The 1997 World Games (Finnish: 1997 Maailman Pelit, Swedish: 1997 Världsspelen), the fifth World Games, were an international multi-sport event held in Lahti, Finland on August 7–17, 1997.

The opening and closing ceremonies took place at the Lahti Sport Centre.

(Aikido was deemed a demonstration sport; no medal events were held.)

United States finished at the top of the final medal table.

[2] Two bronze medals were awarded in each of the nine karate kumite events.