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IWGA announces candidates for Executive Committee elections 2026–2030

Lausanne, Switzerland – 4 February 2026 – The International World Games Association (IWGA) today announced the list of candidates standing for election to its Executive Committee (ExCo) for the 2026–2030 term. The elections will take place during the IWGA Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 25 April 2026 in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The ExCo elections represent a major governance milestone for the Association, as IWGA Members will elect the leadership team that will guide the organisation through the next four-year cycle. This period will include preparations for The World Games 2029, future editions of the event, several editions of The World Games Series, and continued collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and key stakeholders within the global sport movement.

Candidates for the IWGA Executive Committee 2026–2030

(Listed in alphabetical order)

President (1 position)

  • Anna Arzhanova, President – World Underwater Federation (CMAS)

  • Lukas Hinder, Honorary President – World DanceSport Federation (WDSF)

Vice-President (1 position)

  • Jan Fransoo, Honorary President – International Korfball Federation (IKF)

  • Thomas Konietzko, President – International Canoe Federation (ICF)

Treasurer (1 position)

  • John Liljelund, Secretary General – International Floorball Federation (IFF)

Members (4 positions)

  • Anna Arzhanova, President – World Underwater Federation (CMAS), if not elected as President

  • Jan Fransoo, Honorary President – International Korfball Federation (IKF), if not elected as Vice-President

  • John Liljelund, Secretary General – International Floorball Federation (IFF), if not elected as Treasurer

  • Espen Lund, Vice President – World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO)

  • José Antonio Perez Priego, President – International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation (IWWF)

  • Robert “Nob” Rauch, President – World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF)

  • Joachim Thumfart, Director General – Ju-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF)

  • Joern Verleger, Honorary Executive Director – International Fistball Association (IFA)

All candidates have been vetted and comply with the provisions outlined in the IWGA Constitution.

The AGM in Lausanne will also mark the conclusion of José Perurena’s third and final term as IWGA President, ending 12 years of service following his initial election in 2014.

A former elite Canoe Sprint athlete, Perurena represented Spain at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. After his competitive career, he held numerous leadership roles within the Spanish Canoe Federation and the International Canoe Federation (ICF), including serving as ICF President from 2008 to 2021 and as a Member of the International Olympic Committee from 2011 to 2019.

Reflecting on the upcoming transition, President Perurena said:

“It has been an honour and a privilege to serve the IWGA for more than a decade, alongside dedicated colleagues and committed Member Federations. The World Games have continued to grow in visibility, credibility and institutional strength.”

“The IWGA Annual General Meeting is more than a statutory moment. It is an opportunity to reaffirm the role of the IWGA within the international sports ecosystem, our governance values, and our long-term vision for The World Games as a platform for the sports of tomorrow.”

“I am confident that the next Executive Committee will build on these foundations to further position our event within the global sports movement and establish our flagship event as a unique platform for emerging sports, innovation and international collaboration.”

The newly elected Executive Committee will take office following the conclusion of the AGM and will serve a four-year term from 2026 to 2030. The Committee will first convene on 25 May during the SportAccord Convention in Baku, Azerbaijan.

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XXIII Racquetball Worlds: Dates and Venue Confirmed

 

The International Racquetball Federation (IRF) is pleased to officially confirm the host site and dates for the XXIII IRF World Racquetball Championships.

The event will take place October 16–24, 2026, at G2 Sports Club in Temuco, Chile, bringing together the world’s top racquetball athletes to compete for world titles in one of the sport’s most prestigious international events.

More details regarding competition schedule, divisions, and official activities will be announced in the coming months.

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XXXVII PAN AMERICAN RACQUETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2026

XXXVII PAN AMERICAN RACQUETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2026
Guatemala City, Guatemala

Guatemala City will host the XXXVII Pan American Racquetball Championships, one of the most important events on the continental calendar, taking place from March 27 to April 4, 2026.

Official International Qualifying Event

The championship will play a key role internationally, serving as the official qualifying and seeding event for two major multi-sport competitions:

XXV Central American and Caribbean Games – Santo Domingo 2026, to be held in the Dominican Republic from July 21 to August 2, 2026.

