International World Games Association
Overview
The International World Games Association (IWGA) is an international association that organizes the World Games, a multi-sport event for sports, disciplines, and events within various sports that are not contested in the Olympic Games. The IWGA is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and maintains close ties with it. The World Games are held every four years, one year after the Summer Olympics.
History
The International World Games Association was founded on May 21, 1980, during a meeting of international sports federations in Seoul, South Korea. The founding federations were those of badminton, billiards, boules, finswimming, fistball, korfball, netball, orienteering, powerlifting, tug of war, underwater sports, and water skiing. The IWGA was constituted under Swiss law and established its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Membership
The IWGA consists of international sports federations that govern sports not included in the Olympic program. As of 2021, the IWGA has 37 member federations. Membership in the IWGA is by invitation only, and federations must meet certain criteria to be considered for membership. These criteria include being recognized by the IOC and having a worldwide distribution of the sport.
Governance
The IWGA is governed by a General Assembly, which meets every two years. The General Assembly elects an Executive Committee, which is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the IWGA. The Executive Committee consists of a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and four other members. The current President of the IWGA is José Perurena, who has held the position since 2014.
The World Games
The World Games are the primary event organized by the IWGA. The first World Games were held in Santa Clara, California, in 1981. Since then, the Games have been held every four years in various cities around the world. The most recent Games were held in Wrocław, Poland, in 2017, and the next Games are scheduled to be held in Birmingham, Alabama, in 2022.
The World Games include sports that are not contested in the Olympic Games. However, some sports that were once part of the World Games program have since been added to the Olympic program, such as badminton, beach volleyball, and trampoline. The World Games also include sports that are not widely recognized or popular, such as korfball, fistball, and finswimming.
Relationship with the IOC
The IWGA is recognized by the IOC and maintains close ties with it. The IOC has observer status at the IWGA General Assembly and Executive Committee meetings. The IOC also provides financial support to the IWGA and the World Games. In return, the IWGA agrees to follow the Olympic Charter and to promote the Olympic Movement.