World Leisure Organisation marks 70 years advocating for global leisure

April 14, 2022

Promoting leisure as integral to social, cultural, economic, and sustainable environmental development worldwide since its foundation in 1952, the World Leisure Organisation (WLO) is celebrating its 70th anniversary this.

As a member-driven organization with global representation, World Leisure has been achieving its mission, vision and goals through its programs and activities that are developed according to four main strands: advocacy, research, education, and knowledge transfer.

With members in almost 80 countries, WLO represents a wide range of academics and professionals in the leisure industry and also has a strategic goal to develop projects and closer activity interactions in non-represented countries.

A non-profit organisation registered in the State of New York, USA, the governance model of WLO is decentralised, with its scientific and technical secretariat based in Bilbao, Spain, and academic and professional task forces spread all over the world.

A number of events will be organised in 2022 to mark WLO’s 70th anniversary, including the 2022 World Leisure Youth Ambassador Contest, World Leisure Day 2022, the Knowledge Sharing and Networking Experiences in May and September, and the WLO Charter for Leisure webinars.

World Leisure also plans to launch a podcast series will also be launched soon.

While looking ahead to a bright future, highlights from its history, as well as the events plans for the 70th anniversary, can be viewed at www.worldleisure.org/world-leisure-organization-70th-anniversary/

17th March 2022 - Dunedin’s hosting of 17th World Leisure Congress rescheduled to December 2023

14th March 2022 - World Leisure Day returns for second year

22nd December 2021 - Nepal trekking project secures 2021 World Leisure International Innovation Prize

25th November 2021 - New Active Australia Alliance looks to represent ‘community leisure industry’

2nd August 2021 - World Leisure invites special session proposals and abstracts for 2022 Congress in Dunedin

21st April 2021 - 80,000 people participate in 16th World Leisure Congress

30th March 2021 - World Leisure Day to be celebrated for the first time on 16th April

10th December 2020 - World Leisure invites abstracts for ‘hybrid’ 16th Congress

13th October 2020 - World Leisure releases 2020 Charter for Leisure

12th September 2020 - World Leisure invites submissions for Awards program

3rd March 2020 - World Leisure names Canadian professor as first female chair

18th November 2019 - 2020 World Leisure Congress to explore how ‘Leisure makes life better’

31st October 2019 - World Leisure announces 2019 International Innovation Prize results

17th September 2019 - World Leisure looks to China

23rd June 2019 - World Leisure looks to build global excellence network

10th May 2019 - New World Leisure program aims to build a global excellence network

28th February 2019 - World Leisure invites entries for 2019 International Innovation Prize

12th November 2018 - Dunedin to host 2022 World Leisure Congress

21st June 2017 - World Leisure announces International Innovation Prize

4th September 2015 - China ready to host the World Leisure Games

20th February 2015 - World Leisure headquarters relocates to Spain

19th November 2010 - Forget Leisure: Focus on the Experience Industry

22nd February 2010 - World Leisure International Innovation Prize

3rd April 2009 - World Leisure announces Future Strategy

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