Reykjavík International Games

The Reykjavík International Games, or RIG, are held annually in January to increase the competitiveness of Icelandic Athletes while reducing their travel costs by creating a unique international event in the city of Reykjavík that attracts strong foreign competitors. 

The idea behind ​​holding an elite sports tournament for various sports over the same weekend is based the initiative of the Icelandic Athletic Federation and the Swim Club Aegir who had held an international tournament in January for two decades. However, the same idea came into being when Reykjavik Sports Union held a successful International Children´s Games in Laugardalur in 2007. The same year the plan was implemented and preparations began for the first Reykjavik International Games which were held in 2008, led by the initiative of Þrainn Hafsteinsson athletic coach of IAF and Gustaf Adolf Hjaltason chairman of the Swim Club Aegir.

For the first few years, the games took place on one weekend and the number of tournaments was 8-12. In 2013, the games were divided into two weekends and the number of tournaments has since then been around 16-20. In the beginning, foreign visitors were around 200, but in recent years the number of foreign visitors has been around 600.

For more information visit their website www.rig.is