The main venue of the World Games 2005 shall be at the Sports Park Wedau in Duisburg. Apart from the Wedau stadium, regatta course, swimming stadium, ice rink and sports school Wedau - the largest school of its kind in Europe - there are also numerous sports grounds and sports halls located here, next to one another, each with a different orientation and enjoying an exceptional reputation.

The motto is "Games at a stone's throw from each other" and this concept shall be effected in a consistent manner by means of a professional and appealing implementation of the World Games 2005 in Duisburg. The cities of Oberhausen, Mülheim an der Ruhr and Bottrop offer their very special sporting facilities for those participating in the World Games.

During the Games all athletes shall be given the opportunity to train at all sporting facilities available. Training times shall be flexible according to the requirements of the sports federations, and transport shall be organized to convey athletes to the training facilities and places of events. The most important factor for the organizers is to have satisfied athletes who can concentrate on preparing themselves for the competitions.

The regatta course at the Sports park Wedau belongs to the very first of the facilities here. It was opened officially in 1935 with a rowing regatta. Since then the extension and improvement of the course has been a continual process. The facilities for this main sport were redesigned completely for the World Canoe Championships in 1979. The former regatta house on the east side of the course was redeveloped to become the federal and regional performance centre for canoe racing, equipped with the most modern technical installations. The stand offers seating for 2,468 spectators, 580 of which are roofed over.

Up to the present day, 19 federations and 24 clubs have made the large area of the Sports Park Wedau their home, which covers 200 hectares (56 hectares is covered by water). But even those who spend their leisure time with inline skating, cycling or jogging can enjoy the almost ideal training conditions here.

Apart from significant national events, international competitions with top-class sportsmen and sportswomen have been held at the Sports Park Wedau during the last 75 years, such as the European and World Championships in canoeing and rowing as well as the Junior European Championships in athletics and water polo.

In 1989 the "Universiade" held in Duisburg was a huge success, despite the organizers' extremely short preparation time of merely a few months owing to cancellation at very short notice by the organizers in Sao Paulo where these games were to be held originally.

In 2001, the jubilee year, the Junior World Rowing Championships and the first official World Games in the trend sport Wakeboard were staged.