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2013 World Games
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
 | |
| Host city | Cali, Colombia |
|---|---|
| Motto | Fair play to the planet |
| Nations | 103 |
| Athletes | 2,982 |
| Events | 171 in 31 official sports |
| Opening | 25 July 2013 |
| Closing | 4 August 2013 |
| Opened by | Vice President Angelino Garzón[1] |
| Athlete's Oath | Jorge Luis CiFuentes |
| Judge's Oath | Marta Luz Vega |
| Coach's Oath | Hugo Cotuaz |
| Main venue | Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero |
| Website | worldgames2013.com.co (archived) |
The 2013 World Games (Spanish: Juegos Mundiales 2013), the ninth World Games, also known as Cali 2013, were an international multi-sport event held in the city of Cali, Colombia, from July 25 to August 4.[2] It is the first edition of the World Games to be held in South America.
Host city allocation history
[edit]The 2013 World Games were initially allocated to the German cities of Duisburg and Düsseldorf. However, at the end of 2008, Duisburg withdrew and Düsseldorf dropped out because both cities could not secure enough funding, partly as a result of the 2008 financial crisis and the subsequent Great Recession.
Two alternate cities came forward to the IWGA to bid for these Games: Pretoria, South Africa and Cali, Colombia. During The World Games 2009 in Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei, the IWGA announced that Cali has won the right to host The World Games in 2013.
Sports
[edit]Official sports
[edit]The 2013 World Games programme featured 32 official sports, and 4 invitational sports. The numbers in parentheses indicate the number of medal events, which were contested in each sports discipline.
Acrobatic gymnastics (5)
Aerobic gymnastics (7)
Air sports (3)
Archery (7)
Artistic roller skating (4)
Beach handball (2)
Boules sports (8)
Bowling (3)
Canoe polo (2)
Cue sports (4)
Dancesport (3)
Finswimming (10)
Fistball (1)
Flying disc (1)
Inline hockey (1)
Inline speed skating (10)
Ju-jitsu (13)
Karate (12)
Korfball (1)
Lifesaving (16)
Orienteering (5)
Powerlifting (8)
Racquetball (2)
Rhythmic gymnastics (3)- Road speed skating (8)
Rugby sevens (1)
Sport climbing (4)
Squash (2)
Sumo (8)
Trampoline gymnastics (6)
Tug of war (3)
Water skiing (8)
Invitational sports
[edit]
Canoe marathon (6)
Duathlon (2)
Softball (1)
Wushu (14)
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Garden of Sport
[edit]The "Garden of Sport" events were held in the neighboring towns of Buga and Jamundí. These demonstration events served to showcase these disciplines for potential inclusion in future games.
Two of the competitions were held at Coliseo Mayor in Buga:
The other three disciplines took place in Jamundí:
Calendar
[edit]- 2013 World Games Event Schedule
- Note: Due to concerns about temperature and air flow at the Del Pueblo Gymnasium, where the sport of Rhythmic Gymnastics was taking place, the Ribbons event was cancelled at the last moment.[5]
Key: Invitational sport
|
- ^ Although originally scheduled, apparently no medals were awarded in wushu for the Men's Gunshu and Women's Qiangshu events.
Participant countries
[edit]- 2013 World Games participant countries[6] (with number of athletes):
Afghanistan (1)
Algeria (2)
Argentina (65)
Aruba (15)
Australia (87)
Austria (44)
Azerbaijan (5)
Belarus (15)
Belgium (59)
Bermuda (1)
Bolivia (4)
Brazil (74)
Bulgaria (6)
Canada (90)
Chile (42)
China (105)
Colombia (204) Host
Costa Rica (8)
Croatia (18)
Cuba (19)
Czech Republic (71)
Denmark (16)
Dominican Republic (7)
Ecuador (16)
Egypt (17)
El Salvador (2)
Estonia (7)
Ethiopia (1)
Finland (10)
France (157)
Germany (146)
Greece (2)
Guatemala (4)
Guyana (1)
Hong Kong (13)
Hungary (53)
India (12)
Indonesia (8)
Iran (17)
Ireland (26)
Israel (11)
Italy (102)
Jamaica (1)
Japan (76)
Jordan (1)
Kazakhstan (2)
South Korea (45)
Kuwait (1)
Latvia (35)
Lithuania (8)
Luxembourg (2)
Macau (1)
Macedonia (1)
Malaysia (13)
Malta (3)
Mauritius (1)
Mexico (37)
Moldova (2)
Monaco (3)
Mongolia (18)
Montenegro (3)
Morocco (3)
Namibia (1)
Netherlands (78)
New Zealand (24)
Nicaragua (2)
Norway (28)
Pakistan (1)
Peru (3)
Philippines (5)
Poland (33)
Portugal (36)
Puerto Rico (3)
Qatar (10)
Romania (12)
Russia (149)
Senegal (1)
Serbia (4)
Singapore (2)
Slovakia (17)
Slovenia (10)
South Africa (41)
Spain (37)
Sweden (52)
Switzerland (77)
Syria (1)
Chinese Taipei (51)
Thailand (11)
Trinidad and Tobago (6)
Tunisia (10)
Turkey (8)
Ukraine (90)
United Arab Emirates (2)
United Kingdom (102)
United States (137)
Uruguay (24)
Venezuela (88)
Vietnam (9)
Medal mistake