XIII South American Games – Santa Fe 2026, scheduled to take place in Argentina from September 12 to 26, 2026.

Official Venue

All matches will be played at the Domo Racquetball Complex, located at:
Avenida Final 10-27, Zona 13, Guatemala City, Guatemala.

DIVISIONS AND BRACKETS – R2 SPORTS

Host Hotel

The official host hotel for the event will be:
Clarion Suites by Choice Hotels
14 Calle 3-08, Guatemala City, 01010
Contact: Dennise Cortave – (+502) 5318 1120

Key Dates

  • Competition Dates: March 27 – April 4, 2026

  • Divisions and Brackets: Available starting March 27

Watch Live

Fans can follow the action live on:

IRF YouTube Channel

IRF Facebook Page

Panam Sports Channel

Official Ball

Gearbox Sleek Black

Cups and Divisions

OPEN CUP

Men’s Open Singles

Women’s Open Singles

Men’s Open Doubles

Women’s Open Doubles

Mixed Open Doubles

JUNIOR CUP
(Player eligibility based on age as of January 1, 2026)

21 & Under / 16 & Under

Boys’ Singles

Girls’ Singles

Boys’ Doubles

Girls’ Doubles

Mixed Doubles

CHALLENGER CUP

Singles A

Doubles A

Mixed Doubles A

Doubles +55

Registration and General Information

For registration and general inquiries, please contact:
📧 maurograndio@internationalracquetball.org

The XXXVII Pan American Racquetball Championships 2026 will bring together the best athletes from across the continent in a pivotal week for the future of international racquetball.

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Maria Jose Vargas Nominated for The World Games Athlete of the Year 2025

The International Racquetball Federation is proud to announce that Maria Jose Vargas has been selected as the racquetball nominee for The World Games Athlete of the Year 2025 award.

This prestigious recognition highlights outstanding athletes from The World Games Chengdu 2025, bringing together 30 world-class candidates from different sports. The final winner will be decided entirely by public voting, giving fans around the world the opportunity to support their favorite athletes.

How to Vote

Voting follows a specific format and will only be valid if all rules are respected:

  • Voters must select two different candidates per voting session

  • First choice: 2 votes

  • Second choice: 1 vote

  • Votes can be cast once every 24 hours

  • Votes submitted for only one candidate will not be counted

Key Dates

  • January 26, 12:00 GMT: Halfway elimination — only the Top 10 athletes advance to the final stage (all votes reset to zero)

  • February 2, 12:00 GMT: Voting officially closes

Vote Now

Fans can cast their votes by visiting:
https://www.theworldgames.org/awards/Athlete-of-the-Year-2025-168

The IRF encourages the global racquetball community to participate, support Maria Jose Vargas, and help showcase racquetball on the world stage.

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XXXVI IRF WORLD JUNIOR RACQUETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS SANTO DOMINGO 2025 WRAP UP

The International Racquetball Federation would like to thank the Dominican Racquetball Federation and all its staff, led by President Rafael Fernandez and Secretary Ramon Acosta, for celebrating the amazing XXXVI IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships in Santo Domingo in 2025.
We would also like to thank Gearbox Racquetball for being the IRF’s Main Sponsor. The Sleek Black is the best ball and Garbox is the Official Racquet of IRF International Events.
We would also like to thanks ProKennex for being IRF sponsor and the Official Racquet for the official tournaments.
This event was made possible thanks to the support of the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Sport and Claro Dominicana
The continuous collaboration of the Dominican Olympic Committee and Centro Caribe Sports shows the great path to the Racquetball competition of the Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026
A huge thank you to the more than 30 IRF staff who worked tirelessly for over 10 days. Referees, Tournament Desk staff, Social Media and Broadcast team, you did it perfectly one more time!
We also want to thank Opri Sports for outfitting the IRF Staff with professionalism and style throughout the event.
Congratulations to the athletes for your efforts and successes. Whether you won your division or just one game during the tournament, wearing your national uniform and showing how you can improve every day is the greatest achievement!
Finally, thank you to the National Federation leaders and coaches, and to the parents and families — this tournament is yours, and you made it possible! Thank you once again, and we look forward to seeing you next year to celebrate the next IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships, the most beautiful event!
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Thank you so much Splathead

