International Federation of Sport Climbing changes name to World Climbing

The International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) has officially become World Climbing, unveiling a refreshed global identity that reflects the sport’s rapid rise and its diverse global community. The rebrand highlights the evolution of climbing, nearly 19 years after the organisation’s founding.

Built around the guiding philosophy “We get the World Climbing,” the new identity reinforces the federation’s values and commitment to openness, inclusivity, culture, and inspiration.

“Since climbing began its Olympic and Paralympic journey in 2007, our community has evolved rapidly,” said World Climbing President Marco Scolaris. “This transformation into World Climbing is another important step in the journey. It reflects our heritage while embracing the future. This new brand represents every part of our sport, from Athletes to National Federations, to global partners and more.”

As climbing continues to grow in mainstream society, particularly with younger, digitally connected audiences, the new visual identity aims to strengthen the sport’s visibility and accessibility worldwide. World Climbing’s modernised brand will help connect new participants with the sport’s history, culture and values, while also enabling a more cohesive presence across events and digital platforms.

At the heart of the rebrand is a distinctive new logo: a ‘world’ formed from climbing holds, with interwoven routes symbolising global climbing. Each colour in the new palette represents one of the sport’s three disciplines, Lead, Boulder and Speed, all in harmony with a written font that will be seen to be ascending in selected visuals.

“Climbing started from humble beginnings and has developed into the sport we always believed it could be,” Scolaris added. “With World Climbing, we are not simply adopting a new name, we are promoting a global identity that reflects our principles of inclusivity, adaptability, responsibility and adventure. We are becoming a bigger part of many more people’s lives, and this brand is built for that future.”

The transition to the name World Climbing was formally approved by national federations in October 2023 and written into the federation’s statutes, after which work began on developing the new identity.

The visual identity will be rolled out throughout the 2026 season, anchored by the launch of the new World Climbing Series, which will succeed the IFSC World Cup. The federation’s five continental bodies, World Climbing Africa, World Climbing Asia, World Climbing Europe, World Climbing Oceania, and World Climbing Pan America, will adopt the updated identity as part of the global implementation. A phased digital transition will accompany the rollout, including new broadcast graphics, event branding and online platforms designed to bring the sport to life for audiences across the world.

“We’re setting the holds on the wall of life, building the routes that we will climb together, into the future. Higher, stronger, faster; Together”, president Scolaris concluded.

INFO
About World Climbing: World Climbing is the international governing body of Climbing. It was founded on 27 January 2007 as a continuation of the International Council for Competition Climbing, created 10 years earlier, in 1997. From 2007 until December 2025 it was officially known as the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC). As a non-profit organisation, the objectives of World Climbing are the direction, regulation, promotion, and development of Climbing competitions worldwide.

After its first appearance at Tokyo 2020, Climbing successfully returned to the Olympic stage at Paris 2024, where 68 athletes from 22 nations competed in six sold-out days of Climbing action. In February 2022, the International Olympic Committee approved the inclusion of Climbing in the initial programme of the Olympic Games LA28, while in June 2024 the International Paralympic Committee ratified the inclusion of Para Climbing in the Paralympic Games LA28.

For more information visit www.worldclimbing.com