World Skate Games Asu26: Azzurri in Paraguay as reigning champions

ODYTA Summary

The World Skate Games 2026 opened in Asunción, Paraguay, on Friday, October 2, with an opening ceremony at the Paraguayan Olympic Committee sports center. The event features 11 sports, 40 disciplines, over 90 participating countries, and more than 10,000 athletes, running until October 18. Italy's Skate Italia federation is represented by 540 athletes and 100 staff members, aiming to defend the overall medal table title it won two years ago with 31 golds and 97 total medals. The opening ceremony included choreography, music, and entertainment, with performances by Paraguayan talents such as Elías Glz, Mauri Román, Karim Manzur, El Prinxi, Avakuete, Oudi The Kidd, and the National Symphony Orchestra of Paraguay. Authorities present included Paraguayan President Santiago Peña Palacios, Paraguayan Olympic Committee President Camilo Jorge Pérez López Moreira, and Skate Italia and World Skate President Sabatino Aracu. World Skate Games were established in 2017 by the International World Skate Federation to unite roller sports in a single event. After editions in Nanjing 2019, Barcelona 2019, Buenos Aires 2022, and Italy 2024, the Games have become a major international meeting point for roller disciplines. Aracu thanked Asunción and Paraguay for their work, noting the support of President Peña Palacios and Camilo Pérez. The event includes sports such as skateboarding, inline freestyle, roller hockey, roller freestyle, artistic skating, skate cross, slalom, downhill, inline hockey, scootering, and speed skating.