‘A spectacular, world-class event’ – The World Games 2025 in Chengdu is 300 days away

11 Oct. 2024

‘A spectacular, world-class event’ – The World Games 2025 in Chengdu is 300 days away

The 12th edition of The World Games will take place from 7 to 17 August 2025 in Chengdu, People’s Republic of China. with Beach Handball one of over 30 sporting disciplines on the event programme. 

Friday, 11 October 2024, marks the start of the 300-days countdown before the start of the competition.

Eight men’s and eight women’s teams will compete in the event, having qualified as the best from their continent and in the top 12 of the 2024 IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championships.

Joy Wang, Sport Manager of Beach Handball at The World Games 2025, visited the 2024 IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championships in Pingtan, People’s Republic of China and spoke to ihf.info about her role, The World Games, Chengdu and a whole lot more.

ihf.info: Tell us about your role at The World Games and your experience…

Joy Wang: I’ve been with the International World Games Association (IWGA) since 2022. Initially, I worked as the Liaison Manager, focusing on facilitating communication and collaboration with the Chengdu Local Organising Committee (LOC) for The World Games 2025 (TWG 2025)

Over time, my role has evolved, and I now work as the Sport Manager, assisting IWGA’s Sports Director with all sports-related matters.

With over a decade of experience in sport event operations and the multisport hospitality industry, I have a deep understanding of the challenges of cross-cultural communication, which is essential for my role. This enables me to bridge differing perspectives and help both sides find common ground.

ihf.info: Why did you visit Pingtan for the 2024 IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championships earlier this year?

Joy Wang: The championships were one of the qualification events for TWG 2025 and I was there to observe the event, learn from the experts, and gain insights into the event's organisation. 

My primary focus was understanding the operational aspects of the event, such as venue set-up and logistics. I met with officials from the IHF and the Chinese Handball Association to gather feedback on the event and learn about what worked well and where improvements could be made. 

Collaboration with international sports federations, like the IHF, is important for the success of The World Games, as their expertise and knowledge ensure that the sport is presented at its best.

This experience is crucial to ensuring that I can effectively support both the IHF and the Chengdu LOC in preparing the event for TWG2025.

ihf.info: What did you learn from event which can be useful for TWG 2025 and what did you think of Beach Handball?

Joy Wang: This was my first time watching a Beach Handball competition, and I was impressed by the speed, athleticism, and excitement of the sport. The energy of both the teams and the spectators created a great atmosphere.

I had the opportunity to closely observe the teams in both victory and defeat, and it reminded me of the beauty of team sports – the unity, collective effort, and the way players support one another.

I also learned a lot about the specific needs of Beach Handball events, such as the importance of sand quality and how the Field of Play (FOP) is laid out.

These insights are very useful for the Chengdu LOC to prepare the venue so that it meets the IHF requirements and expectations.

After returning from the world championships, I compiled a detailed report that included all the observations and feedback I gathered. This report was shared with the IWGA’s Sports Director and the Chengdu LOC to ensure that the lessons learned from it are incorporated into the planning for TWG 2025.

ihf.info: It is now less than one year to go until TWG 2025. What does the next months look like for you in terms of work? How excited are you?

Joy Wang: If we exclude public holidays, we actually have only about 200 days left to get everything ready and finalised. Time is tight.

I will continue working closely with IWGA’s Sports Director, the Chengdu LOC and international sports federations, facilitating coordination to ensure seamless collaboration.

The excitement is building every day. TWG 2025 will feature 35 sports, 61 disciplines and 254 medal events with world-class athletes competing at the highest level.

It showcases a diverse range of sports, many of which are not featured in other multi-sports events, such as the Olympic Games.

Moreover, athletes have always been at the core of the TWG, I’m confident that TWG 2025 will not only be a spectacular event but also provide much-deserved global exposure to the participating athletes.

ihf.info: Can you tell us something about the venue for Beach Handball at TWG 2025, Chengdu?

Joy Wang: The Beach Handball competition for TWG 2025 will be held at the north shore of Xinglong Lake Wetland Park. It’s a beautiful recreational park within the city. The venue is easily accessible with nearby metro stations, making it convenient for spectators.

The Chengdu LOC is currently renovating the venue to meet the IHF’s standards. After TWG 2025, the venue will continue to serve as both a public park for recreational use and a professional venue for international beach sports events, ensuring a lasting legacy for both the local community and global sports.

ihf.info: What can the athletes and fans who are coming to TWG 2025, Chengdu expect from the event?

Joy Wang: Athletes and fans attending TWG 2025 can expect a world-class event, with over 4,000 athletes competing across 35 sports and 61 disciplines with only the best athletes and teams worldwide competing after securing qualification spots. 

The Chengdu LOC has put significant effort into ensuring that the sports facilities meet the highest international standards.

Beyond the competition, TWG 2025 is also a celebration of cultural exchange. TWG Plaza will be a key gathering place for all stakeholders outside the competition venues. It highlights both the cultural and sporting heritage of Chengdu. 

The Plaza will feature entertainment performances and a wide range of activities for fans and the public to enjoy. All stakeholders, such as athletes and officials, are encouraged to visit TWG Plaza to engage with the local community and experience Chengdu’s unique culture.

ihf.info: What can the athletes and fans who are coming to Chengdu expect from the host city?

Joy Wang: Chengdu is a city full of history, culture, and flavour. As the home of the giant panda and famous for its spicy Sichuan cuisine, there’s plenty for athletes and fans to explore.

The Chengdu LOC is also preparing a variety of cultural activities for athletes and officials to experience during their stay.

ihf.info: TWG 2025 recently launched their mascots – the panda Shu Bao, and monkey, Jin Zai. Do you have a favourite?

Joy Wang: That’s a tough choice because I genuinely love both. Shu Bao is a design based on the giant panda, which is an iconic symbol of Chengdu. It’s impossible not to adore such a beloved animal. 

The design of Jin Zai is based on the golden snub-nosed monkey which captures the playful and friendly aspect of TWG 2025. Interestingly, the golden snub-nosed monkey is said to be the inspiration for the Monkey King in adaptations of Journey to the West.

Both mascots have their own unique charm and are sure to win the hearts of fans of all ages.

About The World Games

The World Games is a multi-sport event staged every four years by the IWGA, organised with the support of the International Olympic Committee.

Chengdu 2025 will be the 12th edition of The World Games, the most recent being held in Birmingham, USA, last July, with 3,600 athletes from 34 sports and 100 countries taking part.

Beach Handball has been part of The World Games since it was introduced as a demonstration/invitational sport in Japan in 2001. It followed in Germany (2005) and Chinese Taipei (2009), before becoming a full sport at the 2013 edition in Colombia and then continuing in Poland (2017), before the USA last year, where Croatia (men) and Germany (women) took the beach handball titles.

For further information, visit www.theworldgames.org.