang Cultural and Sports Centre Natatorium – Canoe sports (Canoe polo)

### Torch relay

For the first time in World Games history, a torch relay will be held. The torch was revealed on 27 February 2025. Named Zhumeng, and designed by Feng Benyuan (who was one of the designers for the mascot of the 2022 Winter Paralympics) and Wang Anxu of the Jilin University of Arts, its design blends artistic forms, symbolic colors and cultural motifs in a style that reflects the spirit of the World Games and the heritage of the host nation.

## The Games
### Sports

34 sports, comprising 60 disciplines and 253 medal events, 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. 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. Sumo, which originally debut at the World Games in 2001, was dropped due to issues during competition at the 2022 World Games.
* Air sports (1) $^T$
* Archery (7) $^P$
* Beach handball (2) $^B$
* Billiard sports
** Carom (2) $^P$
** Pool (3) $^P$
** Snooker (2) $^P$
* 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) $^T$
* Wushu (12) $^M$

#### Notes

    AD: Artistic and Dance sports
    B: Ball sports
    M: Martial arts
    P: Precision sports
    S: Strength sports
    T: Trend sports
* ↑ 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." This is now TWG policy.

## 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.
* Participating Nations
* Argentina (32)
* Australia (27)
* Austria (22)
* Azerbaijan (10)
* Belgium (23)
* Benin (2)
* Bolivia (2)
* Brazil (21)
* Bulgaria (4)
* Canada (77)
* Cambodia
* China (88) (host)
* Chinese Taipei (30)
* Colombia (17)
* Costa Rica (2)
* Croatia (12)
* Czech Republic (46)
* Denmark (26)
* Dominican Republic (2)
* Egypt (7)
* Estonia (1)
* Finland (14)
* France (35)
* Guam (2)
* Georgia (1)
* Germany (84)
* Great Britain (31)
* Greece (2)
* Guatemala (3)
* Hong Kong (3)
* Hungary (4)
* Individual Neutral Athletes (70)
* India (3)
* Indonesia (7)
* Ireland (3)
* Iran (1)
* Israel (12)
* Italy (28)
* Japan (38)
* Jordan (1)
* Kazakhstan (8)
* Lebanon (3)
* Macau (1)
* Mexico (17)
* Moldova (1)
* Montenegro (1)
* Myanmar
* Namibia (14)
* Netherlands (36)
* New Zealand (6)
* North Korea (4)
* Norway (3)
* Philippines (5)
* Poland (2)
* Portugal (47)
* Qatar (10)
* Romania (2)
* Serbia (2)
* Slovakia (15)
* Slovenia (2)
* South Africa (2)
* South Korea (3)
* Spain (32)
* Suriname (14)
* Sweden (21)
* Switzerland (27)
* Thailand (3)
* Tunisia (11)
* Turkey (7)
* Turkmenistan (1)
* Ukraine (20)
* United States (74)
* Venezuela (1)
* Vietnam (16)

