Cheerleading Is Heading to The World Games 2029 — What It Means for Australian Cheer
Premier cheerleading has been confirmed for The World Games 2029. But what exactly are The World Games, what is Coed Premier, and why does this matter for the future of competitive cheer in Australia?
Updated September 2026 • Sunbury Stunt and Tumble Academy, Sunbury VIC
Short answer: Competitive Premier cheerleading is officially part of The World Games 2029 in Karlsruhe, Germany. The World Games are a major international multi-sport event held every four years for sports and disciplines that are not currently part of the Olympic Games programme.
What are The World Games?
The World Games are one of the world's largest international multi-sport events. They are organised by the International World Games Association (IWGA) and are held every four years.
The event gives world-class athletes from sports and disciplines outside the current Olympic programme the opportunity to compete on a major international stage. The World Games operate under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), but they are a separate event from the Olympic Games.
In 2029, around 4,000 athletes from more than 100 countries are expected to compete in Karlsruhe across 36 sports and 62 disciplines. Cheerleading will be one of them.
What has actually been announced for cheerleading?
On 3 September 2026, the International World Games Association confirmed the final sports programme and disciplines for The World Games 2029.
The confirmed cheerleading discipline is Premier. The Games will take place in Karlsruhe, Germany from 19 to 29 July 2029.
Cheer industry reporting has also described the international pathway as using a compact 12-athlete Coed Premier format, which is smaller than the Coed Premier teams usually seen at the ICU World Cheerleading Championships.
What is Coed Premier cheerleading?
Coed Premier is one of the highest levels of international competitive cheerleading. “Coed” means male and female athletes compete together, while “Premier” refers to the elite international division used by national teams.
A Premier routine can combine advanced tumbling, partner stunts, group stunts, tosses, pyramids, jumps, transitions and performance. It looks very different from the sideline or professional dance-style cheer that many people still picture when they hear the word “cheerleading”.
Strength + power
Athletes need strength and explosive power for advanced stunting, tumbling and tosses.
Skill + technique
High-level cheer relies on strong fundamentals, body control, timing and safe technical progressions.
Teamwork
Timing, trust and communication are essential because athletes depend on each other throughout the routine.
Male + female athletes
Coed Premier showcases boys and men as genuine participants in elite cheer, particularly through tumbling, basing and partner stunting.
Why is a 12-athlete format significant?
A compact team is easier to fit into the athlete quotas, accommodation, scheduling and operational requirements of a major international multi-sport event.
It may also place more value on versatile athletes. With fewer athletes on the floor, every person has a larger role in the overall routine. Strong tumblers who can also stunt, bases who can contribute in multiple areas, and athletes with excellent all-round fundamentals can become especially valuable.
Has cheerleading been in The World Games before?
Yes. Cheerleading debuted at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, China with Pom Doubles.
Karlsruhe 2029 marks an important development because the programme now includes Premier team cheerleading, bringing a form of competitive cheer much closer to what athletes and families see in all-star gyms around Australia.
Does this mean cheerleading is in the Brisbane 2032 Olympics?
No — not at this stage.
Cheerleading has not been confirmed for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games. The World Games announcement and Olympic inclusion are two separate things.
The International Cheer Union has discussed a compact Coed Premier format in connection with its longer-term Olympic ambitions, but there has been no confirmation that cheerleading will be part of Brisbane 2032.
What we can say is that cheerleading continues to gain recognition within the international sporting system. Having Premier included at The World Games gives the sport another opportunity to be seen by audiences outside the traditional cheer community.
What could this mean for Australian cheerleading?
Australia already has a strong competitive cheer community and national-team representation. The World Games announcement provides another example of how far the sport can extend beyond local and national competitions.
That does not mean every child entering a cheer gym should be focused on an international pathway. Most athletes begin for much simpler reasons: they enjoy tumbling, want to learn new skills, love performing, want to make friends or want to build confidence.
The exciting part is that the pathway can be broader than many families realise.
- A child can begin as a complete beginner.
- They can learn tumbling, stunting, jumps and performance skills safely over time.
- They may choose recreational or competitive cheer.
- Committed athletes can continue progressing through higher levels.
- At the very top of the sport, athletes can represent their country internationally.
Why is this especially interesting for boys in cheer?
Coed Premier is also a strong reminder that cheerleading is not only a sport for girls.
Male athletes can play major roles in elite coed cheer, including tumbling, basing and partner stunting. Strength, power, coordination, body control and teamwork all transfer strongly into the sport.
For a boy who enjoys flipping, gymnastics-style skills, acrobatics, calisthenics or athletic challenges, cheer can offer a pathway many families may never have considered.
What does this mean for young athletes in Sunbury?
At Sunbury Stunt and Tumble Academy, we see the World Games announcement as another positive step for a sport that continues to grow.
Our role at grassroots level is not to promise international medals. It is to give athletes a strong beginning: quality coaching, safe progressions, confidence, teamwork and the chance to discover what they enjoy.
Some athletes will cheer recreationally. Some will compete. Some will fall in love with tumbling. Some will become bases or flyers. And a small number may eventually choose to pursue opportunities far beyond their local gym.
That is what makes the future of cheer exciting: you can start for fun and still have room to grow.
Frequently asked questions
What are The World Games?
The World Games are a major international multi-sport event held every four years. They feature elite sports and disciplines that are not currently part of the Olympic Games programme and are organised by the International World Games Association under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee.
Are The World Games the same as the Olympics?
No. The World Games and the Olympic Games are separate events. The World Games primarily feature sports and disciplines outside the current Olympic programme.
Is cheerleading officially in The World Games 2029?
Yes. The International World Games Association has confirmed Premier as the cheerleading discipline for The World Games 2029 in Karlsruhe, Germany.
What type of cheerleading will be at The World Games 2029?
The confirmed discipline is Premier. Cheer industry reporting describes the international pathway as a compact 12-athlete Coed Premier format.
Is cheerleading in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics?
No. Cheerleading has not been confirmed for Brisbane 2032. Olympic inclusion remains a separate decision from The World Games.
Can boys do competitive cheerleading?
Absolutely. Coed cheer includes male and female athletes competing together. Male athletes can contribute across tumbling, basing, partner stunting and other parts of a routine.
Does my child need cheer experience to start at STA?
No. Beginners can start by learning foundations appropriate to their age and current ability, then progress over time.
Want to see if cheer is right for your child?
You do not need to know where the journey will lead before you begin. STA offers cheerleading and tumbling opportunities in Sunbury for athletes starting from the basics and building from there.
Explore registration at STA
