Chengdu, China, 7 August 2025 - On the eve of the opening of The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, China, the Executive Committee (ExCo) of the International World Games Association (IWGA) met with the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for final fine-tuning as preparations reached their final stage.
On Thursday, 7 August, members of the IWGA and their LOC counterparts jointly held a Coordination Committee (CoCom) meeting to finalise remaining details ahead of the 12th edition of the Games set for 7-17 August.
IWGA CEO Joachim Gossow stated: “Preparations are nearly complete in all areas, and the event is ready to go.”
During the ExCo meeting, chaired by IWGA President José Perurena at The World Games Family Hotel – Intercontinental Century City Chengdu – members reviewed numerous topics related to the upcoming event. These included venue readiness, the Opening Ceremony protocol, TV rights distribution, weather forecasts, and the operations of the Medical and Anti-Doping Committees, among others.
The most important conclusion after this comprehensive review: no major obstacles are in sight.
Additional Topics Covered During the Meeting
Athletes Committee
Athletes eligible to vote can cast their ballots for the composition of the Athletes' Committee until 16 August. Of the 20 candidates, 17 are competing at the Games and are actively campaigning. The election results will be announced on 25 August.
Sandra Sanchez, current Chair of the Athletes’ Committee and ExCo member, reported high athlete satisfaction with the election process. The committee plays a crucial role in giving athletes a voice in the governance and development of The World Games.
Observer Programme
A delegation from Karlsruhe, Germany — host city of The World Games 2029 — will arrive in Chengdu next Wednesday. The team aims to gain first-hand insight into the complexities of staging a multi-sport event. A final meeting with IWGA experts, including the Lord Mayor of Karlsruhe, is scheduled for Sunday, 17 August.
Collaboration with NOCs and NSOs
The IWGA continues to strengthen its partnerships with National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and National Sports Organisations (NSOs). To date, 20 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed, with the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) being the most recent, in June 2025. Eight additional MoUs are expected to be concluded during the Chengdu Games.
Safeguarding Policy
The member also reviewed the draft policy of the Safeguarding document shared by Ethics Committee’s Chair Daniel Stehling. While final approval is pending, the ExCo ratified the next steps unanimously.
Save the Date
Finally, members confirmed the dates for upcoming key meetings, including the next IWGA Annual General Meeting, which will take place on 25 April 2026 in Lausanne. This meeting will also see the election of the next IWGA President, as José Perurena will step down after 12 years of leadership.