NEW COMPETITION FORMAT FOR THE WORLD GAMES CHENGDU 2025 APPROVED

The International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) is pleased to announce that the competition format for Sport Climbing at The World Games Chengdu 2025 have now been approved and will include a new individual event.

For the very first time, there will be three separate Speed events for men and women that will feature the new individual four-lane competition alongside the team four-lane event, which was first introduced at the Asian Games Jakarta-Palembang 2018 and will also be part of the programme for the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 slated to take place later this year.

Both events will join the traditional individual two-lane competition and will see a total of 36 female and 36 male athletes competing across the six medal events.

IFSC President Scolaris said: “The appetite for Sport Climbing around the world is growing, and especially the Speed discipline throughout the Asian region. With The World Games 2025 in China, it is a perfect opportunity to showcase some new formats of Speed climbing at a top-class multisport event.

“We are predominantly an individual sport, but now everyone watching will be treated to some fast and furious racing with a rare opportunity for the athletes to win and share medals alongside their international teammates.”

Sport Climbing has been a part of The World Games programme since 2005, when the event took place in Duisburg, Germany. That event included Speed and Lead disciplines. For the last two editions of the event in 2017 and 2022, Boulder was also included.

The decision reached by the IFSC and the IWGA Executive Committee to include only Speed disciplines in the programme for 2025 is based on several important factors, including popularity, sustainability, cost efficiency, and the growth of Sport Climbing.

The World Games Chengdu 2025 are scheduled to take place from 7 to 17 August in Chengdu, China.

The podium of the women's Speed event at The World Games Birmingham 2022
Photo: Daniel Gajda/IFSC