Exclusive: World Combat Games and World Mind Games could be resurrected

Potentially resurecting multi-sport events like the World Mind Games were among items discussed during the SportAccord IF Forum in Lausanne ©SportAccord

The World Combat Games and the World Mind Games could be resurected following discussions during the SportAccord International Federations (IF) Forum here, insidethegames understands.

First held in 2010 in Beijing, the SportAccord-organised World Combat Games consisted of six Olympic and 10 non-Olympic sports, with a second edition held in St Petersburg and a third awarded to Lima for 2017.

Following the furore which erupted after former SportAccord head Marius Vizer criticised the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its President Thomas Bach in April, the Peruvian capital withdrew its hosting rights after boxing, taekwondo and wrestling had all pulled out, with fencing and weightlifting appeared poised to follow suit.

All 16 member Federations were present in a meeting during the IF Forum, also attended by interim SportAccord President Gian-Franco Kasper.

It was agreed in principal to push forward with the idea in 2018, although plans remain at a very early stage.

It is not yet clear how or where this would happen, or whether the event would still be affiliated with SportAccord.

The World Combat Games, organised by SportAccord, were last held in St Petersburg in 2013 ©SportAccord

The World Mind Games, meanwhile, an invitational event catering for bridge, chess, draughts, go and xianqi was first held in Beijing in 2011 and remained in the Chinese capital for the next three years.

Its future has been uncertain in recent months but there remains some interest due to the lack of opportunity to compete in other multi-sport events from the disciplines involved, with figures within in China still exploring the possibility, insidethegames understands.

A far more limited SportAccord has been proposed following Vizer's resignation in May, with organising the Convention and IF Forum the primary goals outlined in new draft statutes proposed to members but not agreed upon this week.

One other aim relates to "facilitating the organisation of multi-sport events where requested and appropriate for the IFs in consultation and agreement with the IOC".

Getting the support of the IOC would therefore be crucial if either the Mind Games, or particularly the Combat Games, are to be approved.

There appears no chance for a return of the SportAccord-organised World Beach Games, however, with the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) noow taking responsibilty for an event which has been awarded to San Diego for the first time in 2017.

Opposition does exist from within the SportAccord membership to the idea that all multi-sport events must receive the agreement of the IOC, however, which appears partly designed to prevent any event becoming a possible rival.