In 2010, Beijing saw the first SportAccord World Combat Games take place under patronage of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The event was a great success and ensured a sequel: the second World Combat Games on the 18–26th of October in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The IOC has again given its patronage to the games.

The SportAccord World Combat Games is an international sporting event which promotes the values of self-discipline, determination and technical mastery. The participating martial arts and combat sports integrate elements of culture, traditional wisdom, and friendship to create a unique elite sports competition, that revolves around the “Art” of combat.

Over the last 16 months, qualifiers have taken place all over the globe to determine the 88 Muaythai athletes (24 female and 64 male) who will compete in 11 divisions.

The Games will feature a total of 15 world-recognised martial arts and combat sports: Aikido, Boxing, Fencing, Judo, Jujitsu, Karate, Kendo, Kickboxing, Muaythai, Sambo, Savate, Sumo, Taekwondo, Wrestling, and Wushu.

Additionally, the World Combat Games will feature a Cultural Programme which reflects the ancient traditions of the martial arts as well as the social and cultural values of the 15 sports, and of the event as a whole. Topics to be discussed at the International Forum will deal with the cultural dimensions of the martial arts, their social value, and contribution to society.

The Muaythai family is looking forward to this fantastic event, together with all the other world recognised combat sports. A big thank you must go to all colleagues in the Martial Art Family, SportAccord, RUMA, and the City of Saint Petersburg, for the close cooperation.