List of international sports federations
This is a list of international sports federations, each of which serves as a non-governmental governing body for a given sport and administers its sport at a world level, most often crafting rules, promoting the sport to prospective spectators and fans, developing prospective players, and organizing world or continental championships. Some international sports federations, such as World Aquatics and the International Skating Union, may oversee multiple activities referred to in common parlance as separate sports: World Aquatics, for example governs swimming, diving, synchronised swimming, and water polo as separate "disciplines" within the single "sport" of Aquatics.
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International sports federations form an integral part of the Olympic and Paralympic movements. Each Olympic sport is represented by its respective international sports federation, which in turn helps administer the events in its respective sport during the Games. For a sport to become an Olympic sport, its international sports federation must be recognized by the International Olympic Committee.[1]
Likewise, an international sports federation must be recognized by the International Paralympic Committee for its sport to become a paralympic sport, though in the latter case, several Paralympic Sports are governed by a dedicated committee of the International Paralympic Committee itself, under the World Para branding, for example track and field athletics for disabled athletes is governed by the IPC itself, under the name "World Para Athletics". Other Paralympic sports are governed within the structure of the able-bodied equivalent: for example, the UCI governs both able-bodied and paralympic cycling.
Federations recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC)
Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF)
The following are the 28 members of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF):[2][3][4]
ASOIF associate members
The following are the 4 current Associate Member International Federations of ASOIF (representing sports which are on the Olympic Programme of Paris 2024).[4]
| Sport | Federation |
|---|---|
| DanceSport | World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) |
| Roller sports (including inline hockey, roller racing, rink hockey, roller derby, skateboarding, and artistic roller skating) | World Skate (WS) |
| Sport climbing | International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) |
| Surfing and bodyboarding | International Surfing Association (ISA) |
Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF)
The following are recognized by the Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF):
| Sport | Federation |
|---|---|
| Biathlon | International Biathlon Union (IBU) |
| Bobsleigh and skeleton | International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) |
| Curling | World Curling Federation (WCF) |
| Ice hockey | International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) |
| Ice skating (including figure skating, speed skating, and short-track speed skating) | International Skating Union (ISU) |
| Luge | Fédération Internationale de Luge de Course (FIL) |
| Skiing (including Alpine, Nordic combined, cross-country, freestyle, and ski jumping) and snowboarding | Fédération Internationale de Ski (FIS) |
The following is an Associate Member International Federation of AIOWF (representing a sport which is on the Olympic Programme of Milan-Cortina 2026[6]).
| Sport | Federation |
|---|---|
| Ski mountaineering | International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF) |
Association of the IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF)
The following are recognised by the Association of the IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF):[7]
Federations recognized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
There are 17 international federations recognized by the IPC, while the IPC itself serves as the international federation for 6 sports.[13][14] IPC recognises also 4 International Organisations of Sports for the Disabled. And there are another 14 federations which are recognised by the IPC but are not eligible to be IPC members.[15]
Sports directly governed by IPC
On 30 November 2016, the IPC adopted the "World Para" brand for all 10 of the sports that it directly governed at that time.[16] At the 2021 IPC General Assembly, IPC members provided a strong mandate for the IPC to cease acting as the international federation for 10 sports by the end of 2026.[17] Para alpine skiing, Para cross-country, Para snowboard and Para biathlon have been already transferred to FIS and IBU.[17][18] Currently IPC acts as the international federation for 6 sports:
International Federations
International Federations are independent sport federations recognised by the IPC as the sole representative of a Paralympic Sport.
The IPC currently recognises 17 International Federations representing 19 parasports:[15]
International Organisations of Sports for the Disabled
- International Organisations of Sports for the Disabled (IOSDs) are independent organisations recognised by the IPC as the sole representatives of a specific impairment group.
- The IPC currently recognises 4 IOSDs:[15]
| Sport | Federation |
|---|---|
| Paralympic sports for athletes with cerebral palsy | Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CPISRA) |
| Blind football,[21] Goalball, Para judo[22] | International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) |
| Wheelchair fencing | International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) |
| For athletes with an intellectual disability | Virtus (formerly Inas)[23] |
IPC-recognised International sports federations non-eligible for membership
The IPC recognises a number of international sports federations which are not eligible to be IPC members, but contribute to the development of sport opportunities for athletes associated with the Paralympic Movement and have organisational goals that are compatible with the Vision and Mission of the IPC.
The following 14 are IPC-recognised international sport federations:[15]
Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF)
Federations whose sports are either included in the Olympic Games (ASOIF, AIOWF) or recognized by the IOC (ARISF) are also members of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), formerly known as SportAccord. Other members of GAISF (non-IOC recognized) compose the Alliance of Independent Recognized Members of Sport (AIMS).[24]
Alliance of Independent Recognized Members of Sport (AIMS)
Associate members of GAISF
Other than full members (composing ASOIF, AIOWF, ARISF and AIMS), there are Associate members of GAISF.