[edit]This particular edition made the mistake of putting the words "word games" instead of "world games," on one thousand medals.[7] This fact was reported by Colombian news organization Noticias Uno.[8][9] Several athletes smiled and were surprised upon seeing the typo.[10] According to the representative of the firm that engraved the medals, several authorities had seen and approved the medals' design without noticing the mistake, including Coldeportes director Andrés Botero, and the head of the Organizing Committee Rodrigo Otoya. The representative also stated that, according to a corporate policy, "... any mistake after the art has been approved (by the client) will not be responsibility of the Firm" [11] Regarding the medals, Rodrigo Guerrero, Mayor of Cali, stated that "This mistake in no way undermines the value of the medals, and the spirit of the games. People are making a tempest in a tea cup out of this situation."[12]
Medal results
[edit]Official sports
[edit]Key: Medal tally of the 2013 World Games' Official Results website, which includes road speed skating.[13] In one aerobic gymnastics event there was a four-way tie for first place; four gold medals and no silver or bronze medals were awarded. In another aerobic gymnastics event there was a tie for second-place; two silver medals and no bronze medal were awarded. In two trampoline/tumbing gymnastics events, there was tie for first-place; in each event, two gold medals and no silver medal were awarded.
* Host nation (Colombia)
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Italy (ITA) | 18 | 13 | 18 | 49 |
| 2 |  Russia (RUS) | 17 | 24 | 12 | 53 |
| 3 |  France (FRA) | 16 | 11 | 13 | 40 |
| 4 |  Germany (GER) | 15 | 7 | 8 | 30 |
| 5 |  China (CHN) | 14 | 6 | 2 | 22 |
| 6 |  United States (USA) | 11 | 4 | 4 | 19 |
| 7 |  Ukraine (UKR) | 9 | 10 | 9 | 28 |
| 8 |  Colombia (COL)* | 8 | 13 | 10 | 31 |
| 9 |  Great Britain (GBR) | 6 | 6 | 3 | 15 |
| 10 |  Chinese Taipei (TPE) | 5 | 5 | 8 | 18 |
| 11 |  Brazil (BRA) | 5 | 3 | 1 | 9 |
| 12 |  Japan (JPN) | 5 | 1 | 4 | 10 |
| 13 |  Switzerland (SUI) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 |
| 14 |  Denmark (DEN) | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| 15 |  Sweden (SWE) | 3 | 1 | 5 | 9 |
| 16 |  Belarus (BLR) | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
 Mexico (MEX) | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | |
| 18 |  Netherlands (NED) | 2 | 6 | 5 | 13 |
| 19 |  Belgium (BEL) | 2 | 4 | 4 | 10 |
| 20 |  Spain (ESP) | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 |
| 21 |  Chile (CHI) | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
 Poland (POL) | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | |
 Romania (ROU) | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | |
| 24 |  Slovenia (SLO) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 25 |  Finland (FIN) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 26 |  South Korea (KOR) | 1 | 2 | 6 | 9 |
| 27 |  Austria (AUT) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 28 |  New Zealand (NZL) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 29 |  Croatia (CRO) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
 Venezuela (VEN) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | |
| 31 |  Hungary (HUN) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
 Vietnam (VIE) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 33 |  South Africa (RSA) | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| 34 |  Mongolia (MGL) | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 35 |  Azerbaijan (AZE) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
 Lithuania (LTU) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| 37 |  India (IND) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
 Malaysia (MAS) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
 Moldova (MDA) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
 Turkey (TUR) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 41 |  Canada (CAN) | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 |
| 42 |  Norway (NOR) | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| 43 |  Argentina (ARG) | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
 Egypt (EGY) | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | |
 Thailand (THA) | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | |
| 46 |  Czech Republic (CZE) | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 47 |  Australia (AUS) | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 48 |  Ecuador (ECU) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
 Portugal (POR) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 50 |  Greece (GRE) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
 Iran (IRI) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 52 |  Luxembourg (LUX) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 53 |  El Salvador (ESA) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Ireland (IRL) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
 Israel (ISR) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
 Morocco (MAR) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
 Peru (PER) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
 Philippines (PHI) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
