Global Association of International Sports Federations
 | |
| Abbreviation | GAISF |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1967 |
| Type | Sports organization |
| Headquarters | Lausanne, Switzerland |
Membership |
92 full members and 17 associate members. |
Official language | English, French |
President | Patrick Baumann |
| Website | GAIFS |
Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF; previously SportAccord) is 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] GAISF is an international sport organisation with 92 full members (international sports federations governing specific sports worldwide) and 17 associate members (organisations which conduct activities closely related to the international sports federations).[2]
GAISF Council
The council is composed of a president, two vice-presidents, a treasurer and five members.
| Designation | Name | Country | Sport Federation |
|---|---|---|---|
| President | Mr. Patrick Baumann |  | International Basketball Federation |
| Vice-President | Dr. Raffaele Chiulli |  | World Federation of Powerboating |
| Mr. Stephan Fox |   | International Federation of Muaythai Amateur | |
| Treasurer | Mrs. Marisol Casado |  | International Triathlon Union |
| Council Members | Mr. Gian-Franco Kasper | | International Ski Federation |
| Mr. Riccardo Fraccari | | World Baseball Softball Confederation | |
| Ms. Kate Caithness |   | World Curling Federation | |
| Mr. Nenad Lalović |  | United World Wrestling | |
| Mr. José Perurena López | | International Canoe Federation |
Mission and values
GAISF is the umbrella organisation for both Olympic and non-Olympic international sports federations, as well as organisers of international sporting events. In this role it provides expertise in, for example, anti-doping, integrity and social responsibility.[2]
By establishing multi-sports games that group together similar sports, GAISF aims to promote the members and the members' visibility.[2]
Definition of sport
GAISF has developed a definition of sport to determine whether an applicant federation qualifies as an international sports federation.
GAISF's definition of sport is the following definition:[3]
- The sport proposed should include an element of competition.
- The sport should not rely on any element of “luck” specifically integrated into the sport.
- The sport should not be judged to pose an undue risk to the health and safety of its athletes or participants.
- The sport proposed should in no way be harmful to any living creature.
- The sport should not rely on equipment that is provided by a single supplier.
GAISF uses five categories for its member federations' sports, many of which fall into more than one category:
- Primarily physical (e.g. Rugby union or athletics)
- Primarily mind (e.g. chess or go)
- Primarily motorised (e.g. Formula One or powerboating)
- Primarily coordination (e.g. billiards)
- Primarily animal-supported (e.g. equestrianism)
Membership
Member international federations can be either full or associate members of GAISF.[4]
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 Internationale (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. SportAccord adopted the motto "Unite & Support" with the aim to serve and promote its members. Its ambition is to provide high-quality services and expertise in areas that are of most importance to its members.
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 organization rebranded back to GAISF under its new president Patrick Baumann.[5]
1920s
As early as 1921, under the direction of Paul Rousseau, Secretary General of the “Union Cycliste Internationale”, 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.[6]
On May 25, 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.[7]
On May 31, 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.[8]
On April 20, 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, the ISSF, and World Archery withdrew from SportAccord in protest,[9] and there were a number of further withdrawals in May 2015, including the International Rowing Federation.[10]
At the 2017 convention in Aarhus, Federation Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU) and Federation of International Bandy (FIB) became full members[11] and Sportaccord was renamed GAISF.
Member federations
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Associate members
- Multi-sport events
- Commonwealth Games: Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF)
- Masters Games: International Masters Games Association (IMGA)
- Mediterranean Games: International Committee of Mediterranean Games (ICMG or CIJM)
- Military World Games: Conseil International du Sport Militaire (CISM)
- World Mind Sports Games: International Mind Sports Association (IMSA)
- Paralympic Games: International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
- School Sports: International School Sport Federation (ISF)
- Special Olympics: Special Olympics (SOI)
- Sports for the Deaf: International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (CISS)
- The World Games: International World Games Association (IWGA)
- Universiade: Federation Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU)
- CSIT World Sports Games: International Labour Sports Federation (CSIT)
- Other
- European broadcasting: European Broadcasting Union (EBU / UER)
- Panathlon: Panathlon International (PI)
- Sports chiropractic: Federation Internationale de Chiropratique du Sport (FICS)
- Sports facilities: International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS)
- Sports medicine: International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS)
List of GAISF presidents
| President | Member of | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| W Berge Phillips | FINA | 1967–1969 |
| Thomas Keller | FISA | 1969–1986 |
| Un Yong Kim | WTF | 1986–2004 |
| Hein Verbruggen | UCI | 2004–2013 |
| Marius Vizer | IJF | 2013–2015 |
| Gian-Franco Kasper (Acting President) | FIS | 2015–2016 |
| Patrick Baumann | FIBA | 2016–present |
Current organizational structure
| President | Vice president | Vice president | General director |
|---|---|---|---|
| Francesco Ricci Bitti | Raffaele Chiulli | Stephan Fox | Nis Hatt |
The SportAccord International Convention
Originally launched in 2003, SportAccord International Convention is a gathering of more than 2,500 leading representatives from the sports industry. It offers its participants an opportunity to come together on a global scale in order to network, build relationships, share knowledge and develop ideas that will benefit the entire community.[13]
Unlike any other event of its type, SportAccord International Convention is owned and endorsed by the sports movement itself. It was created and is owned by SportAccord, the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and the Association of International Olympic Winter Federations (AIOWF). Over the past decade, SportAccord International Convention has become one of the key fixtures on the worldwide sporting calendar. It allows associations and the international sports federations to increase efficiency by holding all their annual meetings at the same time and place. It also serves as a commercial platform at which the sports industry can have access to the world governing bodies of sport and their key decision-makers.[14]
| SAIC | Dates | Host City |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | May 12–16, 2003 | |
| 2nd | May 15–20, 2004 | |
| 3rd | April 16–20, 2005 | |
| 4th | April 3–7, 2006 |  |
| 5th | April 22–27, 2007 |  |
| 6th | June 2–6, 2008 |  |
| 7th | March 23–27, 2009[21][22] |  |
| 8th | April 20–25, 2010[25] |  |
| 9th | April 3–8, 2011[28] | |
| 10th | May 20–25, 2012[31] |  |
| 11th | May 26–31, 2013[34] |  |
| 12th | April 6–11, 2014[36] |  |
| 13th | April 19–24, 2015[38] | |
| 14th | April 17–22, 2016 | |
| 15th | April 2–7, 2017 |  |
| 16th | April 15–20, 2018 |  |
| 17th | May 5–10, 2019 | |
See also
- International Olympic Committee (IOC)
- Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF)
- Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF)
- Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF)
- International World Games Association (IWGA)
- List of international sport federations
- World Combat Games
- SportAccord World Mind Games
Notes and references
- ↑ "Members". SportAccord – International Federations' Union (sportaccord.com). 2013-07-19. Retrieved 2013-08-13.
