From the first International Children's Games in June 1968 in Celje, Slovenia, to the first winter games to be hosted outside of Europe in Kelowna 2011, there has been a single purpose: to promote peace and understanding between peoples. Youth from all over the world, in the context of a sports event dedicated to them, are called to meet each other and become friends, representing their countries and cultivating feelings of friendship and solidarity.

The great games dedicated to children were born from the vision of a sports instructor, the Slovenian Metod Klemenc, who wanted to use sports to send out a message of reconciliation and solidarity capable of reaching every corner of the globe.

In the 40 plus years of their history, the Games have managed to achieve the dream of their creator, bringing together children from all over the world every year. With more than 32,000 children from every continent of the planet having taken part in the Games, strong friendships have been created, and different cultures have come one step closer together, opening up new horizons for all those who take part.

More than 1,500 athletes from all over the world take part in the events every year. To date there have been 40 summer and 3 winter events in 20 different countries: Andorra, Austria, Canada, the Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Ukraine, and the USA. In total, representatives from 332 different towns and 74 countries have taken part.

The first winter children's games were held in Ravne na Koroskem, Slovenia in 1994 and are for the first time to be hosted outside of Europe in Kelowna, BC Canada in 2011.

The International Children's Games

Why organize such International Children's Games? The spiritual father of these Games, the Slovenian sports instructor Metod Klemenc, born 1934 in Ljubljana, explained: "My childhood suffered from the 2nd World War. It destroyed my family. Since I -within my possibilities - wanted to create a better world based on friendship, sport seemed to be one of the best means to bring together young people from different countries. Therefore you need will power and friends who are enthusiastic about sport, and who are willing to give up ther spare time." In this sense Metod Klemenc organized the 1st International Children's Games in June 5, 1968 in Celje.