IOC Recognizes Importance of The World Games

LAUSANNE (19/4/2016) The International World Games Association (IWGA) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) agreed on a new Memorandum of Understanding on Tuesday. IOC President Dr. Thomas Bach and President José Perurena of the IWGA signed this important agreement about mutual support during the SportAccord Convention in Lausanne. This document supersedes the previous Memorandum of Understanding dated 27 October 2000.

The MoU underlines the closer cooperation between the IOC and the IWGA which was set out in Recommendation 6.1 of Olympic Agenda 2020. This states “…the IOC and the International World Games Association (IWGA) to closely cooperate regarding the sports programme composition and their respective evaluations.” The new agreement confirms that “the IOC recognises the importance of The World Games as a multi-sport event and the IWGA is committed to develop its activities in the Olympic spirit and in conformity with the Olympic Charter.”

The MoU explains the principles of how this overall cooperation can be further developed. One of these principles is that the IWGA accepts that only events that are not on the programme of the Olympic Games can be included in the programme of The World Games (TWG). The IWGA shall also ensure that only sports whose International Federations are recognised by the IOC or are already members of the IWGA will be included in the official sports programme of TWG.
The IOC agrees to grant patronage to Organising Committees of The World Games and to provide technical assistance. This means for example that the IOC and the IWGA shall explore possibilities of closer cooperation on their respective communication, promotion and marketing programmes. Furthermore, the IOC will provide its expertise and help to promote IWGA’s activities within the Olympic Movement and encourages the NOCs to support and assist their national multi-sport delegations taking part in TWG.

Part of the agreement signed on Tuesday is the assurance: “The IWGA shall continue to develop a close working relationship with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to facilitate education and testing programs, and doping controls conducted at The World Games according to the World Anti-Doping Code.”

IWGA President José Perurena said after the signing ceremony: “This Memorandum of Understanding tremendously enhances the status of The World Games. Working in cooperation with the IOC is essential for us to raise the level of competition and organization of our Games. I want to thank IOC President Dr. Thomas Bach for his enormous support and for working with on this document. It proves that we are a real part of the Olympic movement and a member of the Olympic family.”