The 2025 World Games concluded in Chengdu on Sunday, capping 12 days of boundary-pushing athleticism under the theme 'Boundless Sports, Countless Wonders.' The event drew nearly 4,000 athletes from 110 countries and regions – the most diverse participation in the competition's history – with 83 delegations earning medals for the first time.
China led the medal tally with 36 golds, leveraging its largest-ever delegation of 489 members. Athletes from the host nation competed in 12 previously untested disciplines, including floorball and powerboating, while integrating para athletes into competition rosters for the first time.
The closing ceremony at Qinhuang Lake blended cultural symbolism with technological spectacle. A children's choir performed 'Auld Lang Syne' as the Games' flame gradually dimmed, symbolizing the transition to the next host city. Karlsruhe, Germany, will welcome athletes in 2029 for its second World Games hosting since 1989.
Organizers highlighted the event's legacy of expanding access to niche sports, with Ukrainian archers and German drone racers sharing podiums with Chinese breakdancers. 'This edition redefined what global sports cooperation looks like,' said a spokesperson for the International World Games Association during the final address.
