World Games 1997
 V. World Games |
|
|---|---|
| venue |
 Lahti
|
| Participating Nations | 78 |
| Participating athletes | 2600 |
| Official sports | 25th |
| Invitation Sports | 5 |
| opening | 5th August 1997 |
| Closing ceremony | August 15, 1997 |
| timeline | |
| ← World Games 1993 | World Games 2001 → |
The 5th World Games in 1997 were held from 5 to 15. August 1997 in the Finnish Lahti instead.
Initially, the fifth edition of the World Games was planned in Port Elizabeth , South Africa . At the World Games in The Hague in 1993, the city representatives also symbolically received the flag of the World Games. After the political change in South Africa, the city council decided to withdraw from the organization. In January 1995, the contract with Lahti was signed.
2,600 athletes participated in 25 official sports. In addition, there were five invitational sports determined by the venue.