It is that special time again, when The World Games bring together the greatest athletes in non Olympic disciplines for a carnival of sport competition. The 12th edition is the first to take place on the Chinese mainland. The megacity of Chengdu, known for its Panda sanctuary, will showcase the spectacular 34 sports chosen for this sporting extravaganza. What can fans look forward to during the next fortnight?
Chengdu Host City
China has had two decades of hosting major sports events starting in particular with the Beijing Olympics 2008 and Winter Olympics 2022. So there is already much experience of hosting multitudes of athletes and organising the logistics of transporting all the competitors and officials to the correct venue. Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, has had its own Multi sports games as recently as two years ago, when it hosted the Summer Universiade. All the venues used in The World Games are of a world class standard, and in line with the sustainability principles of The World Games, no new venues have been built. Therefore expect athletes to have the best possible opportunity to demonstrate their skills.
Very few details have been released of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, apart from there will be a World Record attempt to have the most number of hip hop performers in one place. Given that Beijing Olympics were remembered in part for their lavish Opening Ceremony, something similar can be expected in the City of the Pandas. Given that the Chinese invented gunpowder and have been instrumental in mass producing drone technology, one can expect both fireworks and drones aplenty over the shimmering waters outside the Tianfu International Convention Centre. Given that Chengdu is at the centre of Panda conservation, one of the mascots of The World Games is a panda, and the shape of the course for the Drone Racing is that of a Panda’s head, it will not be unreasonable to assume that the loveable bear is going to be repeatedly featured.
The 34 Sports of The World Games 2025
Chengdu will undoubtedly stage the most spectacular edition of The World Games to date. The 34 sports chosen all have strong visual appeal and will produce many dramatic moments, and the program has notable Chinese contributions that will add an authentic Sichuan flavour to the Games. The best place for spectacle will be out on the water, where athletes will find innovative ways of moving through, under, over and around the lifegiving liquid. An unmissable sight will be the Dragon Boat racing where crews of up to 20 athletes, a drummer and a steerer will propel brightly coloured boats, carved to look like a dragon, rapidly up the course. The speed will be more intense in the Motosurf discipline of Powerboating. Four competitors will race on electric powered surfboards against each other around a circuit, designated by marker buoys.Incredibly this is the first time that surf boards will feature at The World Games, even though Surfing was a long time member of The World Games family. However the choice of numerous inland host cities precluded the boards from ever coming out of storage! In the tense sportfreediving, competitors attempt to hold their breath underwater for the longest, however they will be disqualified if they pass out!
Also expect more athletes (and their equipment) to leave the ground than ever before. The World Games is delighted to welcome Cheerleading, where the athletes will wave poms, tumble and do mini gymnastic routines whilst simultaneously trying to retain lung capacity for the cheering side of the sport. Wushu is sure to generate many notable moments. The traditional Chinese sport features weapons bearing players performing routines which are a mixture of the Martial arts moves seen in Bruce Lee films and tumbling. Of the four Gymnastics disciplines at Chengdu, only Aerobic Gymnastics does not feature moves off the floor. Parkour makes a welcome return after its successful debut at Birmingham 2022, athletes use the obstacle course as a way to efficiently propel themselves forward using a mix of runs, leaps, climbs and dives. Leaps and catches are an essential part of both Flag Football and Ultimate Flying Disc. Drone racing will offer some of the most eye-catching visuals. The pilots will fly their machines through a tricky series of banked turns, gates, climbs and descents on a specially course shaped like a Panda’s head, this effect will only be heightened when dusk approaches and the multi coloured lights become visible.
Of the sports where the athletes feet stay planted on the ground, there will still be much to admire. The new Roller Sport discipline of Inline Freeskating involves the skaters traversing two rows of cones, displaying either their speed or technical mastery; knocked cones result in points deductions. As the name suggests, Disc Golf is a walk around a course aiming at an object, the main differences are a flying disc rather than a golf ball and a hanging basket instead of a hole. If your sport involves standing, then that increases the likelihood of a long career at The World Games. There will be at least three athletes from the 2001 edition in Akita (in Billiards, Powerlifting and Archery) plus the greatest player in Racquetball history all seeking to defend the gold medals they won at Birmingham 2022. Should any succeed, that would be one of the defining moments of Chengdu 2025. Talking of history, the Russian influenced martial art of Sambo makes a welcome return to The World Games after a 32 year absence from the sports program, having last been contested at The Hague in 1993!
The Athletes
Over 4000 athletes will be seeking to make their nations proud in China. A record 115 nations have qualified for Chengdu 2025, and it is expected that there will also be a record set for the number of nations that manage to secure at least one of the unique Panda shaped medals. Seven nations are going to make their debut at The World Games in the Sichuan Province Capital city: Armenia, Benin, Bermuda, Cameroon, Guinea, Kenya and Myanmar. It is notable that with the exception of Benin who qualified in the long established Games sport of Petanque that all the other nations are competing in recent additions to The World Games roster. Adding the new disciplines has given many more nations the opportunity to participate and I am expecting to see podiums for Myanmar (Dragon Boat), Armenia and Cameroon in Sambo and Bermuda in Wushu.
The top end of the medals table looks like it is going to be a tight contest between the host nation, United States and Germany as to which nation performs best in Chengdu. USA is virtually guaranteed medals in many of the team sports (Softball, Flying Disc, Flag Football, Lacrosse) but apart from Powerlifting and Sport Climbing lacks strength in depth in the individual sports. Germany is another team sports powerhouse (fistball and canoe polo) and will pick up medals in the swimming poll with their strong teams in Lifesaving and Underwater Sports. China, as host nation benefitting from additional quota spots in most of the sports (but not all), backed by multitudes of patriotic fans and home athletes familiar with the humid conditions, look to be in a good position to deliver a memorable Games. The selection of a favourable sports program with multiple medals being awarded in Dragon Boat racing, Wushu, cue sports, Freestyle Inline and Gymnastics gives the host nation an excellent chance of topping the medal table for the very first time. Just like a visit to the Panda Sanctuary, Chengdu 2025 is sure to deliver many unforgettable and unique moments.