The 12th edition of The World Games took place from 7 to 17 August 2025 and brought together 3,895 athletes from 111 countries, the largest participation in the event’s history. Its programme comprised 34 sports and 256 medal events, with near-equal representation of women and men. Almost 220,000 tickets were sold, making Chengdu 2025 the third-best attended edition. These figures provided the city with an established audience, infrastructure and organisational experience on which to continue building after the Closing Ceremony.

A legacy measured after the Games

The continued use of those resources reflects an objective established during the preparations. “The World Games 2025 were never intended to be just a 10-day celebration of sport,” explained a representative of the Chengdu 2025 Organising Committee. “From the very beginning, our ambition was to create a lasting legacy for Chengdu. One year later, we are proud to see the venues alive with community activity, international competitions returning to the city, and more people discovering and enjoying The World Games sports. This is exactly the sustainable impact we hoped to achieve.”

IWGA president Anna Arzhanova also identified that continuity as the measure by which the edition should be assessed. “A successful edition of The World Games is measured not only by what happens during the event, but by what remains long after the Closing Ceremony. Chengdu has demonstrated how hosting The World Games can strengthen communities, inspire participation, support International Federations and create sustainable opportunities for future generations. We congratulate the city and our partners on ensuring that the legacy of Chengdu 2025 continues to grow.”

Venues open to athletes and local communities

One of the main areas of continuity can be found in the venues. Outdoor facilities used during the Games have been preserved and opened to the public free of charge for recreation, school sport and community activities. Other sites have been converted into public fitness facilities or teaching and training centres for Chengdu Sport University. The Sancha Lake venue now operates as an international-standard water sports centre, while facilities for roller sports, Frisbee and squash have expanded the sporting infrastructure available across the city.

The programme of The World Games has also found a place beyond its competition venues. DanceSport, Frisbee, orienteering, roller sports, tug of war and wushu were included in the 12th Chengdu National Fitness Games. Their inclusion introduces less familiar disciplines to new audiences and allows the experience of an international competition to feed into opportunities for local participation. The legacy therefore extends beyond preserving facilities by broadening the range of sports that residents can discover and practise.

An international calendar that continues to grow

Since hosting the Games, Chengdu has staged World DanceSport Championships, the Asian Lacrosse Championships, a World Triathlon Cup and an ICF Canoe Marathon World Cup, alongside international competitions in orienteering, ju-jitsu, waterskiing, dragon boat racing and ultimate. Its subsequent calendar has also included sports that were not part of The World Games 2025. In May 2026, Jiaozi Music Square hosted consecutive stops on the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series and FIBA 3×3 World Tour, organised by the International Basketball Federation -FIBA-. USA won the women’s event, while Serbian team Ub claimed the men’s title. These tournaments did not directly reuse a Games venue, but demonstrate Chengdu’s continued presence on international sporting circuits.

The city also retains the World Games Smart System to support the management of future events and continues to benefit from the experience developed by its organising team. Chengdu 2025 mobilised more than 17,000 volunteers, selected from 75,874 applicants, and created expertise in event operations, delegation services and cooperation with International Federations. Together with the reuse of venues and the inclusion of World Games sports in community programmes, this organisational capacity supports Chengdu’s future bids and allows the legacy of the 2025 edition to continue developing.

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The competition unfolded over two consecutive days, featuring Speed Slalom and Classic Slalom events. Both disciplines highlighted the unique blend of technical precision and artistic expression that defines inline freestyle skating.

The opening day was dedicated to Speed Slalom, a test in which athletes complete cone courses at high speed, rewarding accuracy in every maneuver as well as the ability to accelerate and decelerate effectively.

The second day focused on Classic Slalom, a discipline that combines technical execution with artistic dimension. Competitors performed routines that integrated technical complexity with personal expression, showcasing the creative side of the sport.

