The International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) has officially become World Climbing, unveiling a refreshed global identity that reflects the sport’s rapid rise and its diverse global community. The rebrand highlights the evolution of climbing, nearly 19 years after the organisation’s founding. 

Built around the guiding philosophy “We get the World Climbing,” the new identity reinforces the federation’s values and commitment to openness, inclusivity, culture, and inspiration. 

“Since climbing began its Olympic and Paralympic journey in 2007, our community has evolved rapidly,” said World Climbing President Marco Scolaris. “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.”

As climbing continues to grow in mainstream society, particularly with younger, digitally connected audiences, the new visual identity aims to strengthen the sport’s visibility and accessibility worldwide. World Climbing’s modernised brand will help connect new participants with the sport’s history, culture and values, while also enabling a more cohesive presence across events and digital platforms. 

At the heart of the rebrand is a distinctive new logo: a ‘world’ formed from climbing holds, with interwoven routes symbolising global climbing. Each colour in the new palette represents one of the sport’s three disciplines, Lead, Boulder and Speed, all in harmony with a written font that will be seen to be ascending in selected visuals.

“Climbing started from humble beginnings and has developed into the sport we always believed it could be,” Scolaris added. “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.”

The transition to the name World Climbing was formally approved by national federations in October 2023 and written into the federation’s statutes, after which work began on developing the new identity.

The visual identity will be rolled out throughout the 2026 season, anchored by the launch of the new World Climbing Series, which will succeed the IFSC World Cup. The federation’s five continental bodies, World Climbing Africa, World Climbing Asia, World Climbing Europe, World Climbing Oceania, and World Climbing Pan America, will adopt the updated identity as part of the global implementation. A phased digital transition will accompany the rollout, including new broadcast graphics, event branding and online platforms designed to bring the sport to life for audiences across the world. 

“We’re setting the holds on the wall of life, building the routes that we will climb together, into the future. Higher, stronger, faster; Together”, president Scolaris concluded.

[Source: EventScotland] Edinburgh is set to host the International Federation of Sport Climbing’s (IFSC) European Championships 2019 for Lead and Speed after being awarded the Championships by the international governing body.

The Scottish capital was successful in securing the event, which is held biennially, following a joint bid by EventScotland, City of Edinburgh Council, the British Mountaineering Council (BMC), Mountaineering Scotland and in conjunction Edinburgh International Climbing Arena (EICA):Ratho, Europe’s largest indoor climbing arena.

Wolfgang Wabel, IFSC European Council President, said: “Edinburgh put on a fantastic show of climbing and paraclimbing in 2017, and we are confident the organising team will continue the proud legacy at the IFSC European Championships for Lead and Speed in 2019.”

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “This is a great result following all the work that has gone into securing a second successive climbing event for Edinburgh after the success of the World Cup at EICA:Ratho in September 2017. Scotland is the perfect stage and EventScotland is delighted to be supporting the return of international climbing to the Scottish capital.

“This is an exciting time for the sport and Ratho is the ideal platform for people to see climbing first-hand ahead of its debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.”

Councillor Donald Wilson, Culture and Communities Convener, said: “As Europe’s largest indoor climbing arena, Edinburgh’s EICA is the perfect venue for the European Championships! We’re looking forward to welcoming this high-profile event to the city – it will provide local people with the opportunity to see some of the continent’s best mountaineers in action, while also broadcasting Scotland’s Capital to sports channels and climbing fans all over the world.”

Zoe Spriggins, BMC Competitions Programme Manager, said: “The British Mountaineering Council is proud to be able to assist Edinburgh in hosting this event. It will not only be a highly exciting competition in its own right, but is also the last chance to see our GB athletes competing on home soil ahead of Tokyo 2020.”

Jamie Smith, ClimbScotland Team Leader, said: “Mountaineering Scotland are excited to welcome the IFSC European Championships to Scotland this year. It is great to see our National Centre being host to the competition which will see some of Europe’s top climbers battle it out over the two days of competition. This event is a great opportunity to inspire our next generation of young climbers as well as helping raise the profile of the sport nationally. This is an exciting time for climbing now being an Olympic sport and Tokyo 2020 just around the corner.”

Lindsay Renwick, Head of Customer Operations (West) at Edinburgh Leisure said: “We’re delighted that Europe’s largest climbing arena is once again able to show off our world class climbing facilities at EICA:Ratho, following the success of the IFSC World Cup and Paraclimbing World Cup in September 2017.”

The European Championships will take place from 5 – 6^th October 2019 and will be a chance to see some of the best climbers in Europe compete ahead of the sport’s debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. It also follows the successful delivery of the IFSC World Cup when EICA:Ratho took centre stage for the fifth World cup in Lead and Speed of 2017. The sold-out event attracted more than 1,200 spectators, athletes and coaches.

Twenty-five million people climb regularly worldwide and there has been a rapid rise in popularity of climbing worldwide, a sport that draws diverse climbers from rural and mountain as well as urban areas.