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What is GAISF?

GAISF is the Global Association of International Sports Federations, an umbrella body composed of autonomous and independent International Sports Federations and other international sport and event related organisations.

Founded in 1967, GAISF is a key pillar of the wider sports movement and acts as the voice for its 128 Members, Associate Members and observers, which include both Olympic and non-Olympic sports organisations.

GAISF Vision

GAISF’s vision is to be “The united voice of sports, protecting the interests of International Federations.” This vision encapsulates GAISF’s multi-faceted role; from supporting its Member federations climb the ‘pyramid’ of Olympic sport, to creating IF-focused services and events for the benefit of our Members.

GAISF is as equally committed to helping its Members promote sport at every level and in every corner of the world, from grassroots to elite level competition, wherever its Members have national organisations and events.

GAISF Mission

The Mission of GAISF is to serve, represent, promote and protect the common interests of our Members and to help them achieve their global objectives.

In particular, the objectives of GAISF are to facilitate and promote knowledge sharing between its Members; to support the organisation of SportAccord and IF Forum; to develop specific services for its Members in unique areas; and to organise and coordinate multi-sports events.

GAISF is uniquely placed within the sports landscape to provide knowledge sharing and best practice across all critical areas of sports governance, as well as help International Federations develop their sport. GAISF represents the collective interests of Members at key sports institutions and sports gatherings and creates multi-sport platforms to generate opportunity, profile and revenue for Members. As part of its services to Members, GAISF also acts as official sanctioning body for International Federations in the global sports movement.

GAISF Members, Associate Members and Observers

GAISF Members are divided into four groups which represents the pyramid of Olympic sport: The Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and the Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF), for those IFs that are on the Olympic summer and winter programmes respectively. The Association of Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF) include IFs that are recognised by the IOC but not on the Olympic Programme, and the Alliance of Independent recognised Members of Sport (AIMS) is for those sports within GAISF that are not yet in any of the three previous groupings.

GAISF’s Associate Members bring together all associated members which are sport-related organisations that organise events or support sport in various capacities, while observer status is granted to small or developing IFs as an opportunity to connect and learn from their more experienced organisations.

More information on our Members, Associate Members and observers can be found here: https://gaisf.sport/members/