In 2004 a team of young and sport fanatic people decided to take a rather small regional sport event, which was especially designed for Austrians, to a whole new international level. It took an entire year to prepare and organize this international event and even more time was spent on the phone just to call and invite teams from all over Europe. This concept of Sport Youth Games with a unique Olympic atmosphere and big fun potential, yet with enough time for personal and intercultural encounters even off the fields, seemed to attract everyone right away.
In 2005 the success story begins...
Already the first edition of the UWG in 2005 in Klagenfurt brought together 1300 athletes from 12 different nations. Four wonderful days were spent and the citizens of Klagenfurt just couldn't believe their eyes, when the city center was transformed into a big open-air disco by this mass of happy and laughing people. All participants agreed upon one thing: A successful festival with a lot of new friends, which should not be missed in the year to come.
2006 - Here come the Americans...
No sooner said than done: At the UWG 2006 90% of the first edition's participants showed up again and many new faces were joining them. In total more than 2500 athletes from 17 different nations (with the first teams from the U.S.) joined this time. No longer could the city center hold that many people and the exhibition center of Klagenfurt was turned into a humongous Players Town. Once again the big international UWG family spent four thrilling and action packed days together.
2007 - Two locations
Due to the massive interest and the enormous demand the UNITED WORLD GAMES were hold in two Austrian cities - Klagenfurt and Vienna - in 2007. Basketball, soccer and volleyball tournaments were played in Klagenfurt, whereas 5 more disciplines were offered at the Vienna edition (Baseball, bowling, swimming, tennis and wrestling). With more than 500 participating athletes a new record breaking turnout was etsablished.
2008 - in the heat of the EURO 2008
In 2008 the UNITED WORLD GAMES were exclusively back to Klagenfurt and the date was set from the 19th to the 22nd of June - right in the middle of the EURO 2008 soccer championship. After the three preliminaries of the competition in the brandnew Wörthersee stadium, it was the UWG participants that brought international air to the capital of Carinthia. A truly perfect date that allowed all UWG athletes to experience both events first hand! What an irresistible combination!
2009 - Doping? No way! Handball? All the way!
The UNITED WORLD GAMES 2009 spotlighted doping prevention. Even though most of our athletes are not (yet) and hopefully never will be involved with doping, you can't start early enough teaching our athletes about the prevention measures. Informative and age-based brochures provided by our partner the UNESCO were handed over to all participating teams in order to point out the danger of doping. Also, in 2009 handball was introduced as the fourth official sport and the first international handball tournament in the histroy of the Games turned out to be a huge success right away.
2010 – New record attendance - new nations
Already months before the Games started there was many signs indicating that 2010 should bring a new record attendance! Sure enough, in 2010 more young athletes than ever joined our Games at the beautiful lake Wörthersee. There were even new particpating countries - such as two basketball teams from India. Another very special highlight were the official UWG cheerleaders that did not just rock our venues but who also broke quite some hearts. The new location of the Games - the EURO stadium in Klagenfurt - turned out to be the ideal venue as hoped.
2011 - More sports with Fistball and Tennis
2011 had many new suprises in store for the participants. For the first time in the history of the Games the sport of fistball was added and an international fistball tournament brought the biggest talents together. It turned out to be an ideal showcase opportunity for the sport, which is played in many countries, but yet not known to many people. Over all, more than 4,000 atheletes particpated in the UNITED WORLD GAMES 2011.
