Karlsruhe, Germany, 23 October 2026 – The countdown to The World Games 2029 has officially begun in Karlsruhe, as the International World Games Association (IWGA), the City of Karlsruhe and the Local Organising Committee marked 1,000 days to go until the opening of the Games.
Taking place from 19 to 29 July 2029, The World Games 2029 will bring some of the world’s 4000+ leading athletes in non-Olympic sports and disciplines to Karlsruhe and the surrounding region, competing in 36 sports, 62 disciplines and 260+ medal events.
The milestone was celebrated today with the unveiling of a new Tissot countdown clock, standing 3.5 metres tall, prominently installed on Kaiserstraße in the heart of Karlsruhe, between the marketplace and the historic Schlossplatz.
The clock, provided by Tissot, a long-standing partner of the IWGA and The World Games, will serve as a daily reminder to residents, visitors and the wider sporting community that The World Games are getting closer.
The official ceremony brought together IWGA President Anna Arzhanova, Dr Frank Mentrup, Lord Mayor of Karlsruhe and President of the Karlsruhe 2029 Local Organising Committee, Theresa Schopper, Baden-Württemberg Sports Minister, as well as representatives from the City of Karlsruhe, the German Olympic and Sports Confederation (DOSB), the sporting community and the Karlsruhe 2029 team.
The ceremony was also attended by Dr. Babette Kibele, German Federal Government, Head of the Sports and Volunteering Department, representing State Minister Ronald Rauhe; Mikaelle Assani, German long jump champion, Paris 2024 Olympian and Karlsruher SC athlete; The World Games 2025 gold medallist Julia Rick, Mia Bitsch, karate athlete and gold medallist at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu; and Lucie-Marie Kretzschmar, handball player and captain of the German national beach handball team and silver medallist at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu.
The ceremony also brought together members of the Karlsruhe 2029 Local Organising Committee, including Martin Wacker, TWG2029 CEO; Markus Leonhard, TWG2029 COO; Alain Blondel, TWG2029 Sports Director; and Martina Schwall, who volunteered at the 1989 World Games in Karlsruhe and will also contribute to the 2029 edition.
Anna Arzhanova, President of the IWGA:
“A countdown is more than a number on a clock. It is a moment when an ambition becomes real. Today, as we reach 1,000 days to go, we can already see The World Games 2029 taking shape here in Karlsruhe. I would like to thank the City of Karlsruhe, the Local Organising Committee, our partners and everyone involved for their commitment and enthusiasm. And a very special thank you to Tissot for helping us mark this milestone. The clock will now remind us every day that Karlsruhe 2029 is getting closer – and that together, we are preparing to welcome the world.”
Dr Frank Mentrup, Lord Mayor of Karlsruhe and President of the Karlsruhe 2029 Local Organising Committee:
“The unveiling of the countdown clock marks a very special moment for Karlsruhe. With 1,000 days to go, The World Games are becoming increasingly tangible for our city and its people. Karlsruhe has a strong sporting tradition, and we are proud to build on the legacy of the 1989 The World Games as we prepare to welcome athletes and guests from around the world in 2029. This clock will be a visible sign in the city centre of the excitement that lies ahead.”
The 1,000-day milestone also highlights the growing momentum behind preparations for Karlsruhe 2029. Over the coming months and years, athletes will begin their qualification journeys, International Federations will prepare their teams and competitions, volunteers will join the project, and venues and Games services will continue to take shape.
For Karlsruhe, the countdown also represents a link between the past and the future. The city hosted The World Games in 1989, and 40 years later will once again welcome the international sporting community for the 2029 edition.
The clock is now ticking. Karlsruhe 2029 is 1,000 days away.