The Executive Committee of the International Racquetball Federation would like to thank Splathead and its founder, Joe Hall, for their many years of unconditional support of Racquetball.
It is sad to hear of the company’s closure at the end of this year but we are sure that many others will follow his example of business and support for the sport.
We wish Joe every success in the future and hope that the Splathead apparel will continue to be worn by thousands of racquetball players around the world. We are sure we will meet again on a racquetball court!
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ASUNCIÓN, PARAGUAY ELECTED HOST CITY FOR THE 2031 PAN AMERICAN GAMES

 

 

 

The Paraguayan capital won the vote by 28 votes to 24 for Rio-Niterói. The vote took place at the Extraordinary General Assembly held in Santiago, Chile.

In an Assembly filled with excitement and unity among the member countries of Panam Sports, the continent elected the host city for the 2031 Pan American Games.

Asunción, Paraguay, won the election with 28 votes against the 24 obtained by Rio Niterói, out of a total of 52 votes.

It should be noted that the only country absent from the Assembly was Dominica, so the remaining 40 countries were able to cast their votes and participate in this election.

“I am very happy. Thanks to God and everyone’s support, our dreams are coming true. We are going to work hard for this and we are very happy. We greatly appreciate everyone’s support and we will never let them down. I dedicate this victory to all the Paraguayan people and to all the efforts made by the Americas to move forward,” said an emotional Camilo Pérez, President of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee.

“I know that sometimes it is very difficult to press the little button to support David, it costs a little more. We always want to play it safe with Goliath. That’s why I’m very happy. We had a great competition, so I thank the President of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, Marco La Porta. I thank all my friends and especially my president, President Santiago Peña,” concluded the Paraguayan IOC member.

For the first time in history, Asunción, Paraguay, will host the continental event and will be the thirteenth country to organize the Americas’ biggest sporting event.

 

Source: Panamsports.org

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The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) published the 2026 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods 

 

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) published the 2026 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods (List), which was approved by WADA’s Executive Committee (ExCo) during its meeting on 11 September 2025 and enters into force on 1 January 2026.

We also publish:

The List is one of the eight International Standards that are mandatory for all Signatories of the World Anti-Doping Code (Code). It designates which substances and methods are prohibited both in- and out-of-competition and which substances are banned in particular sports.

WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said: “We encourage athletes, their entourage and all stakeholders to acquaint themselves with the Summary of Major Modifications to avoid inadvertent use of substances and methods that are prohibited in sport for 2026. In particular, we kindly ask all Anti-Doping Organizations around the world to share the List and its related documents with athletes, their entourage, and other relevant stakeholders under their jurisdiction.

Major modifications for 2026 

As outlined in the 2026 Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes, the major modifications for 2026 include the following:

  • Further examples or clarifications have been added to the following substance classes to help athletes and their entourage better identify prohibited substances:
    • S1. Anabolic agents,
    • S2. Peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances, and mimetics,
    • S4. Hormone and metabolic modulators, and
    • S6. Stimulants.
  • The dosing intervals of salmeterol have been changed to avoid potential ergogenic effects, though the maximum daily delivered dose remains the same.
  • More details have been given about the prohibition of withdrawal of blood and blood components.
  • The non-diagnostic use of carbon monoxide (CO) has been added to the Prohibited Methods as a new section, M1.4. The use of carbon monoxide for diagnostic purposes, such as total hemoglobin mass measurements or the determination of pulmonary diffusion capacity, is not prohibited.
  • Cell components (e.g., nuclei and organelles such as mitochondria and ribosomes) have been added to the existing prohibition of using normal or genetically modified cells.
  • It has been clarified in the Glucocorticoids Washout Table that use of sustained-release formulations may result in detectable glucocorticoid levels past the washout period due to prolonged systemic absorption.

