The World Games will return to Karlsruhe (GER) in 2029. Karlsruhe will be the first city to host the multi-sport event twice since its inception. A proven host with a strong track record, Germany has hosted the 3rd edition of the World Games in Karlsruhe in 1989 and the 7th edition in Duisburg in 2005, as well as numerous other major international sporting events.

After being nominated by the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), the city in the southwest of Germany, located in the heart of Europe near the French border, will host the IWGA's flagship event in the summer of 2029, 40 years after hosting the 1989 TWG.

The delegates ratified the recommendation of the Executive Committee following a bidding process and careful consideration by the IWGA Executive Committee. The announcement was made in Esslingen (GER) at the International World Games Association (IWGA) Annual General Meeting on 1 May 2024, where the flag football and cheerleading federations were also included.

With these two additions, the IWGA now has 40 members. It is clear that the development of flag football is exponential with its inclusion in the Olympic programme for Los Angeles 2028. 

Cheerleading is a practice that adds excitement to events and will now be included in the IWGA from 2025. IWGA President José Perurena said, "Germany has shown a strong commitment to the World Games. In the past, they have provided excellent conditions for our athletes to perform at their best in Karlsruhe and Duisburg. We are very grateful for this and look forward to returning to Karlsruhe."

"The IWGA was very pleased to learn that there was more than one German city that was interested in hosting city for the 2029 TWG. We are delighted that the DOSB has decided to fully support Karlsruhe's bid," he concluded. 

The Lord Mayor of Karlsruhe, Frank Mentrup, said, "The World Games are coming back! We are delighted that the IWGA has placed its trust in us. Karlsruhe, in the heart of Europe, will once again be the venue for a top international sporting event after 1989. We are delighted to have the opportunity to organise a cosmopolitan and exciting Games."

The President of the Landessportbund Baden-Württemberg, Jürgen Scholz, commented, "Karlsruhe is a sports city with a sports-mad population, as it shows every year at the Indoor Athletics Meeting and in 1989 at the World Games. The athletes will receive a warm welcome during the World Games. The spectators from Baden-Württemberg and the surrounding regions will create an impressive atmosphere at all the competition venues."

The 13th edition of the World Games will welcome around 3,000 world-class athletes from over 100 countries and regions. They will be competing in around 35 sports.