Global Association of International Sports Federations explained

Global Association of International Sports Federations
Abbreviation:GAISF
Type:Sports organization
Formation:1967
Dissolved:September 14, 2023
Headquarters:Lausanne, Switzerland
Membership:97 full members and
20 associate members.
Leader Title:President
Leader Name:Ivo Ferriani
Language:English, French

Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) was the umbrella organisation for all (Olympic and non-Olympic) international sports federations as well as organisers of multi-sports games and sport-related international associations.[1] [2] It changed its name to SportAccord from March 2009 to April 2017, when it reverted to its GAISF. It was an international sport organisation with 95 full members (international sports federations governing specific sports worldwide) and 20 associate members (organisations which conduct activities closely related to the international sports federations).[2]

In November 2022, the members of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) voted to dissolve the organisation.[3] [4]

The revised governance structure will see the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF) and the Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport (AIMS) join the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and the Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF) as the four main stakeholders of SportAccord.[5]

Members of the GAISF approved the final steps in the liquidation of the organisation at an extraordinary general assembly held on 14 September 2023.[6]

GAISF Council

The council was composed of a president, two vice-presidents, a treasurer and five members.

The council's final composition was:

Designation Name Country Sport Federation
President International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation
Vice-PresidentStephan Fox/International Federation of Muaythai Amateur
Treasurer World Baseball Softball Confederation
Council Members International Triathlon Union
/ World Curling Federation
International Powerboating Federation
United World Wrestling
International Equestrian Federation

Function

GAISF was the umbrella organisation for both Olympic and non-Olympic international sports federations, as well as organisers of international sporting events. In this role it provided expertise in, for example, anti-doping, integrity and social responsibility.By establishing multi-sports games that group together similar sports, GAISF aimed to promote the members and the members' visibility.[7]

Membership

Member international federations could be either full or associate members of GAISF.[8]

History

GAISF is deeply rooted in the sports movement. As early as 1921, international sports federations (IFs) expressed the need for a representative of their common objectives and interests. Under the direction of Paul Rousseau, Secretary General of the Union Cycliste International (UCI), a permanent bureau of the IFs was established to facilitate dialogue with the Olympic authorities.

In 1967, 26 international sports federations met in Lausanne, agreed on the need to increase permanent liaisons, and adopted the name, “General Assembly of International Sports Federations”. In order to establish a more formalised organisation, the “General Association of International Sports Federations" (GAISF) was formed in 1976, and the headquarters were moved to Monaco two years later.

The new millennium brought important changes to the organisation. Reacting to the increasing pressure on IFs to professionalise and develop, GAISF, in collaboration with the Associations of Summer and Winter Olympic International Federations (ASOIF and AIOWF), launched the first SportAccord International Convention in 2003. This new format “by sport for sport” allowed IFs and sports business to get together, share knowledge and network.

In March 2009, GAISF was rebranded SportAccord and, in the same year, its offices moved from Monaco to Lausanne, the Olympic capital.

In April 2017, following the former president Marius Vizer's controversial attack against IOC president Thomas Bach during the opening SportAccord's 2015 convention in Sochi and his subsequent resignation, the organisation rebranded back to GAISF under its new president Patrick Baumann.[9]

In May 2019, Raffaele Chiulli was unanimously elected as GAISF President in Gold Coast, Australia

1920s

As early as 1921, under the direction of Paul Rousseau, Secretary General of the “Union Cycliste International”, a permanent bureau of the international sports federations (IFs) was created. With regular IFs/IOC meetings taking place, dialogue with the Olympic authorities became easier. However, organisations that were not part of the Olympic movement were excluded.

1960s

In the 1960s, the sports movement evolved rapidly. Roger Coulon, President of the “Fédération Internationale de Lutte Amateur”, was the first to express the need for a wider recognition of the role of IFs. For non-Olympic federations, a forum that would enable them to better express their points of view was necessary. The creation of a stable organisation ensuring permanent relations between IFs appeared to be the logical continuation of their meetings, which had taken place frequently but without rules or a fixed organisation. The common preparation of these meetings with the IOC could thus be better supported. It also permitted a constant liaison between the IFs and the general population. In 1966, the time seemed appropriate, and the conversion to the newly constituted Assembly was launched.

1967

On 21–23 April 1967, delegates from the following 26 international sports federations met in Lausanne in the Hotel Continental: Aeronautics, Rowing, Basketball, Bobsleigh, Boules, Canoeing, Cycling, Equestrian, Fencing, Gymnastics, Handball, Hockey, Ice Hockey, Judo, Luge, Wrestling, Motorcycling, Swimming, Modern Pentathlon, Roller Skating, Skiing, Shooting, Volleyball, Weightlifting, University Sport, and Maccabi.