 Serbia (SRB) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (59 entries) | 176 | 169 | 169 | 514 | |
Invitational sports
[edit]Key: As of August 3, 2013, from the Games' official Invitational Sports Medal Tally.[14]
* Host nation (Colombia)
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hungary (HUN) | 5 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| 2 | China (CHN) | 5 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| 3 | Iran (IRI) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | France (FRA) | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| 5 | Vietnam (VIE) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | Germany (GER) | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 7 | Japan (JPN) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
 United States (USA) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| 9 | Belgium (BEL) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
 Cuba (CUB) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
 Hong Kong (HKG) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
 Indonesia (INA) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 13 |  Malaysia (MAS) | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 14 | Russia (RUS) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 15 | Italy (ITA) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Portugal (POR) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Turkey (TUR) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Ukraine (UKR) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 19 | Brazil (BRA) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Canada (CAN) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Chile (CHI) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Czech Republic (CZE) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| India (IND) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Spain (ESP) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Venezuela (VEN) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 26 | Argentina (ARG) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Colombia (COL)* | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Mexico (MEX) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Netherlands (NED) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Poland (POL) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (30 entries) | 23 | 23 | 18 | 64 | |
Changes in medal tally
[edit]- Key
Disqualified athlete(s)
| Sport/Event | Athlete (NOC) | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sumo Men's middleweight |
István Kalmár (HUN)
|
–1 | –1 | ||
| Atsamaz Kaziev (RUS)
|
+1 | –1 | 0 | ||
| Usukhbayar Ochirkhuu (MGL)
|
+1 | +1 |
In the men's middleweight sumo event, István Kalmár of Hungary was stripped of his silver medal due to a positive doping test.[15]
Broadcasters
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ "The 2013 World Games Have Begun". Retrieved 2013-07-26.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Cali, Colombia announced as next World Games venue". Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2009-07-21.
- ^ "World Games, Colombia – Team GB Battle Hard". UK Wallball. 15 August 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
- ^ dia, Noticias dia a (14 July 2016). "Así transcurre Campeonato Mundial de WallBall en Girardot". Noticias de Cundinamarca y Fusagasugá en Día a Día (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 July 2021.
- ^ "Cancelled event at Cali 2013" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-08-18. Retrieved 2015-10-30.
- ^ "Classified Countries". Archived from the original on 2013-08-20. Retrieved 2013-07-25.
- ^ "Grave error ortográfico afecta a mil medallas de los Juegos Mundiales de Cali (Grave mistake affects thousand medals from the World Games in Cali)". AFP. Radio Bío-Bío. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- ^ El juego de palabras 28 July 2013 Archived 1 August 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "The "WORD" games..." Imgur.
- ^ ""Por error, medallas de los Juegos Mundiales de Cali dicen 'Word' en lugar de 'World' " (Due to Error, World Games' Medals put 'Word' instead of 'World')". NTN24. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
- ^ ""Todos vimos las medallas y ninguno notó el error" (We All Saw The Mistake in the Medals, but Nobody Said Anything About It)". Semana. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
- ^ ""Medallas de los Juegos Mundiales de Cali dicen 'Word' y no 'World'" (Cali's World Games' Medals put 'Word' instead of 'World')". El Espectador. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
- ^ "Info System: Medals / Medal Tally". worldgames2013.sportresult.com. Archived from the original on 2016-11-04. Retrieved 2013-07-26.
- ^ "Info System: Medals / Medal Tally". worldgames2013.sportresult.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-07-26.
- ^ "International Sumo Federation – World Games". Retrieved 2015-11-01.