Key results

China led the medal table with six out of eight possible podiums. Zhang Hao secured gold in both Men’s Speed Slalom and Men’s Classic Slalom, while Zhu Siyi won gold in Women’s Classic Slalom and silver in Women’s Speed Slalom.

In the other events, the gold medal in Women’s Speed Slalom went to Liu Chiao-Hsi of Chinese Taipei. The men’s Speed Slalom podium was completed by Fu Yu (China) and Lesani Reza (Iran), while in Men’s Classic Slalom, Zhang Hao was joined by Italy’s Valerio Degli Agostini and Wang Yuxuan (China). In the women’s Classic Slalom, Zhu Siyi was accompanied by Liu Jiaxin (China) and Spain’s Laura Oria Albelda.

International projection

The event confirmed the global expansion of inline freestyle, with athletes from Asia, Europe and the Middle East reaching the podium. Liu Chiao-Hsi’s victory in Women’s Speed Slalom prevented a complete Chinese sweep and highlighted the growing competitiveness of the discipline across Asia.

Italy, Spain and Iran also featured among the medal-winning nations, underscoring the increasing international diversification of a sport that continues to gain ground within the multi-sport landscape.

The debut of inline freestyle at The World Games represents an important step in the institutional consolidation of the discipline. Its inclusion in the TWG program, under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee -IOC-, grants inline freestyle skating new recognition within the competitive structure of non-Olympic sports.

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The event highlighted significant moments for the sport from the very beginning. During the opening ceremony, international referee Angelika Eiermann from Germany was invited to deliver the officials’ oath on behalf of all referees. “Her presence on stage not only honored her long-standing career and professionalism, but also reflected the growing recognition of Tug of War within the global sporting community,” the organizers stated. This milestone reinforced the sport’s visibility within an international multi-sport framework.

Inclusion of the Mixed Category

The program followed the format introduced in Birmingham, United States, in 2022, with the addition of the mixed category. Matches were contested under hot and humid conditions, which tested both the physical and mental preparation of the athletes. In the men’s 640 kg competition, Great Britain secured the gold medal after defeating Switzerland in a hard-fought final.

The women’s 500 kg event was marked by constant rain, which forced the teams to compete on muddy ground. The gold went to Chinese Taipei, who overcame Switzerland in the final, while Germany claimed the bronze medal after beating Sweden.

In the mixed 580 kg class, the spectators enjoyed closely contested matches and an enthusiastic atmosphere. Switzerland won the gold medal against Belgium, while Germany earned the bronze by overcoming Italy. The competition format included round-robin matches, semifinals, bronze and gold medal contests, plus a classification pull for the teams ranked fifth and sixth.

First Female Chief Judge

Organizational work proved essential for the smooth running of the tournament. Pete Dyer, Senior Vice President of the Tug of War International Federation -TWIF-, served as competition manager, supported by Yushen, who oversaw local venue preparations and facilities. Among other logistical aspects, the team coordinated the adaptation of technology systems, athlete accreditation and the live broadcast with specialized commentators.

A further milestone occurred in refereeing with Melanie Botha from South Africa, appointed as the first female chief judge in the history of Tug of War at the World Games. Together with an international team of officials and volunteers, she contributed to the technical management of the competition, which gathered over 100 nations and 4,000 athletes across 34 sports and 253 medal events.

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The women’s race featured 29 athletes covering 5 km of running, 30 km of cycling and a final 5 km run, while 34 competitors lined up in the men’s field. Heat and humidity played a major role in both events, which crowned two of the most recognized names on the international circuit.

Victory on the blue carpet

From the opening kilometers, Alvarez, Varo and Belgium’s Jeanne Dupont set the pace at the front, chased by a smaller group led by Lisa Isebaert (Belgium), Aline Kootstra (Netherlands) and Yayoi Fukushima (Japan). On the cycling segment, frequent lead changes allowed the chase group to close the gap before the second transition.

