1981 World Games
| Host city | Santa Clara, California, US |
|---|---|
| Nations | 58 |
| Athletes | 1,400 (est.) |
| Events | 104 |
| Opening | July 24, 1981 |
| Closing | none held |
| Opened by | Kim Un-yong President of World Games I Executive Committee |
| Main venue | Toso Pavilion (19 events) |
Location of Santa Clara, the host city, in California on the west coast of the United States.
The 1981 World Games were the first World Games, an international multi-sport event, and were held in Santa Clara, California, United States. The games featured sports that were not included in the Olympics, including tug-of-war, racquetball, baseball and softball, artistic roller skating, roller hockey, roller speed skating, finswimming, karate, women's water polo, bowling, bodybuilding, waterskiing, casting, badminton, trampoline, powerlifting and taekwondo. Best estimates for attendance figures were that about 80,000 spectators witnessed the first World Games.