Worldwide events
Multi-sports events for non-Olympic sports
World Games, held first in 1981, stage many sports (though not all) that are not Olympic sports. The World Games is therefore sometimes also unofficially called Olympics for non-Olympic sports. (They cannot be called "Olympic" games without infringing on the Olympic committees' trademarks.)
Mind Sports Olympiad, first held in 1997 for Mind Sports[4]
World Mind Sports Games, first held in 2008 for games of skill (e.g. chess, go, etc.)
The X Games and Winter X Games, which highlight extreme action sports.
By occupation
Universiade, held first in 1959, for students at universities worldwide
Military World Games, held first in 1995, for military athletes from over 100 countries
World Police and Fire Games, began in 1985, for law enforcement officers and firefighters worldwide; third only to the World Masters Games and Summer Olympics in number of participants.
By organisation and language
Commonwealth Games, held first in 1930 (although a similar event was held in 1911) for all member states of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Commonwealth Youth Games, began in 2000.
Francophone Games, held first in 1989, for French-speaking nations and communities.
Lusophony Games, began in 2006, for Portuguese-speaking nations and communities.
Pan Arab Games, held first in 1953, for Arabic-speaking nations.
Islamic Solidarity Games, first held in 2005, for all member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
Women's Islamic Games, began in 1993.
By political and historical allegiance
Bolivarian Games, began in 1938, for countries liberated by Simón Bolívar
Games of the Small States of Europe, first held in 1985, for small states of Europe
Island Games, first held in 1985, for teams from several islands and other small territories
Goodwill Games, first held in 1986, originally held as an alternative after the boycotted Olympics of 1980 and 1984 (Last edition was held in 2001)
Spartakiad, a defunct event involving athletes from the Soviet Union
Games of the New Emerging Forces, a defunct event first held in 1963, for the so-called "emerging nations" (mainly newly independent socialist states)
By national origin and national descent
Pan-Armenian Games, began in 1999.
By ethnicity
Maccabiah Games, first held in 1932, for Jewish athletes worldwide.
Other
Gay Games and World OutGames, first held in 1982 and 2006, for the worldwide gay community.
World Masters Games, first held in 1985, for mature athletes. Most participants of any multi-sport event, with approximately twice as many competitors as the Summer Olympics.
European Masters Games, first held in 2008, for mature athletes (generally for 30–35 years or older, dependent on sport).
Regional events
All-Africa Games, held first in 1965, for all African nations
Afro-Asian Games, first held in 2003 in India.
Australasian Police and Emergency Services Games, both by regional and by occupations.
Baltic Sea Games, for all nations bordering Baltic Sea, first held in Estonia 1993, then in Lithuania 1997.
Pan American Games, held first in 1951, for all nations of the Americas
Central American and Caribbean Games, held first in 1926, every 4 years for nations in the Caribbean, Central America and/or bordering the Caribbean Sea
Central American Games, held first in 1973, for nations in Central America
Caribbean Games, proposed to be held first in June 2009 for countries in the Caribbean Sea, was scheduled in Netherlands Antiles in May 2011. Now rescheduled for 2013[5][6][7][8]
South American Games, held first in 1978, for nations in South America
Arafura Games, held first in 1991 and hosted in the Oceania region.
Asian Games, held first in 1951, for all Asian nations
Southeast Asian Games, held first in 1959, for nations in Southeast Asia
East Asian Games, for nations in East Asia
West Asian Games, for nations in West Asia
Central Asian Games, for nations in Central Asia
South Asian Games, for nations in South Asia
European Games, held first in 2015, for nations in Europe
European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF), for youth athletes from Europe, began in 1991 (summer) and 1993 (winter).
Mediterranean Games, held first in 1951, for all nations bordering the Mediterranean Sea
South Pacific Games, held first in 1963 for countries around the South Pacific
Arctic Winter Games, held first in 1970, an international biennial celebration of circumpolar north and Arctic sports and culture
Indian Ocean Island Games, held first in 1979, for all islands in the Indian Ocean
National events
National Games of China, perhaps the oldest national games with a history dating back to 1910
Korean National Sports Festival, held first in 1920 for all provinces in entire Korea, but later for provinces in South Korea
National Sports Festival of Japan
National Games of India, started in 1924 as "Indian Olympics Games"
Palarong Pambansa in the Philippines
Pekan Olahraga Nasional in Indonesia
Thailand National Games, started in 1967, Thailand Para National Games
Canada Games
SUKMA Games in Malaysia
State Games of America in the United States
AAU Junior Olympic Games in the United States, held first in 1967