The history of The World Games has found a new home in Lausanne. A few days ago, 300 boxes and over 50 folders with documents, photos and videos arrived at the headquarters of the International World Games Association. What Koren, former secretary general of the IWGA, donated materials; has been collecting and documenting these assets for the past four decades. The carefully labeled boxes arrived in Lausanne by van from Hoensbroek, the Netherlands, where Co Koren lives.
Thus, Mr. Koren’s collection is transformed into the official archive of the IWGA. It contains, among others, documents from the founding phase of The World Games, before its debut in 1981 in Santa Clara, USA. In addition, the minutes of all annual General Meetings are now available in one place. The final reports of each edition of the Games, some of which contain extensive visuals, contribute to highlighting the history of the World Games.
José Perurena, president of the IWGA, thanks Co Koren for making his archive available. “We realize that it is not easy to collect such extensive documentation. We are perfectly aware of the responsibility resting on us. We want to use the material: our goal is to bring to light the path we have followed for over 40 years since the IWGA was founded in 1980. Co Koren’s extensive documentation goes a long way in this direction.” Mr. Koren has been with the IWGA in various positions since 1981. In 2010, he was named honorary vice president for life. Until 2017, he chaired the Evaluation Committee for each Olympic Games.
José Perurena adds: “We, as IWGA, are future oriented and always looking to develop our product. However, staying on this path can only be ensured by those who are aware of their roots and past.” Over 40 years of photo and video footage is being made available by the IWGA to its 39 member associations, as well as NOCs and National Sports Organizations, through its online archive in partnership with the Olympic Channel from 2020.
Establishing a document archive is the next step in “storing history”. IWGA CEO Joachim Gossow explains plans for asset handling in Lausanne. “We will review the material and digitize important fragments. Among them are the Constitutions, which have been adapted many times to the times and circumstances, as well as the Final Reports of the host cities in the past and the Books of Results from those events. want to give our partners the opportunity to learn more about us and our development, or to explore their own relationship with the IWGA.”
Special items from the Co Koren archive will also be available for The World Games family to learn about through IWGA’s social media platforms starting in March with the new ‘Way Back Wednesday’ feature. Among the archival treasures, for example, is a facsimile of a welcome letter from then US President Ronald Reagan on the occasion of the first Games in 1981 in Santa Clara. Matching this is Jo Biden’s welcome to attendees in 2022. At the conclusion of The World Games 2022 in Birmingham, Alabama, the current US president recognized the importance of a multi-sport event in his country. Sometimes history repeats itself.
World games is a multi-sport event organized every four years by the International World Games Association, organized with the support of the International Olympic Committee. The 2022 World Games took place in Birmingham, Alabama, USA from July 7-17, 2022. 3,600 athletes from 34 sports and 100 countries participated in the games. The 12th edition of The World Games will be held in Chengdu, CHN in 2025.