External links
[edit]2013 World Games
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Bidding and Host Selection
Initial Allocation
In 2005, at the General Assembly of the International World Games Association (IWGA) in Athens, Greece, the organization awarded the hosting rights for the 2013 edition to the German cities of Duisburg and Düsseldorf by acclamation.[4] This allocation marked a return to Germany, which had successfully hosted the 2005 event in Duisburg, and was intended to leverage the region's infrastructure and experience in multi-sport events.[5] The arrangement faced insurmountable challenges following the 2008 global financial crisis, which exacerbated budgetary constraints and sponsorship shortfalls for the cities.[6] Organizational issues, including difficulties in securing public funding and managing logistical preparations amid economic downturn, further compounded the problems.[7] Duisburg formally announced its withdrawal on December 9, 2008, due to these financial pressures, with Düsseldorf confirming its decision shortly thereafter in late 2008.[7] This development prompted the IWGA to initiate a new bidding process for the 2013 World Games.Final Bidding Process
Following the withdrawal of the joint German bid from Duisburg and Düsseldorf at the end of 2008, due to insufficient funding amid the global economic crisis, the International World Games Association (IWGA) reopened the bidding process for the 2013 edition in early 2009.[6][8] Two cities emerged as candidates: Cali, Colombia, and Pretoria, South Africa.[9] The IWGA Executive Committee evaluated the submissions based on key criteria, including the availability of suitable infrastructure, financial commitments, and the host's experience with international events. During the IWGA General Assembly convened as part of the 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung, Taiwan—from July 16 to 26—Cali was awarded hosting rights by vote of the member federations, defeating Pretoria.[9] This decision marked a milestone, as Cali became the first South American city to host The World Games.[2]Event Overview
Dates and Locations
The 9th edition of The World Games was held from July 25 to August 4, 2013.[1] The event took place in Cali, Colombia, marking the first time the World Games were hosted in South America.[1] Cali was selected as the host city following a bidding process won by Colombia in 2009.[2] As a multi-sport event dedicated to non-Olympic disciplines, the 2013 World Games featured competitions across 26 official sports and five invitational sports.[1] A total of 194 medal events were contested, comprising 171 in the official programme and 23 in the invitational sports.[1] The Games spanned 11 days, with most competitions concentrated in the Colombian capital's various venues, emphasizing the event's role in promoting global participation in lesser-recognized athletic pursuits.[1]Participants and Scale
The 2013 World Games attracted 3,103 athletes from 91 countries, underscoring its growing global appeal as the first edition hosted on the South American continent.[1] This participation marked a notable expansion in international involvement compared to prior events, with a particular emphasis on enhanced representation from Latin American nations, including a record 22 National Olympic Committees from the region sending delegations.[1] The host nation, Colombia, fielded the largest contingent with 194 athletes across multiple disciplines, reflecting the event's boost to regional engagement.[1] Among the competitors, 2,730 participated in the 26 official sports, while 373 took part in the five invitational sports.[1] A comprehensive medical surveillance study recorded 2,824 athletes overall, comprising 1,216 women (43.1%) and 1,608 men (56.9%), highlighting a relatively balanced gender distribution despite the male majority.[10] The scale of the competition was further evidenced by the awarding of 194 gold medals in total—171 from official sports and 23 from invitational events—demonstrating the breadth of non-Olympic disciplines showcased.[1]Sports Programme
Official Sports
The official sports programme of the 2013 World Games featured 26 non-Olympic disciplines governed by member international federations of the International World Games Association (IWGA), chosen to highlight globally recognized sports excluded from the Olympic programme. These sports satisfied IWGA criteria for official status, including affiliation with a worldwide governing body, demonstrated international participation, and structured competitive formats that promote top-level universality and spectator appeal. In total, the official programme encompassed 171 medal events across these disciplines.[1] The following table lists the disciplines within the 26 official sports along with their respective medal event counts:| Sport | Medal Events |
|---|---|
| Acrobatic gymnastics | 5 |
| Aerobic gymnastics | 7 |
| Air sports | 3 |
| Artistic roller skating | 4 |
| Beach handball | 2 |
| Billiard sports | 4 |
| Boules sports | 8 |
| Bowling | 3 |
| Canoe polo | 2 |
| Dancesport | 3 |
| Field archery | 7 |
| Finswimming | 10 |
| Fistball | 1 |
| Flying disc | 1 |
| Ju-jitsu | 13 |
| Karate | 12 |
| Korfball | 1 |
| Lifesaving | 16 |
| Orienteering | 5 |
| Powerlifting | 8 |
| Racquetball | 2 |
| Road speed skating | 8 |
| Rhythmic gymnastics | 3 |
| Roller inline hockey | 1 |
| Rugby sevens | 1 |
| Track speed skating | 10 |
| Sport climbing | 4 |
| Squash | 2 |
| Sumo | 8 |
| Trampoline gymnastics | 4 |
| Tug of war | 3 |
| Tumbling gymnastics | 2 |
| Waterskiing/Wakeboarding | 8 |
Invitational Sports
