World urBan Games proviDes ultimAte stage for parkoUr athletEs

As one of the most dynamic and exciting disciplines in the sports world today, parkour is a natural fit for the first edition of World Urban Games.

Parkour has evolved, from David Belle and his Yamakasi crew developing “the art of moving” on the outskirts of Paris in the 1990s, to today’s gravity-defying free-running, with the thrill of adrenaline driving athletes and amateurs alike to take on more adventurous challenges.

The discipline has continued to grow rapidly in popularity, thanks in part to its use in blockbuster films including Casino Royale and Assassins Creed.

Since 2018, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has partnered with International Festival of Extreme Sports (FISE) to present the FIG Parkour World Cup Series, and in 2020, Hiroshima will host the first FIG Parkour World Championships.

This week will see the inaugural edition of the World Urban Games on 13-15 September, with Parkour as one of the competition sports set to bring expressive urban techniques at the trendy Great Market Hall in Budapest.

The course is made up of a range of obstacles constructed using wooden boxes, ramps, scaffolds and metal rails. The layout mimics an urban environment and gives athletes the opportunity to demonstrate a range of parkour moves such as vaults or jumps, swings and acrobatic elements.

FIG President of the Parkour Commission, Charles Perrière said:

“The World Urban Games will be the biggest event many of our athletes have been a part of, which is a massive honour.

“Our athletes and fans are excited to be included in the first World Urban Games. This truly global event is an amazing opportunity for us to showcase some of the world’s best traceurs – and continue to share parkour with the world at large.

“As we approach our first FIG Parkour World Championships in 2020, athletes are ready to stake a claim on the podium places and prove themselves in front of a broader urban sports audience.”

GAISF President Raffaele Chiulli said:

“Parkour is the true embodiment of urban sports. The way the discipline has evolved from an inner-city training method to a way of life for young people, this is the great power of sport.

“Our role as GAISF is to showcase the quality, skill and athleticism of these disciplines by giving them a world stage. I have no doubt that the young people watching parkour this weekend will be inspired to try it for themselves.”

To find out more about the World Urban Games Budapest 2019, visit: https://wugbudapest.sport/en