World Games open in Wrocław

The World Games sporting event has started in Wroclaw with the opening ceremony on Thursday. The games, dubbed by some as “the biggest sporting event you’ve never heard of,” are an international multi-sport event, meant for sports that are not contested in the Olympic Games, although are organized in cooperation with the International Olympic Committee. The World Games were first held in California in 1981, and have been organized every four years, one year after the Summer Olympic Games. The number of sports held at the event fluctuates as they are limited by the facilities available in the host city; no new facilities may be constructed for the games. Between 25 and 30 sports are usually in the event program. World Games in Wrocław will have 27 official disciplines and 4 invitational ones. They include: dancing, water polo, squash, karate, sumo, speedway, American Football, and billiard. Some 3,000 athletes from over 100 nations will take part in this year’s World Games which will be held till July 30.