International World Games Association

{{Short description|Sporting organization}} {{Infobox Organization | name = International World Games Association | logo = World Games logo.svg | logo_size = | image = Avenue de la Gare 12 à Lausanne.jpg | caption = Headquarters in Lausanne | founding_location = Seoul, South Korea | type = Sports association | abbreviation = IWGA | formation = {{Start date and age|1980|05|21|df=y}} | headquarters = Lausanne, Switzerland | membership = 40 | leader_title = President | leader_name = Anna Arzhanova | language = English | website = {{official URL}} }}

The '''International World Games Association''' ('''IWGA''') is an international association, recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), that organises every four years, beginning in 1981, the multi-sport event called The World Games.

== History == The IWGA was founded on 21 May 1980 in Seoul, South Korea, as ''World Games Council''<ref>{{Cite web |title=IOC-IWGA cooperation pact signed {{!}} WFDF |url=https://wfdf.sport/2000/10/ioc-iwga-cooperation-pact-signed/#:~:text=See%20also,%20a%20picture%20of,IOC%20Sports%20Director%20Gilbert%20Felli. |access-date=2026-03-30 |website=wfdf.sport}}</ref> by 12 international sports federations with a worldwide reach that were not yet part of the Olympic Games. The intention was to increase the popularity of the sports represented by these federations. The IWGA was constituted under Swiss law as a non-governmental and non-profit-making organisation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=International Testing Agency-International World Games Association (IWGA) |url=https://ita.sport/partner/international-world-games-association-iwga/ |access-date=2026-03-30 |website=International Testing Agency |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In 1984, the ''World Games Council'' was renamed as the ''International World Games Association''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Foundation {{!}} IWGA |url=https://www.theworldgames.org/contents/The-IWGA-15/The-birth-2094 |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=www.theworldgames.org}}</ref> Since its creation, the number of member federations has increased to 40 with the most recent admission being the International Chess Federation on 25 April 2026.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theworldgames.org/news/International-Chess-Federation-FIDE-granted-membership-of-the-IWGA-2789|title=International Chess Federation (FIDE) granted membership of the IWGA|date=25 April 2026|publisher=International World Games Association|access-date=2026-04-25}}</ref>

== Structure == The highest body of the IWGA is the General Meeting. It is chaired by the President. It is composed of representatives from Member Federations, with one vote per federation. General Meetings can be held whenever deemed necessary, but one must be held each year as the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Among other rights, the General Meeting has the power to:

* Approve and amend the Constitution * Ratify the selection of the Host City of The World Games * Ratify the selection of the sports, or disciplines of sports, of The World Games * Establish Committees<ref>{{Cite web |title=General Meeting {{!}} IWGA |url=https://www.theworldgames.org/contents/The-IWGA-15/Annual-General-Meeting-2095 |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=www.theworldgames.org}}</ref>

== Membership == Federations that intend to become a full member of the IWGA must be part of the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF). Since 2014, IOC recognition has become a prerequisite for International Federations to become a Member of the IWGA.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Members {{!}} IWGA |url=https://www.theworldgames.org/contents/The-IWGA-15/Members-1043 |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=www.theworldgames.org}}</ref> Sports that want to be recognised by the IWGA need to have a worldwide significance but actually must not be in the programme of the Olympic Games. Increasingly, international sports federations that take part in the Olympic Games have maintained a presence in the World Games for the disciplines and events that cannot be included in the Olympics, e.g. compound and field archery, acrobatic and aerobic gymnastics.

=== Affiliate status === Since 2020, Affiliate Status was introduced for full Members of ASOIF and AIOWF.

Affiliate status is temporary, and only open to those Federations that are not a Member of the IWGA and feature on the programme of the next edition of The World Games or of other sport events that the IWGA organises.<ref name=":0" />

=== Member federations === The following international sports federations are members of IWGA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theworldgames.org/members/members|title=IWGA - Members|publisher=theworldgames.org|access-date=2025-03-29}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Sport ! International federation (IF) |- | Aikido | International Aikido Federation (IAF) |- | Air sports | World Air Sports Federation (FAI) |- | American football | International Federation of American Football (IFAF) |- | Archery | World Archery |- | Baseball and softball | World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) |- | Billiards sports | World Confederation of Billiards Sports (WCBS) |- | Boules sports | World Pétanque and Bowls Federation (WPBF) |- | Bowling | International Bowling Federation (IBF) |- | Canoe | International Canoe Federation (ICF) |- | Casting | International Casting Sport Federation (ICSF) |- | Cheerleading | International Cheer Union (ICU) |- | Chess | International Chess Federation (FIDE) |- | DanceSport | World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) |- | Fistball | International Fistball Association (IFA) |- | Fitness and Bodybuilding | International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation (IFBB) |- | Floorball | International Floorball Federation (IFF) |- | Flying disc sports | World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) |- | Gymnastics | International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) |- | Handball | International Handball Federation (IHF) |- | Hockey | International Hockey Federation (FIH) |- | Sport Ju-Jitsu | Ju-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF) |- | Karate | World Karate Federation (WKF) |- | Kickboxing | World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO) |- | Korfball | International Korfball Federation (IKF) |- | Lacrosse | World Lacrosse |- | Life saving | International Life Saving Federation (ILS) |- | Muay Thai | International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) |- | Netball | World Netball (WN) |- | Orienteering | International Orienteering Federation (IOF) |- | Powerlifting | International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) |- | Racquetball | International Racquetball Federation (IRF) |- | Roller sports | World Skate (WSK) |- | Rugby sevens | World Rugby (WR) |- | Sambo | International Sambo Federation (FIAS) |- | Sport climbing | International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) |- | Squash | World Squash Federation (WSF) |- | Sumo | International Sumo Federation (ISF) |- | Tug of War | Tug of War International Federation (TWIF) |- | Underwater sports | World Underwater Federation (CMAS) |- | Water skiing & wakeboarding | International Water Ski Federation (IWWF) |- | Wushu | International Wushu Federation (IWUF) |}

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.theworldgames.org/}}

International Category:International Olympic Committee Category:World Games Category:Organisations based in Lausanne Category:International sports organisations based in Switzerland Category:Sports organizations established in 1980