Observers of GAISF
The GAISF Observer Status can be requested by the Applicants to GAISF Membership interested to obtain support and guidance in their path to fulfil the GAISF Membership Criteria.[25]
Other international sports federations
| Sport | Federation |
|---|---|
| Aesthetic group gymnastics | International Federation of Aesthetic Group Gymnastics (IFAAG) |
| Amputee football | World Amputee Football Federation (WAFF) |
| Australian rules football | Australian Football International (AFI) |
| Axe throwing | International Axe Throwing Federation (IATF) |
| Beach handball | World Beach Handball Association (WBHA) |
| Beach soccer | Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW), Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) |
| Beeni | World Beeni Federation (WBF) |
| Brazilian jiu-jitsu | International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF), Sport Jiu Jitsu International Federation (SJJIF) |
| Bodyboarding | International Bodyboarding Association (IBA) |
| Bodybuilding, physique sports, and fitness | World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Federation (WBPF) |
| Boot throwing | International Bootthrowing Association (IBTA) |
| Canadian five-pin bowling | Canadian 5 Pin Bowlers Association (C5PBA) |
| Bowls | Professional Bowls Association (PBA) |
| Bowls | World Bowls (WB) |
| Boxing | World Professional Boxing Federation (WPBF) |
| Broomball | International Federation of Broomball Associations (IFBA) |
| Cageball | Professional Cageball Association (PCA) |
| Correspondence chess | International Correspondence Chess Federation (ICCF) |
| Corporate football | International Federation of Corporate Football (FIFCO) |
| Cricket | International Cricket Council (ICC) |
| Croquet | World Croquet Federation (WCF) |
| Crossminton | International Crossminton Organisation (ICO) |
| Debating | World Debating Council (WDC) |
| Debating (in Spanish) | Consejo Mundial de Debate (COMUDEES) |
| eSports | International e-Sports Federation (IeSF), Global Esports Federation (GEF) |
| Elephant polo | World Elephant Polo Association (WEPF) |
| Floor tennis | World Floor Tennis Federation (WFTF) |
| Footvolley | International Footvolley Federation (FIFv),[26][27] European Footvolley League (EFVL)[28] |
| Futnet / Football Tennis | Union Internationale de Futnet (UNIF)[29] / Federation International de Footballtennis Association (FIFTA)[30] |
| Futsal | Asociación Mundial de Futsal (AMF) |
| Gaelic football | Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) |
| Gaelic handball | Irish Handball Council, United States Handball Association (USHA) |
| Gateball | World Gateball Union (WGU) |
| Gillidanda | Gilli Danda International Federation |
| Golf | The R&A; United States Golf Association (USGA) |
| Gorodki | International Federation of Gorodki Sport (IFGS) |
| Greyhound racing | American Greyhound Track Operators Association (AGTOA), National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) |
| Ground golf | International Ground Golf Federation (IGGF) |
| Gungdo | World Kung-do Federation |
| Ham radio contesting, amateur radio direction finding, and high speed telegraphy | International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) |
| Hapkido boxing | Hapkido Boxing International Organization (HBIO) |
| Harness horse racing | Harness Horsemen International (HHI), Union Europeenne du Trot (European Trotting Union) (UET) |
| Horseback archery | International Horseback Archery Alliance (IHAA) |
| Horse racing | International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) |
| Horseshoes | National Horseshoe Pitchers Association of America (NHPA) |
| Hurling | Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) |
| Intercrosse | Fédération Internationale d’Inter-Crosse (FIIC) |
| Jeu de paume and related ball games | International Ball game Confederation (CIJB) |
| Juggling | World Juggling Federation (WJF) |
| Kabaddi | International Kabaddi Federation (IKF) |
| Kendo | World Kendo Association |
| Kickboxing | International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) |
| Kin-Ball | International Kin-Ball Federation (IKBF) |
| Kite sports | International Federation of Kitesports Organisations (IFKO) |
| Krav maga | International Krav Maga Federation (IKMF) |
| Lethwei | World Lethwei Federation (WLF) |
| Mahjong | Mahjong International League (MIL), World Mahjong Organization (WMO) |
| Mallakhamb | Mallakhamb Confederation of World (MCW) |
| Mixed martial arts | International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF), International Sport Combat Federation (ISCF) |
| Modern Arnis | International Modern Arnis Federation (IMAF) |
| Mountain running | World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) |
| Mountainboarding | International Mountainboard Riders Association (IMRA) |
| Muay Thai | International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) |
| Obstacle sports (O-sport) | World O-Sport Federation (WOF) |
| Paddleball | National Paddleball Association (NPA) |
| Parkour | World Freerunning Parkour Federation (WFPF) |
| Pencak Silat | International Pencak Silat Federation (PERSILAT) |
| Pesäpallo (Finnish baseball) | Pesäpalloliitto |
| Pickleball | International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) |
| Pigeon racing | Royal Pigeon Racing Association (RPRA) |
| Pogo stick | World Pogo Stick Federation (WPSF) |
| Puzzle | World Puzzle Federation (WPF) |
| Quidditch | International Quidditch Association (IQA) |
| Quizzing | International Quizzing Association (IQA) |
| Racketlon | Fédération Internationale de Racketlon (International Racketlon Federation) (FIR) |
| Radio-controlled car racing | International Federation of Model Auto Racing (IFMAR) |
| Renju | Renju International Federation (RIF) |
| Ringball | International Ringball Federation (IRBF) |
| Ringette | International Ringette Federation (IRF) |
| Rogaining | International Rogaining Federation (IRF) |
| Rounders | National Rounders Association (NRA) |
