IWGA sees Sport1 deal as template for World Games

German sports broadcaster Sport1 has acquired rights to the 2017 World Games multi-sport event in a deal the International World Games Association hopes will provide a template for other European markets.

Sport1 has struck the platform-neutral rights deal with the Lagardère Sports Germany agency, exclusively for Germany and non-exclusively for Austria and Switzerland.

The 10th edition of the World Games will see more than 4,500 athletes gather in the Polish city of Wroclaw from July 20-30 to compete in over 30 sports that are not contested at the Olympic Games.

Sport1 will report live on all competition days of the Games via free-to-air television as well as through its other platforms.

The event will also be shown on pay-television on Sport1+ and on the Sport1 digital platforms. Viewers will be able to follow selected contests via livestream on Sport1.de and social media platform Facebook.

Joachim Gossow, chief executive of the IWGA, said: “We are very pleased that the World Games will be covered by Sport1. It’s the first time that we have this kind of free-to-air platform in Germany. I am sure other countries in Europe will follow Germany’s example.”