The delegates agreed on the necessity to establish permanent liaisons between the IFs for the defence of their objectives and common goals, the preservation of their autonomy, and constant exchange of information. The name “General Assembly of International Sports Federations” was adopted.

In 1976, this name was replaced by “General Association of International Sports Federations” (GAISF). In 1978, the office moved from Lausanne to Monaco. GAISF represented the extension of the past meetings of the IFs, dealing not only with Olympic matters, but also with all questions of common interest for the IFs.

2000s

In 2003, in collaboration with ASOIF and AIOWF, GAISF launched the first SportAccord Convention to answer a need of the IFs, which were looking for a “one-stop shop” where they could hold their annual meetings, be encouraged to network and share their knowledge.

In March 2009, GAISF was rebranded SportAccord at the meeting of the 7th SportAccord International Convention in Denver. In April 2009, it moved its main office from Monaco to Maison du Sport International in Lausanne, Switzerland.[10]

On 25 May 2012, the last of eight days of the annual General Assembly of SportAccord in Quebec City, the Federation of International Lacrosse and the International Mind Sports Association were accepted, bringing the number of SportAccord members to 107.[11]

On 31 May 2013, the last of eight days of the annual General Assembly of SportAccord in Saint Petersburg, the International Cheer Union and the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile were voted into SportAccord.[12]

On 20 April 2015, at SportAccord's 2015 convention in Sochi, SportAccord president Marius Vizer made a speech that was sharply critical of the IOC and its president, Thomas Bach. Following the speech, the IAAF (now known as World Athletics), the ISSF, and World Archery withdrew from SportAccord in protest,[13] and there were a number of further withdrawals in May 2015, including the International Rowing Federation.[14]

At the 2017 convention in Aarhus, Federation Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU) and Federation of International Bandy (FIB) became full members[15] and SportAccord was renamed GAISF.

By the end of 2018, The World ArmWrestling Federation (WAF) was the new addition to the GAISF Full Member List along with 4 Associate Members – World Olympics Association, International Sports Press Association, World Union of Olympic Cities and World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry

