In 1968 the "Commission des Sports de l'Association du Personnel de l'UNESCO" organized an omni-sports meeting in Paris against a team from UN Geneva. Both organizations continued organizing omni-sports meetings in 1969 and 1970.

In 1971, UN Geneva organised the first multi-institutional sports competition in Champéry, Switzerland. 10 organizations of the UN System with offices in Europe participated. The Games included the disciplines: chess, football, table tennis, tennis and men's Volleyball.

Thus the United Nations Inter-Agency Games were initiated and the principle of alternating the venue and the responsibility for the organization of the Games among the UN organizations in Geneva, Rome, Vienna and Paris were adopted. General Rules for the Games were adopted and a Control Commission established to assure their adherence.

Over the years, the Games have developed from 5 disciplines and some 350 participants to 13 disciplines and more than 1000 participants.

At the outset the purpose of the Games was modestly defined as " to enable the staff members of the Agencies and organizations of the United Nations family to know each other through sports meetings and thereby to improve mutual understanding and working relations " (Article 1 of the General Rules).

The significance and merit of the Games for the UN organizations and their staff members have truly gained momentum and have in principle been recognized in the annual opening messages of the heads of the Host organizations. On the occasion of the 20^th Games held in Baden, Austria in 1991, Mr. D. L. Siazon Jr., Director General of UNIDO stated in his opening message:

"I believe the Games provide more than a pleasurable diversion from the daily routine, more than an opportunity for staff to pit their respective skills against those of their colleagues, and more than simply a display of physical or intellectual prowess, impressive as that may be. Bringing together both participants and supporters from numerous agencies, the Games present a unique reminder to us that we are all part of the United Nations family. Against a current background of world-wide turmoil, our horizons must stretch beyond the four walls of our own organizations. The co-operation, solidarity, teamwork and striving for excellence which are the hallmarks of true sportsman, must also be apparent in our day-to-day lives."

The Geneva based UN organizations established the "Commission Inter- Organisations des Sports"(CIOS) which co-ordinates the participation of their staff members in the Games and often assists the Host organization in organizing the Games whenever it is Geneva's turn within the four-year cycle.