During its session in Mumbai, India, the IOC made decisions on the programme for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA. On the proposal of the host city, the IOC members approved five extra sports to be included in the programme. Four sports that featured at the Birmingham 2022 edition of The World Games will be performed at the Los Angeles Games: Baseball/Softball, Lacrosse, Squash and Flag Football.

These four sports will be also on the programme at the upcoming edition of The World Games in 2025 in Chengdu, People’s Republic of China. Other sports of The World Games 2025 that will get their Olympic stage again in Los Angeles after the Chengdu Games are Sport Climbing and Roller Sports. The only sport selected in Mumbai that has never featured at any staging of The World Games is Cricket.

The President of the International World Games Association, José Perurena, sees his assessment confirmed after the IOC decision this week: “There is no clear red line between Olympic and non-Olympic sports any more. In Tokyo 2021, four sports from the World Games family made their debut. In Paris 2024, DanceSport will be represented for the first time with Breaking.” José Perurena makes it clear: “The World Games have become a springboard to the Olympic Games. The reason for this is that we are presenting many new and trendy sports. Added to this is the high quality of the competitions at The World Games. Our event shows the whole diversity of the sport and is thus a kind of showcase.”

From his point of view, the international sports federations have clearly recognised this; they are using TWG to promote their disciplines and competition level. José Perurena: “We also see that more and more NOC or national sports organisations actively support their athletes at The World Games. They also know that medalists at our Games can be potential candidates for success at future Olympic Games. The decisions in Mumbai confirm this assessment.”

 The World Games is a multi-sport event staged every four years by the International World Games Association, organised with the support of the International Olympic Committee. The World Games 2022 was held in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, 7-17 July 2022. 3,600 athletes from 34 sports and 100 countries took part in the Games. The 12th edition of The World Games will be held in Chengdu, CHN, 7-17 August 2025.