Islamabad (Sports Desk): Paraguay has become the second South American country to host the World Skate Games 2026, officially announced on Friday. The announcement comes after the official signing of the contract between World Skate and Paraguayan authorities, in the presence of the President of the Republic Santiago Peña, World Skate President Sabatino Aracu, and numerous personalities from the national and international sports world.
The ceremony saw the participation of key figures such as Francesco Zangarini, World Skate Sports Director, Facundo Cernadas, Chief of Staff, Camilo Pérez López Moreira, IOC member and President of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, César Ramírez, Minister of Sports, and Víctor Pecci, former tennis player and Roland Garros finalist in 1979, now Director General of the Organising Committee for Mega Sporting Events in Paraguay.
Negotiations to secure WSG Asunción 2026 were initiated in Lausanne by President Peña’s personal delegation, demonstrating the commitment of Paraguay’s government to attracting international sporting events and developing the domestic service economies which they support.
This marks the continuation of the World Skate Games global journey, which has previously been hosted in Nanjing, Republic People of China (2017), Barcelona, Spain (2019), Buenos Aires, Argentina (2022), and most recently across four regions of Italy (2024). Paraguay will become the second South American nation to host this prestigious event, following Argentina's successful organization in 2022.
Following the tremendous success of the World Skate Games Italy 2024, which represented an unprecedented event for the World Skate disciplines with 154 world titles awarded, 10,800 athletes and staff, 90 participating countries, the event is preparing for its next chapter in Paraguay.
Sabatino Aracu, President of World Skate and Skate Italia, stated: "After the Italian success, we are excited to bring the World Skate Games to Paraguay. This event will not only be the World Championship of Roller Sports but a true youth festival that combines sports, music, and entertainment, bringing competitions to the heart of cities and creating a unique experience for athletes and spectators."
The choice of Paraguay as the host of the next World Skate Games represents an important step in the global expansion strategy of sports on skating wheels and confirms the South American country's commitment to sports development and the attraction of major international events.
The World Skate Games will once again bring together 12 disciplines in one major event, from urban sports such as skateboarding (the Olympic discipline), roller freestyle, and scootering, to speed and adrenaline sports like inline speed skating and downhill, to team sports such as rink hockey, inline hockey, and roller derby, not to mention the beloved artistic roller skating.
