BEIJING, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- The International Federation of Sport Climbing has recently rebranded itself as World Climbing, the organization announced on its website.
It is the first name change since the federation separated from the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA) in 2007.
World Climbing serves as the international governing body for competition climbing within the Olympic movement and counts 102 member organizations, including the Chinese Mountaineering Association.
"Since climbing began its Olympic and Paralympic journey in 2007, our community has evolved rapidly," World Climbing president Marco Scolaris said in a statement. "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."
The federation also unveiled a new logo - a globe composed of climbing holds and interwoven routes, meant to symbolize the global climbing community. According to the announcement, the visual refresh aims to boost recognition for the sport as it gains popularity, especially among younger and digitally engaged audiences.
The new visual system will be implemented across events and online platforms starting in 2026.
Sport climbing made its Olympic debut at the 2021 Tokyo Games. At the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, its three disciplines - bouldering, lead and speed - will be contested separately for the first time, increasing the number of gold medals to six.
"Climbing started from humble beginnings and has developed into the sport we always believed it could be," Scolaris said. "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." ■