The invitational sports programme at the 2013 World Games in Cali, Colombia, featured five disciplines selected to demonstrate emerging or regionally significant non-Olympic sports with potential for future integration into the official roster.[1] These events provided an opportunity for international federations to gain visibility and for host interests, such as Latin American traditions in disciplines like wushu, to be highlighted alongside global trends.[11] The invitational sports included canoe marathon, duathlon, softball, wushu, and American football (demonstration), comprising a total of 23 events with dedicated medal ceremonies separate from the official programme's 171 events.[1] This structure allowed for 373 athletes to compete in these demonstration categories, contributing to the overall scale of 3,103 participants across all sports.[1]| Sport | Number of Events |
|---|---|
| Canoe Marathon | 6 |
| Duathlon | 2 |
| Softball | 1 |
| Wushu | 14 |
| American Football | 0 |
Venues and Facilities
Primary Competition Venues
The primary competition venues for the 2013 World Games were concentrated in central Cali, Colombia, forming a cluster of 25 facilities designed to accommodate the diverse requirements of official and invitational sports.[1] These sites underwent significant renovations and adaptations to support multi-sport usage, including upgrades to flooring, lighting, and spectator areas, as part of a broader investment by Colombian authorities to prepare 33 sports venues (29 remodeled and 4 newly constructed) for the event.[14] Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero stood as the flagship venue, a multi-purpose stadium renovated ahead of the Games with enhanced seating and field configurations to handle both track-and-field style events and team competitions. With a capacity of approximately 35,000 spectators, it hosted key invitational sports such as ultimate flying disc and rugby sevens, leveraging its expansive grass field for high-attendance matches.[1][15][16] Coliseo El Pueblo, a prominent indoor arena built for the 1971 Pan American Games and later adapted with modular flooring and acoustic improvements, featured a capacity of around 17,000 and served as a hub for gymnastics disciplines. It accommodated rhythmic gymnastics and aerobic gymnastics events, benefiting from its versatile layout that allowed quick reconfiguration between apparatus setups.[17][18] Velódromo Alcides Nieto Patiño, originally constructed in 1971 for track cycling, was repurposed for artistic roller skating through the installation of a specialized 250-meter marble oval track, enhancing surface smoothness and speed for precision routines. Boasting a spectator capacity of 7,650, the venue's banked wooden structure was further upgraded with improved ventilation and lighting to meet international standards for indoor skating competitions.[17][19] The Hernando Botero O'Byrne Swimming Pool, part of the Jaime Aparicio Sports Complex, functioned as the dedicated aquatic center for finswimming, equipped with a 50-meter competition pool (10 lanes, 2.10 meters deep) and a warmup pool. With an overall capacity for about 7,000 spectators, it was adapted with timing systems and water filtration enhancements to support apnea and surface events, ensuring optimal conditions for underwater propulsion disciplines.[20][21]Garden of Sport Events
The Garden of Sport initiative, known in Spanish as "Jardín del Deporte," was an outreach component of the 2013 World Games designed to extend the event's reach beyond the central venues in Cali by hosting demonstration and exhibition events in neighboring municipalities. This program aimed to promote non-official sports disciplines with potential for future inclusion in the World Games, while fostering community engagement in rural and semi-rural areas of the Valle del Cauca department. By decentralizing select activities, it sought to bring international-level sports to local populations, encouraging grassroots participation and awareness of emerging athletic pursuits.[22][23] Events under the Garden of Sport were held primarily in the towns of Guadalajara de Buga and Jamundí, located approximately 40 kilometers and 15 kilometers from Cali, respectively. In Buga, competitions took place at the Coliseo Mayor, featuring futsal (indoor soccer) for both men's and women's teams from July 26 to 30, and kudo—a Japanese hybrid martial art combining striking, grappling, and submission techniques—for male and female athletes on July 29 and 30. These exhibitions highlighted team-based and combat sports in a format that emphasized demonstration over medal competition, allowing athletes from multiple nations to showcase skills to regional audiences.[24][22][25][23] In Jamundí, activities were distributed across three facilities: the Coliseo Alfaguara and Plaza Mayor hosted pelota mano (handball pelota) and frontball—a racket-based variant of Basque pelota—from July 25 to 30, while the Estadio El Cacique accommodated hapkido, a Korean martial art focused on joint locks and throws, from August 1 to 4. These events included invitational matches and displays that integrated local community involvement, such as introductory sessions for residents, to bridge elite international competition with regional sports development. The selection of these disciplines underscored the program's goal of diversifying the Games' visibility, spotlighting sports not part of the core program but recognized by international federations.[24][22][23] The initiative had a notable community impact by transforming peripheral venues into hubs of sporting activity, drawing spectators from surrounding rural areas and stimulating local economies through athlete accommodations and event logistics financed partly by municipal governments. It promoted physical activity and cultural exchange in underserved regions, with an emphasis on inclusivity for women and youth in non-traditional sports like kudo and hapkido. Overall, the Garden of Sport helped position the 2013 World Games as a broader regional celebration, enhancing long-term interest in sports development across Colombia's Valle del Cauca.[26][22]Ceremonies
Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony of the 2013 World Games took place on July 25, 2013, at the Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero in Cali, Colombia.[1] This event marked the first time the World Games were hosted on the South American continent, drawing an estimated 35,000 spectators to the sold-out stadium.[27] The ceremony was officially opened by Colombian Vice President Angelino Garzón, who delivered an address emphasizing Latin America's role in international sport and the need for the region to reclaim its prominence.[1][28] The program featured a parade of participating federations, followed by an athletes' parade organized by nation, showcasing representatives from 91 countries.[29] Cultural performances highlighted Colombian heritage, including displays by approximately 300 salsa dancers, 36 acrobats, and 52 musicians, reflecting Cali's status as the world capital of salsa.[30] The event also incorporated the raising of the International World Games Association (IWGA) flag, symbolizing the unity of non-Olympic sports.[29] Thematically, the ceremony focused on South American unity and environmental protection under the motto "Fair Play to the Planet," with initiatives to reduce the event's carbon footprint.[1] Notable attendees included International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge and future IOC President Thomas Bach, underscoring the Games' significance within the broader Olympic Movement.[1]Closing Ceremony
The closing ceremony of the 2013 World Games took place on August 4, 2013, at the Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero in Cali, Colombia, drawing a sold-out crowd of 25,000 spectators.[31] The event marked the conclusion of the ninth edition of the games, which had run from July 25 to August 4 and attracted over 500,000 visitors overall, underscoring Cali's successful hosting and warm hospitality.[31] Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos was among the dignitaries in attendance, adding to the ceremony's prominence.[1] Key rituals included medal presentations for the final competitions, such as those in lifesaving, where athletes like Germany's Marcel Hassemeier (four golds and one silver) and France's Magalie Rousseau (four golds) were honored.[31] A significant moment was the handover of the International World Games Association (IWGA) flag from Cali organizers to representatives of the next host city, Wrocław, Poland, symbolizing the transition to the 2017 edition scheduled for August 3–13.[31] IWGA President Ron Froehlich delivered a speech expressing gratitude to the athletes, officials, volunteers, and the people of Cali for their contributions to the event's success.[31] The ceremony featured festive Colombian cultural elements, including performances by superstar singer Carlos Vives and a concluding salsa fest that celebrated the host nation's vibrant music and dance traditions.[31] These elements, combined with athlete testimonials highlighting personal achievements and the spirit of non-Olympic sports, emphasized the games' legacy of promoting global unity and emerging disciplines.[31] The event served as a forward-looking handover, paving the way for future World Games while affirming Cali's role in elevating the competition's international profile.[1]Schedule
Event Calendar
The 2013 World Games, held in Cali, Colombia, spanned 11 days from July 25 to August 4, during which 194 gold medals were awarded across official and invitational sports.[1] The event calendar began with the opening ceremony and initial preparations, transitioning into competitions starting the following day, with early focus on gymnastics and artistic disciplines before peaking in mid-week with multiple finals in martial arts and team sports.[32] Key milestones included the first medal events on July 26 in women's duathlon, rhythmic gymnastics, finswimming, life saving, and sumo, while air sports rounds began on August 1, with paragliding accuracy and canopy piloting finals on August 3-4.[32] July 25: The games commenced with the opening ceremony at the renovated Pascual Guerrero Stadium, attended by over 35,000 spectators and officiated by Colombian Vice President Angelino Garzón.[1] This day featured athlete arrivals, check-ins for dancesport, and training sessions for artistic roller skating, rhythmic gymnastics, and finswimming, setting the stage without competitive events.[32] July 26: Competition day one began with qualifications in artistic roller skating, qualifications and finals (hoop and ball apparatus) in rhythmic gymnastics with medals, heats and finals in finswimming with medals, initial softball games, training for dancesport, ju-jitsu, karate, alongside sumo qualifications and initial medal events at the Coliseo El Pueblo. The women's elite duathlon race awarded one of the first medals of the games on this day; the men's event followed on July 27.[32][33] July 27: Finals dominated in artistic roller skating, dancesport, rhythmic gymnastics (clubs and ribbons), and sumo, with ju-jitsu and karate eliminations leading to finals and early medal rounds. Finswimming continued its events with additional medals, and life saving heats and finals awarded medals; softball continued its group stage matches at the Jaime Aparicio Sports Unit. Acrobatic gymnastics qualifications and finals with medals also occurred.[32] July 28: Continuation of dancesport finals and medals, beach handball opening games and opening ceremony, racquetball semi-finals and finals with medals, field archery semi-finals and finals with medals, trampoline qualifications and finals with medals, waterski and wakeboard finals with medals, alongside training for acrobatic gymnastics, ju-jitsu, karate, and sumo. Softball advanced through additional games, marking a buildup in non-Olympic combat sports.