The IFSC Has Changed Their Name to World Climbing
The IFSC World Cup series will be replaced with the World Climbing Series starting in 2026
The International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) has changed their name to World Climbing 18 years after the organisation’s founding. With the new name comes a new motto: “We get the World Climbing.”
In a press release, World Climbing president Marco Scolaris said, “Since Climbing began its Olympic and Paralympic journey in 2007, our community has evolved rapidly. This transformation into World Climbing is another important step in the journey. It reflects our heritage while embracing the future. This new brand represents every part of our sport, from Athletes to National Federations, to global partners and more.”
The IFSC was founded in 2007 in Frankfurt, Germany, as the successor to the International Council for Competition Climbing. It quickly grew from 57 to 80 member federations and gained recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Climbing was added to the IOC’s shortlist for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, officially confirmed in 2016. Since then, the IFSC has overseen the sport’s international growth, including World Cups, World Championships, and its Olympic debut.
“Climbing started from humble beginnings and has developed into the sport we always believed it could be,” Scolaris added. “With World Climbing, we are not simply adopting a new name, we are promoting a global identity that reflects our principles of inclusivity, adaptability, responsibility and adventure. We are becoming a bigger part of many more people’s lives, and this brand is built for that future.”
As noted in the press released, the look will be rolled out throughout next year with the new World Climbing Series, which will replace the IFSC World Cup. The Federation’s five continental bodies, World Climbing Pan America, World Climbing Africa, World Climbing Asia, World Climbing Europe, and World Climbing Oceania are all adopting the changes being made at the international level.
“We’re setting the holds on the wall of life, building the routes that we will climb together, into the future,” said Scolaris. “Higher, stronger, faster; together.”