 

Source:  https://www.wada-ama.org/en/news/wada-publishes-2026-prohibited-list

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Andrés Acuña Re-Elected to The World Games Athletes’ Committee

Racquetball athlete and 2022 World Games champion to continue representing athletes worldwide for a second consecutive term

The International World Games Association (IWGA) has announced that racquetball athlete Andrés Acuña, 2022 World Games champion, has been elected for a second consecutive term as a member of the Athletes’ Committee of The World Games.

The Athletes’ Committee serves as the official voice of competitors within the IWGA, ensuring that athletes’ perspectives, needs, and welfare are represented in decision-making processes. Its members are drawn from past participants of The World Games, with a balance across genders, sports, and continents.

Acuña’s re-election highlights his leadership and ongoing commitment to strengthening the role of athletes in shaping the future of The World Games. His international career, including his victory at the 2022 Games, and dedication to racquetball make him a valuable contributor to the Committee’s mission of promoting fair play, athlete welfare, and representation on a global scale.

With its newly appointed members, the Athletes’ Committee now reflects an even broader diversity across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania—strengthening its role as a platform where athletes worldwide can influence the future of The World Games.

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RACQUETBALL CONFIRMED ON THE LIMA 2027 SPORTS PROGRAM

During the upcoming Pan American Games to be held in Lima in 2027, bowling and racquetball will be part of the competition program, following approval by the Panam Sports General Assembly that is currently taking place in Asuncion, as part of the activities leading up to the II Junior Pan American Games, which will begin on Saturday, August 9.

With these two sports, there will be 38 sports in the continent’s premier sport event, to be held in Lima, the capital of Peru, in 2027.

The ratification of these sports was announced at the LXIII Panam Sports General Assembly in Asuncion, Paraguay, an event attended by the president of the country, Santiago Peña Palacios, IOC vice president Gerardo Werthein, Panam Sports President Neven Ilic, and the continent’s top sports authorities.

“At the request of many National Olympic Committees and because of what these sports represent for our continent, the Panam Sports Executive Board, with the approval of the General Assembly, has decided to include bowling and racquetball in the Lima 2027 sports program. With this, there are now 38 sports that will be held at our Games in the capital of Peru,” said Panam Sports President Neven Ilic.

It should be noted that both bowling and racquetball will be part of the program for the fifth consecutive time since the Guadalajara Games in 2011.

Racquetball has been part of the Pan American Games since the Mar del Plata Games in Argentina in 1995, although it was not included in the Rio 2007 Games.

Bowling was admitted to the Pan American Games since the eleventh edition held in Havana, Cuba in 1991. This sport was first held at the Pan American Games in Caracas in 1983, as an exhibition sport only.

The chosen sports are the following:

  1. Aquatics – Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Artistic Swimming, Open Water
  2. Athletics
  3. Badminton
  4. Handball
  5. Baseball (men) / Softball (women)
  6. Boxing
  7. Canoe – Sprint, Slalom
  8. Cycling – Track, Road, Mountain, BMX Racing, BMX Freestyle
  9. Cricket
  10. Equestrian – Jumping, Dressage, Eventing
  11. Sport Climbing
  12. Fencing
  13. Water Skiing
  14. Football
  15. Gymnastics – Artistic, Rhythmic, Trampoline
  16. Golf
  17. Judo
  18. Hockey
  19. Karate
  20. Weightlifting
  21. Wrestling
  22. Skating – Artistic, Speed, Skateboarding
  23. Pelota
  24. Modern Pentathlon
  25. Rowing
  26. Rugby 7
  27. Squash
  28. Surf
  29. Archery
  30. Shooting
  31. Taekwondo
  32. Tennis
  33. Table Tennis
  34. Triathlon
  35. Sailing
  36. Volleyball – Indoor and Beach
  37. Racquetball
  38. Bowling 

The Panam Sports General Assembly continues on Friday, August 8, with presentations by the Organizing Committee of the host city for the next Pan American Games in Lima in 2027 and the candidate cities for the 2031 Pan American Games, Asuncion and Rio-Niteroi.

From www.panamsports.org/en/news-sport/bowling-and-racquetball-enter-the-lima-2027-sports-program/