What are Open Games?

If you practice CrossFit or are a little involved in the world of fitness, you have surely heard of the Crossfit Open Games . However, despite being world-known, many people are not clear about how it works, its structure or - even more importantly - if they can participate and challenge the most recognized athletes. Don't worry. You are in the right place to discover everything it encompasses and how the “Olympics” of this sport that attracts more and more people have emerged. We will take a tour of the history of Crossfit Open and the Crossfit Games, and at the end of the article you will be able to read the news they bring us for this year 2021, in which the format has had to be adapted. Go for it! The CrossFit Open Games are a qualifying phase for the next step: the Regionals. The CrossFit Open Games are a 5-week challenge , with one workout per week. Each training session is announced on a Thursday and you have until Monday to deliver the score. Anyone over 14 years of age can register for the Open, without requirements, and must do the same training.

A brief tour of the history of the Open CrossFit Games

However, to better understand what the CrossFit Opens are, we have to take a look back through the years. From the moment the CrossFit Games were created with just a few participants to what we know today.

Early years of the CrossFit Games

The CrossFit Games were born in 2007 by Greg Glassman, founder of the CrossFit® brand, and Dave Castro , a former Navy SEAL who has held the position of director of the competition since its inauguration. Hence, the nature of CrossFit was a high-intensity training aimed at the military, firefighters, police and other security and defense forces but which, in the end, ended up attracting followers from all over the world. The first time the CrossFit Games were held was on June 30, 2007 and took place on Dave Castro's family ranch in California. At that time, athletes who wanted to participate only had to go to the location to register, be of legal age and be associated with the CrossFit brand gyms. This first edition hosted only 60 athletes and the prize was $500. During the first two years, many people began to echo this competition and, due to the hundreds of requests for participation, the organization was forced to create a preliminary phase where those registered would have to pre-classify if they wanted to compete in the final event of the CrossFit Games. This is how the Regionals of the CrossFit Games were born in 2009. At that time, the team category was also created, which had to be made up of four members, two men and two women.

The CrossFit Opens, the Masters and Reebok entry

In 2010 the competition had expanded worldwide and, once again, the organization had to make changes. Thus, a new classification called the CrossFit Open emerged . The CrossFit Open consisted of a classification by country where athletes had to send their results in video form online or through verification by a CrossFit licensed coach, in order to reach the Regionals and be the best of the 17 regions - 12 of them distributed between the US and Canada, and the remaining 5 distributed across the rest of the continents. Additionally, due to the increasing number of participants, the competition was moved to the Home Depot Center - currently known as Dignity Health Sports Park -. The number of team members also had to be modified, going from four to six. On the other hand, the Masters category was created , which included men and women aged 55 and over. In this way the competition was balanced in terms of physical conditions due to the age difference with the younger ones. Year after year, the competition became more popular not only among athletes, but also among brands. Such was the success that, in 2011, the Reebok brand became the official sponsor of the CrossFit Games . With this entry, the prizes began to have a value 10 times greater.

There were no more doubts. This “new” sport was achieving success and positioning itself.

The Regional and Sanctionals

In 2015, the qualification system underwent changes again and the Super Regional or The Regionals emerged . Eight regional events were formed - instead of 17. They qualified for the Super Regionals, 20 women, 20 men and 30 mixed teams per region, to fight for a place in the final event of the CrossFit Games where a total of 40 women, 40 men and 40 mixed teams participated. In 2017 , the location was changed again and moved to the Alliant Energy Center sports complex , located in Wisconsin .

In 2018 , the organization made the decision to suppress the Regionals due to the excessive financial investment it involved. However, CrossFit founder Greg Glassman reported that he would begin collaborating on independent competitions that would catapult the winners directly into the CrossFit Games rankings. This is how Sanctioned Events or Sanctionals emerged .

Coronavirus, controversy with Reebok and CrossFit Games 2020

In 2020 , due to a controversial tweet posted by Greg Glassman, creator of the CrossFit brand, Reebok decided to unilaterally break contract negotiations with the training program that was expiring at the end of 2020, and hundreds of affiliated gyms disassociated themselves from the company. brand. The 2020 CrossFit Games were in danger . They lost sponsors and many athletes refused to attend the championship. As a result, Dave Castro , until now co-director of training, became CEO of CrossFit and the CrossFit Games were saved. On June 24 , Eric Roza bought the company and became the new CEO . Thus, after the global Coronavirus pandemic , the CrossFit Game underwent changes again. They were delayed until October 23, they returned to Dave Castro's ranch and the public was suppressed.

CrossFit Open Games 2021

2020 was a turning point in the CrossFit Games as we knew them until now, and has caused us to see changes for the 2021 edition of the CrossFit Games.

Changes to the CrossFit Open 2021

• a dumbbell
• A bar and discs
• A drawer
• a rope
• A pull up bar

1. Winning the Open no longer implies having a direct place for the CrossFit Games. The Open will be a qualifier for Sanctioned/Regional events.
2. The National Champions disappear.
3. A protocol will be established where each athlete will have their competition area.
4. The concept of world quarterfinals is created. These quarters will include the top 10% of Open athletes competing from their Box.
5. There will be ten in-person semi-final events hosted by CrossFit partners on six continents , ensuring that at least one athlete from each continent will qualify for the Games. Each event will operate under strict safety protocols, including contingency plans for an online competition, depending on local conditions and restrictions.
6. A qualifying phase (play-off) was also created for the athletes who were on the verge of moving on to the next phase in the semi-finals, thus giving one more opportunity to those great athletes who did not have the best luck that day.
7. This year, the 2021 CrossFit Games will be held in Madison the week of July 26 , for both athletes and teams that have qualified . Depending on the health situation on that date, the possibility of doing it online could be considered.
8. The Affiliate Cup is resumed in which affiliate teams participate that will compete against each other on a global level . Likewise, teams will be able to qualify for the quarterfinals, semifinals and Games.
9. In addition to the masters and teen divisions, a new adaptive division (Adaptive) to ensure that all members of the CrossFit community have the opportunity to compete and win.

When are the Open 2021 held?

What will Sanctionals 2021 be like?

• 5 events in North America where 15 athletes will qualify, 5 for each event.
• 3 events in Europe, of which 15 will qualify, 5 for each event.
• 1 test in Australia and another in South America, each with three qualifiers respectively.
• 1 event in Asia and another in Africa, from which one qualifier will emerge from each.

2021 CrossFit Season Schedule