International World Games Association : Climbing

Sports of The World Games

Climbing has obviously had a long history. Nevertheless, competition climbing only started in the 1960s with speed events in the former USSR, continuing in the 1980s with difficulty events in other parts of Europe, and in 1989 with the first ever Climbing World Cup.

Today's climbing competitions are held in three different disciplines: in Bouldering , where athletes conquer the greatest number of obstacles without rope, in Lead, where athletes seek to climb highest on the wall, and finally in Speed, where the fastest climber is declared the winner.

More than 70 countries organize regular climbing competitions on walls specially erected in large arenas with thousands of spectators.

The relatively young sport has not only added to the popularity of climbing walls everywhere, it has greatly improved rock climbing standards too.

Competition climbing champions have set new and stunning world records in Yosemite National Park, USA, climbing the almost 900 meters of El Capitan's nose in under three hours, a climb which took several days in the past.

Competition climbing at The World Games 2005

Competition climbing events at The World Games 2009 Kaohsiung:

Lead (Men, Women); Speed (Men, Women)

Whether it's a question of ascending higher on the wall than the opponent – in Lead – or outright racing to the top – in Speed – competition climbing pitches one athlete against another. Highest or fastest – man or woman – wins! The sport features regularly on the program of the ESPN X-Games and on the Asian Indoor Games; it puts in its second apperance in The World Games during 2009 Kaohsiung.

Lead and Speed events for men and women will be included on the Official Sports Progarm of The World Games 2009 Kaohsiung.

Angela Eiter (AUT), who won the Women's Lead in 2005 Dusiburg, has amassed world and continental titles by the dozens over the past years. In Kaohsiung she will likely set the standards on the wall. Again! Her focus is on control, but she is also capable to keep up with the fastest.

Competition climbing at The World Games 2005