## Calendar

On 21 May 2024, the International World Games Association announced dates for the 2025 World Games.
    All times and dates use China Standard Time (UTC+8)
| OC | Opening ceremony | ● | Event competitions | 1 | Event finals | CC | Closing ceremony |
| Event/Date | Event/Date | August 2025 | August 2025 | August 2025 | August 2025 | August 2025 | August 2025 | August 2025 | August 2025 | August 2025 | August 2025 | August 2025 | August 2025 | Events |
| Event/Date | Event/Date | 6 Wed | 7 Thu | 8 Fri | 9 Sat | 10 Sun | 11 Mon | 12 Tue | 13 Wed | 14 Thu | 15 Fri | 16 Sat | 17 Sun | Events |
| Ceremonies | Ceremonies | | OC | | | | | | | | | | CC | |
| Air sports | Drone racing | | | | | | | | | ● | ● | 1 | | 1 |
| American football | Flag football | | | | | | | | | ● | ● | ● | 1 | 1 |
| Archery | Archery | | ● | 1 | 2 | | ● | ● | 2 | ● | ● | 2 | | 7 |
| Softball | Softball | ● | ● | ● | ● | 1 | | | ● | ● | ● | ● | 1 | 2 |
| Billiard sports |
| Billiard sports | Carom | | | | | ● | ● | ● | 1 | 1 | | | | 2 |
| Billiard sports | Pool | | | | | ● | ● | ● | 1 | 2 | | | | 3 |
| Billiard sports | Snooker | | | | | ● | ● | ● | 1 | 1 | | | | 2 |
| Boules sports | Boules sports | | | | | | | | | ● | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Canoe sports |
| Canoe sports | Canoe marathon | | | | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | 4 |
| Canoe sports | Canoe polo | | | | | | | | ● | ● | ● | 2 | | 2 |
| Canoe sports | Dragon boat | | | | 1 | 5 | | | | | | | | 6 |
| Cheerleading | Pom | | | | | | | | | | ● | 1 | | 1 |
| Dancesport | Dancesport | | | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | ● | 2 | 12 |
| Fistball | Fistball | | | | ● | ● | ● | ● | 2 | | | | | 2 |
| Floorball | Floorball | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | 2 | | | | | 2 |
| Flying disc | Flying disc | | | ● | ● | 1 | | ● | ● | ● | ● | 1 | | 2 |
| Gymnastics |
| Gymnastics | Acrobatic gymnastics | | | 2 | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | 5 |
| Gymnastics | Aerobic gymnastics | | | | | | | | | | 2 | 2 | | 4 |
| Gymnastics | Parkour | | | | | | | 2 | 2 | | | | | 4 |
| Gymnastics | Trampoline gymnastics | | | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | 6 |
| Beach handball | Beach handball | | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | 2 | | | | | | 2 |
| Ju-jitsu | Ju-jitsu | | | | | 7 | 7 | 5 | | | | | | 19 |
| Karate | Karate | | | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | 12 |
| Kickboxing | Kickboxing | | | | | | | ● | ● | 12 | | | | 12 |
| Korfball | Korfball | | | ● | ● | ● | ● | 1 | | | ● | ● | 1 | 2 |
| Lacrosse | Lacrosse Sixes | | ● | ● | ● | ● | 1 | | | | | | | 1 |
| Lifesaving | Lifesaving | | | 8 | 8 | | | | | | | | | 16 |
| Muaythai | Muaythai | | | ● | ● | 6 | | | | | | | | 6 |
| Orienteering | Orienteering | | | 2 | | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | 5 |
| Powerboating | Powerboating | | | | | | | | | | ● | ● | 3 | 3 |
| Powerlifting | Powerlifting | | | | | | | | | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 16 |
| Racquetball | Racquetball | | | | | | | | ● | ● | ● | ● | 3 | 3 |
| Roller sports |
| Roller sports | Freestyle inline skating | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Roller sports | Inline hockey | | ● | ● | ● | ● | 1 | | | | | | | 1 |
| Roller sports | Road speed skating | | | | | | | | | 4 | 4 | | | 8 |
| Roller sports | Track speed skating | | | | | | | 6 | 4 | | | | | 10 |
| Sambo | Sambo | | | | | | | | 10 | 1 | | | | 11 |
| Sport climbing | Sport climbing | | | | | | | | | 2 | 2 | 2 | | 6 |
| Squash | Squash | | | ● | ● | ● | ● | 2 | | | | | | 2 |
| Duathlon | Duathlon | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | | 1 | 2 |
| Tug of war | Tug of war | | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | 3 |
| Underwater sports |
| Underwater sports | Finswimming | | | | | 8 | 8 | | | | | | | 16 |
| Underwater sports | Freediving | | | | | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | 8 |
| Wakeboarding | Wakeboarding | | | ● | ● | 6 | | | | | | | | 6 |
| Wushu | Wushu | | | 2 | 4 | ● | ● | 6 | | | | | | 12 |
| Daily medal events | Daily medal events | 0 | 0 | 23 | 29 | 47 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 28 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 253 |
| Cumulative total | Cumulative total | 0 | 0 | 23 | 52 | 99 | 122 | 146 | 171 | 199 | 214 | 233 | 253 | |
| Event/Date | Event/Date | August 2025 | August 2025 | August 2025 | August 2025 | August 2025 | August 2025 | August 2025 | August 2025 | August 2025 | August 2025 | August 2025 | August 2025 | Events |
| Event/Date | Event/Date | 6 Wed | 7 Thu | 8 Fri | 9 Sat | 10 Sun | 11 Mon | 12 Tue | 13 Wed | 14 Thu | 15 Fri | 16 Sat | 17 Sun | Events |

## 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.