Member federations at time of dissolution

SportLogoOrganisationAcronymFoundedMembership
ASOIF[16] [17] [18] AIOWFARISF[19] AIMS
1 AikidoInternational Aikido FederationIAF 1976
2Air sports Fédération Aéronautique InternationaleFAI 1905
3American footballInternational Federation of American FootballIFAF 1998
4AquaticsWorld AquaticsFINA 1908
5Archery[20] World Archery FederationWA 1931
6ArmwrestlingWorld Armwrestling FederationWAF 1977
7Athletics World AthleticsIAAF 1912
8Automobile racingFédération Internationale de l'AutomobileFIA 1904
9BadmintonBadminton World FederationBWF 1934
10BandyFederation of International BandyFIB 1955
11Baseball and softballWorld Baseball Softball ConfederationWBSC 2013Associate member
12BasketballFederation Internationale de BasketballFIBA 1932
13Basque pelotaFederación Internacional de Pelota VascaFIPV 1929
14BiathlonInternational Biathlon UnionIBU 1993
15Billiard sportsWorld Confederation of Billiards SportsWCBS 1992
16BobsleighInternational Bobsleigh and Skeleton FederationIBSF1923
17BodybuildingInternational Federation of Bodybuilding & FitnessIFBB1946
18BoulesConfédération Mondiale des Sports de BoulesCMSB1985
19BowlingInternational Bowling FederationIBF1952
20BoxingInternational Boxing AssociationIBA1946
21BridgeWorld Bridge FederationWBF1958
22CanoeingInternational Canoe FederationICF1946
23CastingInternational Casting Sport FederationICSF1955
24CheerInternational Cheer UnionICU2004
25ChessInternational Chess FederationFIDE1924
26Climbing & MountaineeringUnion Internationale des Associations d'AlpinismeUIAA1932
27CricketInternational Cricket CouncilICC1909
28CurlingWorld Curling FederationWCF1966
29Cycle SportUnion Cycliste InternationaleUCI1900
30DanceSportWorld DanceSport FederationWDSF1957 text-align:center;" Associate Member
31DartsWorld Darts FederationWDF1974
32Dragon BoatInternational Dragon Boat FederationIDBF1991
33DraughtsFédération Mondiale du Jeu de DamesFMJD1947
34Equestrian sportsFédération Équestre InternationaleFEI1921
35FencingFédération Internationale d'EscrimeFIE1913
36FistballInternational Fistball AssociationIFA1960
37FloorballInternational Floorball FederationIFF1986
38Flying discWorld Flying Disc FederationWFDF1985
39FootballFédération Internationale de Football AssociationFIFA1904
40GoInternational Go FederationIGF1982
41GolfInternational Golf FederationIGF 1958
42Gymnastics Federation Internationale de GymnastiqueFIG 1881
43HandballInternational Handball FederationIHF1946
44Field hockeyInternational Hockey FederationFIH1924
45Ice hockeyInternational Ice Hockey FederationIIHF1908
46Ice stock sportInternational Federation IcestocksportIFI1975
47JudoInternational Judo FederationIJF1951
48Ju-JitsuJu-Jitsu International FederationJJIF1977
49KarateWorld Karate FederationWKF1970
50KendoInternational Kendo FederationFIK1970
51KickboxingWorld Association of Kickboxing OrganisationsWAKO 1976
52KorfballInternational Korfball FederationIKF 1963
53LacrosseWorld LacrosseWL 2008
54LifesavingInternational Life Saving FederationILS 1993
55LugeFédération Internationale de Luge de CourseFIL 1957
56MinigolfWorld Minigolf Sport FederationWMF 1963
57Modern pentathlonUnion Internationale de Pentathlon ModerneUIPM 1912
58Motorcycle racingFédération Internationale de MotocyclismeFIM 1904
59MuaythaiInternational Federation of Muaythai AmateurIFMA 1993
60NetballInternational Federation of Netball AssociationsIFNA 1960
61OrienteeringInternational Orienteering FederationIOF 1961
62PoloFederation of International PoloFIP 1983
63PowerboatingUnion Internationale MotonautiqueUIM 1927
64PowerliftingInternational Powerlifting FederationIPF1971
65 Practical shootingInternational Practical Shooting ConfederationIPSC 1976
66RacquetballInternational Racquetball FederationIRF 1950
67Roller sportsWorld SkateFIRS1924
68RowingWorld RowingFISA1892
69Rugby unionWorld RugbyWR1886
70SailingWorld SailingWS1907
71SamboFédération Internationale de SamboFIAS1992
72SavateFederation Internationale de SavateFISav1992
73SepaktakrawInternational Sepaktakraw FederationISTAF 1988
74Shooting sportInternational Shooting Sport FederationISSF1907
75SkatingInternational Skating UnionISU 1892
76SkiingFédération Internationale de SkiFIS 1924
77Ski mountaineeringInternational Ski Mountaineering FederationISMF 2008 Associate Member
78SleddogInternational Federation of Sleddog SportsIFSS 1992
79Soft tennisInternational Soft Tennis FederationISTF 1999
80Sport climbingInternational Federation of Sport ClimbingIFSC 2007
81Sports fishingConfédération Internationale de la Pêche SportiveCIPS 1952
82SquashWorld Squash FederationWSF 1967
83SumoInternational Sumo FederationIFS1992
84SurfingInternational Surfing AssociationISASurf 1964
85Table tennisInternational Table Tennis FederationITTF1926
86TaekwondoWorld TaekwondoWT1973
87TennisInternational Tennis FederationITF1913
88TeqballInternational Federation of TeqballFITEQ2017
89TriathlonInternational Triathlon UnionITU1989
90Tug of warTug of War International FederationTWIF 1960
91Underwater sportsConfédération Mondiale des Activités SubaquatiquesCMAS 1959
92University SportsFédération Internationale du Sport UniversitaireFISU 1949
93VolleyballFédération Internationale de VolleyballFIVB 1947
94WaterskiingInternational Waterski & Wakeboard FederationIWWF1955
95WeightliftingInternational Weightlifting FederationIWF 1905
96WrestlingUnited World WrestlingUWW 1912
97WushuInternational Wushu FederationIWUF1990
31+27+13920

Associate members at time of dissolution

Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF)

International Masters Games Association (IMGA)

International Committee of Mediterranean Games (ICMG or CIJM)

Conseil International du Sport Militaire (CISM)

International Mind Sports Association (IMSA)

International Paralympic Committee (IPC)

International School Sport Federation (ISF)

Special Olympics (SOI)

International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (CISS)

International World Games Association (IWGA)

International Workers and Amateurs in Sports Confederation (CSIT)

Other members were:

Panathlon International (PI)

Federation Internationale de Chiropratique du Sport (FICS)

International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS)

International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS)

International Sports Press Association (AIPS)

World Union of Olympic Cities

Observers at time of dissolution

The GAISF Observer Status could be requested by the Applicants to GAISF Membership that were interested to obtain support and guidance in their path to fulfil the GAISF Membership Criteria.

