Further to the recently increased working relationship between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International World Games Association (IWGA), the IOC has appointed a representative to the World Games 2001, to be held in Akita (JPN) in August. The IOC Member in Japan Mr Chiharu Igaya, also Member of the IOC Executive Board, has accepted the assignment.

By the end of last October the President of the IOC and of the IWGA signed a memorandum of understanding for a closer working relationship. Herewith the IOC recognized the importance of the World Games as a multi-sport event and agreed to support the IWGA and to provide assistance to various aspects of the World Games.

IOC President Juan A. Samaranch also circulated a letter to the nearly 200 National Olympic Committees to seek their assistance for the World Games athletes in their specific countries.

It is for the first time in the rather short history of the World Games that a representative of the IOC is appointed to a host city for a World Games event. The World Games, a quadrennial multi-sport event, were held for the first time in 1981 in Santa Clara (USA), followed by London (GBR) in 1985, Karlsruhe (GER) in 1989, The Hague (NED) 1993 and Lahti (FIN) 1997. It has already been decided that in 2005 the 7th World Games will be held in the German city of Duisburg.

The World Games 2001 will take place from 16 till 26 August in the northwestern prefecture of Akita in general and in the city of Akita in particular. The program is composed of 36 sports or disciplines of sports from 22 out of the in total 31 International Sports Federations affiliated with the IWGA. Some of the sports or disciplines of sports have been included in the program from the first moment on, like for instance Bowling, Karate, Roller Sports and Water Ski just to name a few. New on the program are this time, again for instance and just to name a very few Billiard (Carom, Pool and Snooker) and Rugby 7-a side.

The total number of athletes and officials for this year’s World Games will not exceed the number of 2.500. However, it has already been decided that the World Games 2005 will welcome 3.000 athletes and officials.

For further information please contact:

IWGA Press Officer
Mrs Trukie Albarda,
tel +31 70 3512774,
fax +31 70 3519911
e-mail iwga@hetnet.nl