| Rock-It-Ball | International Rock-It-Ball Federation (IRIBF) |
| Rope skipping | World Rope Skipping Confederation (WRSC), International Rope Skipping Federation (IRSF), World Inter-School Rope Skipping Organisation (WIRSO), International Rope Skipping Organisation (IRSO) |
| Rubik's Cube | World Cube Association (WCA) |
| Rugby fives | Rugby Fives Association (RFA) |
| Shinty | Camanachd Association |
| Shuttlecock | International Shuttlecock Federation |
| Silambam | World Silambam Association (WSA) |
| Skateboarding | World Skateboarding Federation (WSF); International Skateboarding Federation (ISF) |
| Skibobbing | International Skibob Federation (FISB) |
| Slot car racing | International Slot Racing Association (ISRA) |
| Sport jiu-jitsu | Sport Jiu Jitsu International Federation (SJJIF) |
| Sport stacking | World Sport Stacking Association (WSSA) |
| Ssireum | World Ssireum Federation (WSF) |
| Street and ball hockey | International Street And Ball Hockey Federation (ISBH) |
| Sqay | International Council of Sqay (ICS) |
| Table hockey | International Table Hockey Federation (ITHF) |
| Tag | World Chase Tag |
| Tank biathlon | International Federation of Tank Biathlon |
| Targetball | International Targetball Federation (ITF) |
| Tchoukball | Fédération Internationale de Tchoukball (FITB) |
| Tent pegging | International Tent Pegging Federation (ITPF) |
| Throwball | International Throwball Federation (ITF) |
| Touch football | Federation of International Touch (FIT) |
| Unicycling | International Unicycling Federation (IUF) |
| Virtual motorsport | Global Virtual Motorsport Association (GVMA) |
| Vovinam | International Vovinam Federation (IVF), Vovinam-VietVoDao World Federation (VVWF) |
| VX | Global VX[31] |
| Wheel gymnastics | International Wheel Gymnastics Federation |
| Xiangqi | World Xiangqi Federation (WXF) |
| Yoga | Yogasports Confederation of World (YCW) |
- Miscellaneous
See also
- Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF)
- Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF)
- Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF)
- International Olympic Committee (IOC)
- International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
- International Beach Games Federation (IBGF)
- International Council of Traditional Sports and Games (ICTSG)
- World School Games Federation (WSGF)
Notes and references
- "What are the conditions required for a sport to be recognised by the IOC?". International Olympic Committee. International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
- "ASOIF Statutes" (PDF). 9 June 2022. p. 12.
- "Members". ASOIF. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
- "About ASOIF". ASOIF. 26 March 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- Perelman, Rich (24 May 2020). "Who's in the money? EXCLUSIVE analysis of our survey of International Federation finances". The Sports Examiner. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
- "Ski Mountaineering". Milano Cortina 2026. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
- "Members - ARISF Association of IOC Recognised International Sport Federation". www.arisf.sport. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
- "High five: baseball5 hits the YOG". Olympics.com. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
- Recognised Sports of the International Olympic Committee International Olympic Committee official website. Retrieved 2 May 2008.
- International Federation for Chess. International Olympic Committee official website. Retrieved 2 May 2008.
- FIDE - Uniting the Chess World Archived 6 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine FIDE Official website. Retrieved 2 May 2008.
- Cricket edges closer to Olympic roster AFP. Retrieved on 13 February 2010.
- International Sports Federations, International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
- Contacts - International Sports Federations (IFs), International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
- "International Sport Federations". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- "The IPC to rebrand the 10 sports it acts as International Federation for" (Press release). International Paralympic Committee. 30 November 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
- "IPC transfers to FIS the governance of three Para snow sports". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- "IPC transfers governance of Para biathlon to IBU". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- PBWF/BWF gets IPC recognition, but Paralympics 2016 unfortunately without Parabadminton Archived 22 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Parabadminton World Federation (PBWF), 11 December 2010
- "Governance & Organisation". Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
- "Blind Football - Paralympic Athletes, Photos & Events". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- "Para judo - Paralympic Athletes, Photos & Events". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- "Home - VIRTUS". 25 December 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- "AIMS – Alliance of Independent Recognized Members of Sports". Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- "GAISF » Observers". Retrieved 26 October 2022.
- "FIFv page on instagram".
- CBFv and FIFv presentation to the Brazilian Parliament, April 2018.
- "About EFVL". European Footvolley League. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- "Union Internationale de Futnet (UNIF)". futnetworld.com (in Romanian). Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- "FIFTA - FEDERATION INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALLTENNIS ASSOCIATION". fifta.net. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- "GlobalVX". GLOBALVX. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
Further reading
- Cornelius, Steve; Cornelius, Danie. The Legal Status of International Sports Federations 2014 (1) Global Sports Law and Taxation Reports 6.
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