SportOrganisationAcronym
DodgeballWDA
FootgolfFederation for International FootGolfFIFG
Jump ropeInternational Jump Rope UnionIJRU
Kettlebell liftingInternational Union of Kettlebell LiftingIUKL
Obstacle racingWorld ObstacleFISO
PadelInternational Padel FederationIPF
PokerInternational Federation of Match PokerIFP
Pole danceInternational Pole Sports FederationIPSF
RaftingInternational Rafting FederationIRF
Rugby leagueRugby League International FederationIRL
Table football/soccerInternational Table Soccer FederationITSF

List of GAISF presidents

PresidentMember ofDuration
William Berge PhillipsFINA1967–1969
Thomas KellerFISA1969–1986
Un Yong KimWTF1986–2004
Hein VerbruggenUCI2004–2013
Marius VizerIJF2013–2015
Gian-Franco KasperFIS2015–2016
Patrick BaumannFIBA2016–2018
Raffaele ChiulliUIM2018–2021
Ivo FerrianiIBSF2021–2023

SportAccord Convention

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Members . SportAccord – International Federations' Union . 19 July 2013 . 13 August 2013 . 19 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220119041947/http://www.gaisf.sport/members . live .
  2. Web site: GAISF. Mission and Vision. 2021-07-21. 18 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211218135556/https://gaisf.sport/mission-and-vision/. live.
  3. Web site: GAISF . Members approve dissolution of GAISF at Extraordinary General Assembly . 2023-01-30 . 27 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230127163143/https://gaisf.sport/members-approve-dissolution-of-gaisf-at-extraordinary-general-assembly/ . live .
  4. Web site: GAISF . Dissolution of GAISF approved at Extraordinary General Assembly, record attendance of members, next steps clarified . 2023-01-30 . 30 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230130015102/https://gaisf.sport/dissolution-of-gaisf-approved-at-extraordinary-general-assembly-record-attendance-of-members-next-steps-clarified/ . live .
  5. Web site: GAISF . Ivo Ferriani: The global sports community has secured its future for 2023 and beyond . 2023-01-30 . 27 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230127163038/https://gaisf.sport/ivo-ferriani-the-global-sports-community-has-secured-its-future-for-2023-and-beyond/ . live .
  6. Web site: GAISF . Extraordinary General Assembly approves the final liquidation of GAISF . 2023-09-15 . 26 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926012307/https://gaisf.sport/extraordinary-general-assembly-approves-the-final-liquidation-of-gaisf/ . live .
  7. Web site: Mission and Vision . 12 June 2019 . 14 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190414213924/https://gaisf.sport/mission-and-vision/ . live .
  8. http://www.gaisf.sport/members "Associate Membership"
  9. Web site: Welcome to the new GAISF website . GAISF . 18 September 2017 . 17 October 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171017042703/https://gaisf.org/welcome-to-the-new-gaisf-website/ . live .
  10. Web site: History of SportAccord . SportAccord . 6 October 2009 . 5 October 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121005094629/http://sportaccord.com/en/who-we-are/history/ . live .
  11. Web site: Federation of International Lacrosse and International Mind Sports Association are new SportAccord Members. SportAccord. 25 May 2012. 11 November 2014. 17 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141217173753/http://www.sportaccord.com/en/news/federation-of-international-lacrosse-and-international-mind-sports-association-are-new-sportaccord-members-0-16179. live.
  12. Web site: International Cheer Union and Federation Internationale de l'Automobile are new SportAccord Members. SportAccord. 31 May 2013. 1 June 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130615185403/http://www.sportaccord.com/en/news/international-cheer-union-and-federation-internationale-de-lautomobile-are-new-sportaccord-members-0-17034. 15 June 2013. dead.
  13. Web site: Livingstone. Robert. SportAccord Counts Its Losses After Chief's Attack on Olympics Backfires. GamesBids.com. 20 April 2015. 20 April 2015. 24 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150424003319/http://gamesbids.com/eng/other-news/sportaccord-counts-its-losses-after-chiefs-attack-on-olympics-backfires/. live.
  14. Web site: World Rowing resigns from SportAccord. insidethegames. 20 May 2015. 20 May 2015. 24 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150524041043/http://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1027447/world-rowing-resigns-from-sportaccord. live.
  15. Web site: SportAccord changes name to Global Association of International Sports Federations . 9 April 2017 . 9 April 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170409201626/http://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1049005/sportaccord-changes-name-to-global-association-of-international-sports-federations . live .
  16. Web site: Members . 2022-10-26 . ASOIF . en . 14 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210514000448/https://www.asoif.com/members . live .
  17. Web site: 9 June 2022 . ASOIF Statutes . 12 . 26 October 2022 . 26 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221026054742/https://www.asoif.com/sites/default/files/download/asoif_statutes_2022.pdf . live .
  18. Web site: 2016-04-27 . Organisational Structure . 2023-06-12 . ASOIF . en . 12 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230612093733/https://www.asoif.com/organisational-structure . live .
  19. Web site: Members - ARISF Association of IOC Recognised International Sport Federation . 2022-10-26 . www.arisf.sport . 22 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210122114531/https://www.arisf.sport/members.aspx . dead .
  20. The IAAF, ISSF and World Archery Federation withdrew from SportAccord on 20 April 2015.