In the decisive run, Varo pulled ahead by a few seconds, but Alvarez responded strongly, rejoining the Spaniard and Dupont. With one kilometer to go, the Belgian was dropped, leaving Alvarez and Varo shoulder to shoulder until the finishing straight. On the blue carpet, the Mexican surged to secure victory by a narrow margin.

“Like a revenge”

After her triumph, Alvarez stated: “I’m very happy to be the winner. This is my first time at the World Games. At this year’s World Championships in June I couldn’t finish because of a flat tire, so this feels like a revenge. I came ready to fight until the end and I really enjoyed the course and the experience.”

Varo explained: “I had an injury after the World Championships and I didn’t know how my run would be today. I couldn’t train for five weeks, but I prepared well recently and felt confident. I gave everything and felt great, but in the end Anahi was faster.”

Choquert winner in Chengdu 2025

For her part, Dupont said: “I’m very happy with the result. Before the Games I expected to be in the Top 5. In the last run my legs were a little tired, so I couldn’t catch the two girls ahead, but I’m happy for myself and for Team Belgium.”

“The heat made it very hard”

In the men’s competition, Choquert, Dely and Bierinckx stayed at the front together with other favorites during the first run. On the bike segment, Ondrej Kubo (Slovakia) and Valentin van Wersch (Netherlands) attempted to break away but were controlled by the main group. The decisive moment came in the final run, when Germany’s Fabian Holbach started in the lead, only for Choquert to surge immediately and open a definitive gap.

The Frenchman reflected afterwards: “After Pontevedra I’m very happy with the result. I was second in Birmingham and winning here is great. This format suits me, although the heat made it very hard.” Dely added: “Our team’s goal was to push on the bike, but the circuit was so fast that it was difficult to break away. That effort took its toll and affected my final run, but I’m satisfied with my performance.” Bierinckx concluded: “This is my first podium after so many fourth places. It’s special to achieve it here at the World Games.”

In the women’s classification, Dupont secured bronze and Lisa Isebaert finished fourth, while in the men’s race Belgium completed the podium with silver for Dely and bronze for Bierinckx, alongside fourth place for Thibaut de Smet. Mohamed Nemsi (Morocco) claimed fifth, the best-ever result for his country in the World Games.

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Among the highlights of this edition is the competition coverage by ANOC.tv, the official platform of the Association of National Olympic Committees – ANOC. During the Games, it will broadcast events including baseball, squash, handball, gymnastics, archery, and flying disc. According to the organisation, this coverage reinforces ANOC.tv’s commitment to promoting sport on a global scale.

International broadcasting and “strengthening international cooperation”

The IWGA meeting in Chengdu addressed all aspects of Games delivery, from ceremony protocols to medical and anti-doping operations, as well as final international broadcast arrangements. No significant issues were identified by the involved authorities, paving the way for a smooth edition from a logistical standpoint.

A key element of the preparations has been collaboration with National Olympic Committees – NOCs and National Sports Organisations – NSOs. To date, 20 memorandums of understanding have been signed, with several more expected during the course of the Games. “These types of agreements are essential to strengthening international cooperation in the field of sport,” stated representatives from the IWGA.

Athlete’s Committee elections

Athletes remain at the heart of the Games strategy. Elections for the IWGA Athletes Committee are already underway and will remain open until 16 August. The results will be announced at the end of the month, coinciding with the conclusion of the event.

In addition, the IWGA has progressed in reviewing its new safeguarding policy, an important step in its commitment to athlete welfare and integrity. These efforts are part of a broader vision for the role international sports institutions must play in defending athletes’ rights.

Chengdu hosts future Games city Karlsruhe

This week, Chengdu is also hosting a delegation from Karlsruhe, the German city set to host The World Games 2029. The visit is part of the IWGA Observer Programme, an initiative that gives future host cities a first-hand look at the strategic and operational requirements of organising a major multi-sport event.

Fans around the world can follow the action live and on-demand at ANOC.tv, which continues to expand its coverage to highlight the diversity and talent present across the global sporting landscape.

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