[32] July 29: Acrobatic gymnastics finals were held, joined by trampoline and tumbling qualifications, powerlifting competitions across weight classes, and boules sports rounds at the Marymount School venue. Ju-jitsu eliminations and finals with medals, korfball games, and waterski and wakeboard semi-finals and finals with medals also took place.[32] July 30: Remaining acrobatic gymnastics finals, trampoline and tumbling events, and continued powerlifting took place, with boules sports advancing to semi-finals and softball concluding its medal matches. Beach handball games and opening ceremony, canoe polo group matches, flying disc games with medals, and roller inline hockey finals with medals highlighted the day.[32] July 31: Trampoline and tumbling finals, final powerlifting sessions, boules sports finals, and the start of bowling events, including mixed doubles, highlighted this day as competitions intensified in precision and strength disciplines. Field archery qualifications and finals with medals, acrobatic gymnastics additional finals with medals, speed skating track preliminaries and finals with medals, and korfball games also occurred.[32] August 1: Aerobic gymnastics training began, alongside bowling singles, canoe marathon semi-finals on the Cali River, initial air sports rounds in paragliding accuracy and canopy piloting, orienteering model event, squash pre-quarters, and rugby sevens matches. This marked the entry of air sports as a key milestone, with medals in aerobic gymnastics, orienteering sprint, rugby sevens, bowling doubles, powerlifting, and field archery.[32][34] August 2: Aerobic gymnastics qualifications and finals, bowling singles finals, canoe marathon finals, ongoing air sports, orienteering sprint distance, squash quarter-finals, rugby sevens semi-finals, and speed skating track finals represented a peak day with diverse medal opportunities across water, aerial, and track events. Additional medals in rugby sevens, boules sports, and speed skating road.[32] August 3: Aerobic gymnastics finals, orienteering middle distance, squash semi-finals, speed skating track finals, sport climbing speed qualifications, wushu competitions, and beach handball semi-finals underscored the multi-sport intensity nearing the close. Canoe polo semi-finals and finals with medals, sport climbing qualifications and finals with medals, and speed skating road preliminaries and finals with medals also featured.[32] August 4: The final competition day featured orienteering team relay, squash finals, sport climbing lead finals, wushu finals, beach handball bronze and gold matches, bowling team finals, and ultimate flying disc mixed team event, culminating in the closing ceremony at the same stadium as the opening. Korfball finals with medals, air sports finals with medals (paragliding accuracy and canopy piloting), and speed skating road finals with medals concluded the competitions.[32]Competition Format
The 2013 World Games featured a total of 194 medal events, comprising 171 in the 26 official sports and 23 in the five invitational sports, structured to showcase non-Olympic disciplines through competitive formats governed by the International World Games Association (IWGA).[1] Events were organized across individual, team, and mixed competitions, with most sports following a progression from qualification rounds—such as preliminary heats, seeding matches, or ranking trials—to final rounds determining medal placements.[35] This format ensured fair advancement based on performance metrics like time, points, or direct elimination, accommodating the diverse nature of the sports while maintaining consistency under IWGA oversight.[35] Standard event structures emphasized inclusivity and competitiveness, with individual events focusing on solo athlete performances in categories defined by gender, weight, age, or skill level; team events involving collective efforts by national or club squads; and mixed events integrating male and female participants to promote gender balance. For instance, in acrobatic gymnastics, individual routines were judged on balance, tempo, and difficulty, while mixed pairs competed in synchronized sequences.[35] Qualification typically involved multiple rounds to narrow fields, such as 72-arrow eliminations in field archery leading to medal finals, ensuring only top performers advanced.[35] Across both official and invitational sports, these formats aligned with international federation standards to highlight athletic excellence without Olympic overlap.[35] Sport-specific variations adapted the general structure to the unique demands of each discipline, incorporating elements like time-based trials or combat-style knockouts. In speed skating (track and road), events included individual time trials over distances such as 300 meters and elimination races accumulating points over multiple laps, emphasizing speed and endurance on inline skates.[35] Karate kumite competitions followed knockout formats with weight-class bouts lasting up to three minutes, where matches were decided by points for valid strikes or ippon for decisive blows, progressing from pools to single-elimination finals.[35] Similarly, in invitational sports like wushu sanda, full-contact fights used a best-of-three rounds system in weight categories, blending strikes and throws in a team and individual setup.[35] These adaptations preserved the integrity of each sport while fitting the multi-disciplinary framework of the Games.[35] Anti-doping and eligibility rules were strictly enforced by the IWGA to uphold fair play, aligning with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code and the IWGA Anti-Doping Rules effective for the event.