World Skate Games ASU26: Italy Arrives in Paraguay as Reigning Champions

The 2026 World Skate Games, a major event for all roller sports, opened on Friday, October 2nd, with a spectacular opening ceremony at the Paraguayan Olympic Committee's sports center. The ceremony featured performances, music, and entertainment for over 10,000 athletes and thousands of spectators. Notable Paraguayan talents like Elías Glz, Mauri Román, Karim Manzur, El Prinxi, Avakuete, and Oudi The Kidd, along with the National Symphony Orchestra of Paraguay, performed. Attendees included the President of Paraguay, Santiago Peña Palacios, the President of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, Camilo Jorge Pérez López Moreira, and the President of Skate Italia and World Skate, Sabatino Aracu.

World Skate established the Games in 2017 to unite the roller skating world. The inaugural event in Nanjing, China, began a new era, bringing various roller disciplines together on an international stage. After editions in Barcelona (2019), Buenos Aires (2022), and Italy (2024), the World Skate Games have become the premier global gathering for roller sports, blending competition, urban culture, and the Olympic spirit.

“I want to thank Asunción and Paraguay for the extraordinary work they have done,” said World Skate President Sabatino Aracu. “We are here today because, from the outset, President Santiago Peña Palacios and Camilo Pérez, President of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, firmly believed in this project and the opportunity to bring the World Skate Games to Paraguay. Their vision, commitment, and determination made this possible.”

The international event is now in Paraguay with record numbers: 11 sports, 40 disciplines, over 90 participating countries, and more than 10,000 athletes. The competition runs until October 18th. The Italian delegation from Skate Italia has arrived in full force, with 540 Italian athletes and a support staff of 100, ready for the Paraguayan World Championship.

The World Skate Games ASU26 will bring together over 10,000 athletes worldwide, showcasing the diverse range of roller sports. These are sports embraced by young people, exemplified by skateboarding’s Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020 and its continued success in Paris 2024. Stars like Rayssa Leal, Keegan Palmer, and Yuto Horigome have introduced these disciplines to a global audience, particularly through social media. From Olympic skateboarding to speed and artistic inline skating, roller hockey, inline hockey, roller freestyle, scootering, and downhill, ASU26 unites different generations, styles, and sports cultures in one city.

“The realization of this event in Paraguay is the result of the work of many people over several years,” stated Camilo Jorge Pérez López Moreira, President of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee. “The commitment and dedication of our people are immense. We live in a small country in terms of territory, but one with great sporting value and immeasurable growth spirit.”

The 11 Sports at WSG ASU26 include:

• Skateboarding
• Inline Freestyle
• Roller Hockey
• Roller Freestyle
• Artistic Skating
• Skate Cross
• Slalom
• Downhill
• Inline Hockey
• Scootering
• Speed Skating

The World Skate Games highlight the entire spectrum of roller sports, from established traditions to new urban sports shaping international athletics. For athletes, it's the stage for world championship competition. For fans, it's a chance to experience the variety and energy of roller sports. For Paraguay, it’s an opportunity to welcome the world. Italy is present and ready to reaffirm its position as a global leader in roller sports.