"VAN" (Sports Desk - 22.07.2025) :: For four days from today, more than 3,700 gymnasts from all over the world will participate in the World Gym for Life Challenge in Lisbon, Portugal. This event brings together gymnasts of all ages and abilities from around the world. Here are the most important facts and figures about this Gymnastics for All event.
UNESCO patronage
The Director-General of UNESCO has decided to grant the organisation's patronage to the FIG World Gym for Life Challenge. In awarding this patronage, UNESCO commended the FIG for organising this event "which promotes physical activity in an inclusive manner by bringing together people of all ages and cultural backgrounds", adding that the World Gym for Life Challenge aligns closely with the objectives of UNESCO's Fit for Life Global Sport Alliance, which aims to create inclusive, equitable and safe sporting environments for all.
What is the World Gym for Life Challenge?
The World Gym for Life Challenge is an international contest for gymnastics groups. It is a Gymnastics for All event held every four years, with participation open to everybody, regardless of gender, age, race, religion, culture, ability or social standing.
This is the fifth edition following the inaugural event in Dornbin (AUT) in 2009, the South African Challenge in 2013 in Cape Town and King Harald’s World Gym for Life Challenge 2017 in Vestfold (NOR). The fourth edition, which was already scheduled to be held in Lisbon, was unfortunately cancelled due to the pandemic.
The objectives of the World Gym for Life Challenge are
- to offer gymnastic groups the opportunity to participate in a contest and have their performance evaluated;
- to create an interesting and exciting event in gymnastics for the participants and the audience alike;
- to offer interesting workshops for gymnasts and coaches.
Participating countries and delegation sizes
Precisely 3,729 gymnasts from 140 clubs representing 33 countries will be taking part in the event in Lisbon with Germany (747), Portugal (717) and Greece (622) having the biggest delegations.
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