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The World Choir Games (formerly named the Choir Olympics) is the largest choir competition in the world.
Organized for amateur choirs from all over the world, regardless of their country of origin, race, genre of music or artistic ambitions, its motto is "Singing together brings nations together". The idea of the games originated from the effort to bring people together through singing in peaceful competition, showing that unity of nations through the arts can be effectively and illustratively demonstrated and challenged.
Organized by the Interkultur Foundation, the focus of the games is on participation above winning. The games aim to inspire people to "experience the strength of interaction, challenging personality and community equally by singing together".
The most recent host for the games was Sochi, Russia, from 6 July until 16 July 2016, and the next edition of the Games will be hosted by Tshwane, South Africa from 4–14 July 2018.
General
The games are hosted biennially (every even year) in a select city across the globe. Choirs compete in select categories; the 2012 games had 23, such as "Music of the religions", in 2016 there were 29 categories, among them "Senior Choirs" and "University Choirs".
The games consist mostly of competition in two categories, award ceremonies, and opening and closing ceremonies held at the beginning and end of the games, respectively. Choirs compete in two classes (Champions and Open) for Gold, Silver, Bronze, or "Successful Participation" awards.
Also, choirs may choose to participate in workshops featuring renowned choral instructors and friendship concerts, free public concerts where choirs share music with choristers from different parts of the world.