The international governing body for competitive climbing is undergoing a major transformation: the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) is becoming World Climbing. After almost 19 years, the organization is abandoning its somewhat cumbersome acronym and presenting itself with a new goal: to position sport climbing as a global brand and a modern movement.
We get the World Climbing
Philosophy of World Climbing
With its new slogan “We go the World Climbing”, World Climbing wants to show that the association is committed to openness, diversity, inclusion, culture and inspiration.
An association on a development tour
Since its founding in 2007, the IFSC has shaped the competition calendar and rules of modern sport climbing. It emerged as the successor organization to the International Council for Competition Climbing (ICC), thus bringing clear structures to the international competition scene. The non-profit association has since fostered connections, networks, and relationships among its members and is best known for the World Cup Series in Lead, Speed, and Bouldering. It also organizes the Paraclimbing World Championships and the World Youth Championships.
IFSC President Marco Scolaris calls the renaming "a logical next step." His reasoning: "Our sport has grown, our community has grown – and this name reflects that." For everyone who has witnessed this development, that makes perfect sense. "We are becoming an increasingly important part of many people's lives, and this brand is being created for a shared future," says Scolaris.
Fresh logo, new series, global setup
The transition to the name World Climbing was officially approved by the national federations in October 2023 and incorporated into the statutes. Following this, the development of the new identity began. The graphic redesign also reflects this modern approach: The new World Climbing logo depicts an abstract globe made of climbing holds, crisscrossed by routes – a visual symbol for the international scene. The three colors represent Lead, Boulder, and Speed climbing. The transition is scheduled to be fully completed in 2026. At that time, the current IFSC World Cup Series will also become the World Climbing Series. Simultaneously, the five continental federations will undergo a rebranding and will also adopt the World Climbing name. A parallel digital modernization is underway, including new graphics for streams and events.
- New IFSC Best Format | Nations Grand Finale
- Fairer for athletes, more complicated for coaches | New IFSC rules for competition
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Credits cover photo: World Climbing
It's simply unnecessary, and the logo is just incredibly boring and meaningless. And then there's the name, which is equally meaningless.