Chengdu 2025: How the World Games Evolved Through New Sports and Torch Relays
In short: The 2025 World Games in Chengdu marked a historic shift for the international multi-sport event. Beyond hosting its first-ever torch relay, the games introduced new disciplines like powerboating and para freediving while expanding athlete quotas. This edition redefined the competition cycle and showcased a modern approach to global athletic engagement.
Held from 7–17 August 2025, the 12th World Games in Chengdu, China, represented a significant milestone as the first time the event was hosted in the People's Republic of China. The games returned to a four-year cycle following the pandemic-related delay of the 2021 Birmingham event. Organised under the leadership of IWGA President José Perurena and Chengdu Mayor Luo Qiang, the games featured 34 sports, 60 disciplines, and 256 medal events.
Innovation was central to the 2025 program. For the first time in the history of the World Games, a torch relay was held, featuring a torch named Zhumeng designed by Feng Benyuan and Wang Anxu. The relay spanned landmarks including the Sanxingdui Museum and the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, involving about 120 torchbearers. The games also debuted new disciplines such as powerboating, cheerleading, para freediving, and para ju-jitsu, while dropping long-standing sports like bowling, water-skiing, and artistic roller skating.
The IWGA implemented its new Growth Beyond Excellence strategy, increasing the participant quota from 4,200 to 5,000. This expansion included athletes and technical officials selected through consultations with the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee. Amidst the competition, geopolitical tensions influenced participation; athletes from Russia and Belarus were barred from competing under their national flags due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, though they were permitted to compete as independents if their respective international federations allowed it.
The visual identity of the games drew heavily from local culture, with an emblem designed by John Fairley incorporating the giant panda and hibiscus flower. Mascots Shubao and Jinzai were introduced to promote biodiversity awareness. The event was broadcast globally via The World Games Live platform, ensuring that the diverse range of Olympic and non-Olympic disciplines reached a wide audience while maintaining the event's unique focus on sports not currently contested at the Olympic Games.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2025 World Games
- Also: Wikidata — 2025 World Games · CC0
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