The International World Games Association (IWGA) has just announced a groundbreaking and highly symbolic measure for the 2025 edition of The World Games, set to take place in Chengdu, China, from August 7 to 17. Athletes with young children—up to 18 months old as of the Opening Ceremony—will now be allowed to participate in the event while being accompanied by their baby and a designated caregiver.
A Concrete Acknowledgment of Parenthood in Elite Sports
Specifically, this new measure applies to children born after February 6, 2024. These infants will be eligible for accreditation, can be housed with their athlete parent, and will be supported logistically by a caregiver throughout the Games.
This initiative marks an important step toward inclusion and gender equality in sports—particularly for female athletes, who often face a difficult choice between continuing their athletic career and starting a family. By addressing the challenges of postpartum competition, the IWGA is helping to remove a major barrier to participation at the highest level.
Registration Process via International Federations
Athletes wishing to benefit from this initiative must express their intent by April 30, 2025, at the latest. Requests must be submitted through their International Federation, which will forward the application to the IWGA Athletes Committeeat the following email address:
📧 athletes.committee@iwga.sport
This move reflects a broader trend in which sports governing bodies are becoming increasingly aware of athletes’ lives beyond performance.
An Opportunity for Karate Athletes Too
Karate, a sport known for its discipline and intensity, will once again feature at The World Games 2025 through the WKF format. For top-level karatekas navigating parenthood, this initiative could be a game changer. It also sends a powerful message: family and high performance are not mutually exclusive.