Kaohsiung, the second largest city in Chinese Taipei which boasts a population of 1 ½ million, will be staging the 8th World Games, July 16 - 26, 2009. More than just a sporting event, the games are the most important event on the calendar for non-Olympic federations. For the FIG, we'll see Aerobic, Acrobatic, Trampoline synchro, Tumbling and individual apparatus Rhythmic gymnastics at this unique event.

The World Games feature unique disciplines that unfortunately don't get the media hype other sports enjoy, particularly in terms of television coverage. Yet these sports are goldmines to those who take a moment to discover the wealth they have to offer. Everyone has heard about rugby, but what about sport fishing, tug of war or underwater sports?

Gymnastics will be present in Kaohsiung on 5 fronts. 104 gymnasts are or will be qualified for the World Games, a number which was determined by an agreement between the IWGA (International World Games Association) and the FIG.
A 50 member delegation from Kaohsiung attended the Beijing Olympic Games to observe in detail the handling of gymnastic competitions. "Our visit has allowed us to come face to face with the different organisational facets of one of the most important competitions in the world," declared Competitions Director for Kaohsiung, Ms Shuyin Chang.