[36] Athletes were required to comply with the WADA Prohibited List, provide accurate whereabouts information for potential testing during the Games period, and obtain Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) by July 25, 2013, for any permitted medical substances, with violations such as presence of banned substances or tampering leading to disqualification and sanctions by the IWGA Anti-Doping Panel.[36] Eligibility further mandated adherence to international federation criteria, including no prior doping suspensions and verified national representation, with doping controls conducted pre- and post-competition using WADA-accredited laboratories to analyze urine and blood samples.[36] Appeals against decisions could be filed with the Court of Arbitration for Sport within 21 days, ensuring transparent enforcement across all events.[36]Participating Nations
Country Participation
The 2013 World Games, held in Cali, Colombia, featured participation from 91 countries, underscoring the event's role as a premier international platform for non-Olympic sports.[1] This edition represented the first time the Games were hosted in South America, drawing delegations from across all continents and promoting broader global involvement.[2][3] The host nation, Colombia, assembled the largest team with 194 athletes competing in numerous disciplines, reflecting strong national support and investment in the event's success.[1] Qualification for the Games was handled exclusively by the respective international sports federations (IFs), which organized dedicated qualifying competitions such as world championships and continental events to determine athlete and team entries based on performance criteria set by each IF.[29] Notable participants included traditional powerhouses like Italy, Russia, and the United States, alongside emerging teams from regions like Latin America and Asia, contributing to a diverse field of over 3,100 athletes overall.[1]Athlete Demographics
A total of 2,730 athletes competed in the official program of the 2013 World Games in Cali, Colombia.[1] This multi-sport event drew participants from 91 nations, with notable female involvement across disciplines.[1] Athletes generally fell within the 18-35 age range for most disciplines, reflecting the peak performance years typical in high-level non-Olympic sports. Exceptions occurred in powerlifting, where equipped competitors spanned a broader spectrum from approximately 21 to 51 years old, allowing for greater age diversity in strength-based events.[37] Participation was allocated across 26 official sports featuring 171 medal events, with varying numbers of competitions per discipline influencing athlete numbers. Lifesaving had the highest concentration at 14 events, emphasizing rescue and simulation skills in pool and beach settings, while fistball featured the fewest with just 1 team event for men. Other high-event sports included gymnastics with 20 and roller sports with 22 medal opportunities, underscoring the Games' focus on diverse, specialized athletic pursuits.[34]Competition Results
Overall Medal Table
The overall medal table for the official sports of the 2013 World Games encompasses results from the 26 official sports, with 171 medal events. Nations are ranked primarily by the number of gold medals awarded, with ties resolved first by silver medals and then by bronze medals; total medal counts serve as a secondary indicator of performance. A total of 582 medals were distributed (513 from official sports and 69 from invitational sports) among athletes from 91 participating nations.[1] Invitational sports medals are awarded separately and not included in this primary tally. Italy led the standings as the most successful nation, securing 18 gold medals across multiple disciplines, ahead of Russia with 17 golds and France with 16. The host nation, Colombia, placed eighth overall with 8 golds, 13 silvers, and 10 bronzes.[1] The table below presents the top six nations in the overall medal standings:| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Italy | 18 | 13 | 13 | 44 |
| 2 | Russia | 17 | 24 | 12 | 53 |
| 3 | France | 16 | 11 | 13 | 40 |
| 4 | Germany | 15 | 7 | 8 | 30 |
| 5 | China | 14 | 6 | 2 | 22 |
| 6 | United States | 11 | 4 | 4 | 19 |
Official Sports Medals
The official sports program of the 2013 World Games in Cali, Colombia, featured 26 sports and awarded 171 gold medals, alongside equivalent numbers of silver and bronze medals, across a total of 171 medal events.[1] These competitions highlighted non-Olympic sports, with outcomes reflecting national strengths in specialized fields like gymnastics, lifesaving, and roller sports. The medal distribution underscored Europe's dominance, while the host nation Colombia celebrated regional successes. Italy led the overall medal standings in official sports with 18 gold, 13 silver, and 13 bronze medals, achieving particular supremacy in lifesaving where they secured multiple golds in pool and ocean events, such as the men's 100m manikin carry with fins won by Jacopo Musso.[1][38] Russia placed second with 17 gold, 24 silver, and 12 bronze, driven by strong performances in gymnastics disciplines; for instance, they claimed all three medals in women's pairs acrobatic gymnastics and the gold in men's tumbling through Levon Petrosian.[1][38] France ranked third with 16 gold, 11 silver, and 13 bronze, including four golds in lifesaving by athlete Magalie Rousseau.[1][1] The following table summarizes the top five nations in the official sports medal tally:| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Italy | 18 | 13 | 13 | 44 |
| 2 | Russia | 17 | 24 | 12 | 53 |
| 3 | France | 16 | 11 | 13 | 40 |
| 4 | Germany | 15 | 7 | 8 | 30 |
| 5 | China | 14 | 6 | 2 | 22 |