- 1 2 3 4 "MISSION". Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ↑ "Definition of Sport". SportAccord. Archived December 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "Associate Membership". SportAccord. 2013-07-19. Retrieved 2013-08-13.
- ↑ "Welcome to the new GAISF website". GAISF. Retrieved 2017-09-18.
- ↑ "History of SportAccord". SportAccord. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
- ↑ "Federation of International Lacrosse and International Mind Sports Association are new SportAccord Members". SportAccord. 25 May 2012.
- ↑ "International Cheer Union and Federation Internationale de l'Automobile are new SportAccord Members". SportAccord. 31 May 2013.
- ↑ Livingstone, Robert. "SportAccord Counts Its Losses After Chief's Attack on Olympics Backfires". GamesBids.com. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
- ↑ "World Rowing resigns from SportAccord". insidethegames. 20 May 2015.
- ↑ SportAccord changes name to Global Association of International Sports Federations
- 1 2 3 The IAAF, ISSF and World Archery Federation withdrew from SportAccord on April 20, 2015.
- ↑ Convention History[?]. SportAccord Convention.
- ↑ "SportAccord International Convention". Retrieved 2011-09-16.
- ↑ "Lausanne To Host 2004 SportAccord Convention" (PDF). SportAccord. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ↑ "The World Meets In Seoul" (PDF). Around the Rings. April 2006. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ↑ "Countdown to Beijing" (PDF). Around the Rings. April 2007. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ↑ "Athens hosted the most successful edition of SportAccord". Athens Convention Bureau (English). Archived from the original on 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
- ↑ "SportAccord 2008 tightens focus on cities". Sport Business. Archived from the original on 2012-03-25. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ↑ "Athens Hosts Sixth Edition of SportAccord" (PDF). Around the Rings. June 2008. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ↑ "Sportaccord 2009 Kicks Off in Denver". Around the Rings. March 23, 2009. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ↑ "Denver Global Program (in .pdf)" (PDF). SportAccord. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ↑ "Denver is first North American city to host SportAccord conference". Metro Denver. Archived from the original on 2011-08-24. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
- ↑ "Around the Rings Special Edition - SportAccord Denver" (PDF). Around the Rings. March 2009. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ↑ "Dubai Global Program (in .pdf)" (PDF). SportAccord. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ↑ "Dubai to host SportAccord in 2010". Sport Business. Archived from the original on 2012-03-25. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ↑ "Around the Rings Special Edition - Dubai" (PDF). Around the Rings. April 2010. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ↑ "Registration opens for 2011 SportAccord Convention in London". london.gov.uk. October 4, 2010. Archived from the original on May 1, 2012. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ↑ "London To Host SportAccord Convention". London Press Service. Archived from the original on 2011-06-11. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
- ↑ "Around the Rings SportAccord Special Edition" (PDF). Around the Rings. April 2011. Retrieved 2012-03-25.
- ↑ "SportAccord Convention Selects Iconic Quebec Hotel". Around the Rings. June 22, 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ↑ "SportAccord Convention 2012 Awarded to Québec City". Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
- ↑ "The ATR SportAccord 2012 Special Edition". Around the Rings. May 21, 2012. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
- ↑ "Saint Petersburg to host 2013 SportAccord Convention". Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ↑ Around the Rings Special Edition about 2013 SportAccord Convention
- ↑ "SportAccord convention 2013 draws record attendance". Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ↑ "Conferences Convention - SportAccord 2014 to Turkey". Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ↑ "Dates for 2015 SportAccord International Convention in Sochi announced". Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ↑ "Sochi to host 2015 SportAccord International Convention". Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ↑ "Where Sports Meet". Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- ↑ "SportAccord Convention 2017 awarded to Aarhus in Denmark". Retrieved 2016-04-19.
- ↑ "Bangkok awarded 2018 SportAccord Convention". Retrieved 2017-04-04.
- ↑ "Gold Coast to host 2019 SportAccord Summit". Retrieved 2018-09-06.