If it seems like there is a lot of similarities between the World Games and the Olympics, and if you are curious as to how events at the World Games are so closely tied to the Olympic games then there is a simple answer to that question. The International World Games Association puts on the World Games every four years with the sponsorship of the International Olympic Committee. The International Olympic Committee, know as the IOC, has recently decided that they will limit the number of Olympic participants per games to 10,500. So while a sport can use inclusion to the World Games as a potential stepping stone to being included into the Olympics it should be noted that this new policy of limiting participants in the Olympic games more than likely means that no World Games competitions will be getting moved into the Olympics any time soon.
In 2009 the World Games will be held in Chinese Taipei and the events are still being considered. Sports like softball used to be Olympic sports but was dropped and now is available for the World Games. With the worldwide popularity of softball there is a very good chance you will see it in the 2009 World Games. With cities such as Budapest, Hungary and Denver, Colorado applying to be host cities, and with the very real possibility that baseball may be removed from the 2012 Summer Olympics and then put back into the World Games, the World Games looks like it will be around for a very long time as a perfect supplement, and training ground, for future Olympians. So next time you get a chance to watch the World Games you may want to pay attention as it could be the future, and maybe even history, that you are seeing at the World Games.