Sporting for All – Bringing sports to everyone

UTS WVYF 2020 MEDALS AND CERTIFICATES A new year has begun and although the challenges of 2020 are not yet over, it was a year of unique experiences and learning processes. We were reminded that together we can find answers and solutions to keep moving forward. Our solidarity and positive reaction to the challenges we have faced has brought us closer together and stronger than ever. 2021 has begun with the planet being far more interconnected as we try to overcome adversity. The online world has seen borders vanish as we all witnessed with the first ever UTS World Virtual Youth Festival 2020. Innovation now has a place to thrive and it is our responsibility to nurture and encourage better as our children look to us for support. How have we responded to the COVID pandemic? What have we learnt? Many people around the world have struggled to cope for so many reasons and are still struggling with the complexity of keeping active and engaged in sports. A consequence of restrictions for sport and training as well as isolation waves has affected mental health, and this is one of the reasons why the festival was such a success. With all […]

SPORT FOR REFUGEES COALITION: FROM PLEDGES TO ACTIONS At the first ever Global Refugee Forum last year, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF), in close collaboration with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), announced the creation of an unprecedented global initiative: a Sport Coalition committed to building a better world for refugees through sport. As the Coalition celebrates its one-year anniversary – and UNHCR its landmark 70th anniversary – we look at some of the concrete projects that were brought to fruition in 2020 through the Coalition.   Consisting of over 80 partners – from governments to National Olympic Committees, International Sports Federations (IFs), clubs, associations and civil society organisations – the Sport for Refugees Coalition made three important pledges to promote and ensure equal access for all refugees to: safe and inclusive sporting facilities; organised sport and sports-based initiatives; and participation in sporting events and competitions at all levels. Despite the many challenges faced in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Coalition members have transformed these pledges into concrete and impactful actions that have brought the many benefits of sport to a large number of refugees and displaced and host community members throughout the year. REFUGEE ATHLETE […]

DEATH OF WALTHER TRÖGER, IOC HONORARY MEMBER IT IS WITH GREAT SADNESS THAT THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (IOC) HAS LEARNT OF THE DEATH OF WALTHER TRÖGER, IOC HONORARY MEMBER, AT THE AGE OF 91. In addition to his invaluable contribution to the Olympic Movement internationally, Mr Tröger’s remarkable career as a sports administrator was marked by his successful commitment to shaping sport in Germany for several decades. Holding a degree in law from the University of Erlangen, he started in 1953 as Secretary General of the German Student Sports Association, before joining the German Sports Confederation (1961-1970) and the National Olympic Committee (NOC), where he served as Secretary General between 1970 and 1992, and as President for 10 years until 2002. During those years, Mr Tröger also served as 1st Vice-President of the German Basketball Federation (1976-2006) and as a member of the FIBA Sports Commission (1964-1994). He was also a member of the Executive Board, then Deputy Chairman of the German Sports Aid Foundation (1992-2002) and Chairman of the German Sports and Olympic Museum and of the Board of Directors of the Willi Daume Foundation. Mr Tröger’s achievements were not limited to Germany alone. An avid sports fan – he […]

GAISF PRESIDENT MARKS 200 DAYS TO GO TO TOKYO 2020, LOOKS AHEAD TO A SUMMER OF GLOBAL SPORT The global sports community and athletes across the globe today mark 200 days to go to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Thanks to the world’s scientists and medical experts, we begin 2021 with fresh optimism as we look forward to a festival of sport that is set to be a global celebration of humanity. In 2021, the best athletes of the world are set to take the stage at the Olympic and Paralympic Games and at the FISU World University Games. Between them, they will be counted in the tens of thousands, across dozens of sports. It is a daunting task, but one that we at GAISF will do all we can to help our Members make a successful contribution. 2020 presented a huge challenge for global sport. But the community’s resilience and positive reaction to adversity has no doubt allowed us to emerge stronger than ever. Indeed, this unshakeable determination and passion will continue to inspire the efforts in Japan during the coming 200 days to Tokyo 2020. GAISF extends its best wishes to the IOC, to the organising committee and […]

The AIMS Family we wish you and your loved ones health and happiness today and everyday. May we grow stronger and continue to be united as one spirit, with one heart towards a better future. 2020 has been a challenging year for us all, may 2021 bring back better!

LAUSANNE, Switzerland – The Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) Council met via video conference on Wednesday, 16 December 2020 for a GAISF Extraordinary Council Meeting chaired by President, Dr. Raffaele Chiulli. As previously communicated, the current Director, Philippe Gueisbuhler decided to pursue an opportunity outside of the organisation with the International Ski Federation (FIS) commencing 1 January 2021. Following the Extraordinary Council Meeting, President Chiulli said: “It is truly a pleasure to announce today that in view of ensuring the continuity of GAISF administrative action, SportAccord, Managing Director, Mr. Nis Hatt, was unanimously endorsed as interim Manager of GAISF.” President Chiulli went on to say: “I have the utmost confidence and trust in Mr. Hatt’s ability to oversee the operations of GAISF as he has a thorough and intrinsic understanding of the GAISF organisation and its relationship with its Members.” Mr. Hatt will start his interim role effective immediately.

Today AIMS is sharing panels 4-6 from the UTS World Virtual Youth Festival. We hope you them!! PANEL 4 “MILLENNIALS FOR THE FUTURE” Guest Scene Setter: Chutinant “Nick” Bhirombhakdi, President, Paralympic Committee Thailand Panelists Miki Matheson, IPC Champion Kiera Byland, SOI Champion Mitch Gleeson, Australian Captain Gold Coast Titans PANEL 5 “SAFE-GUARDING YOUTH & PREVENTION OF HARASSMENT & ABUSE” Guest Scene Setter: Alexander Schischlik, UNESCO Chief of Youth & Sport Panelists Colin Higgs, Professor Memorial University Kim Encel, Sports Programming Specialist, UNESCO Lerina Bright, Founder, Mission 89 Sarah Stevenson, Centre for Sport and Human Rights PANEL 6 “FAIR PLAY IN SPORT” Guest Scene Setter: Witold Banka, President, World Anti-Doping Agency Panelists Kady Kanoute Tounkara, OLY, WADA Education Committee Member Chantal Brunner, OLY, ITA Board Member Danka Barteková, Athletes’ Commission Vice Chair, IOC Chelsey Gotell, IPC Athletes’ Council Chairperson & WADA Athlete Committee Member Meechai Inwood, DCAT Director General, SAT  

AIMS PRESIDENT SPEAKS AT EDBF FORUM The AIMS President was honored to speak at the EDBF 2020 Forum themed: How Dragon Boating Can Emerge STRONGER from the COVID-19 Crisis. This important forum was organized by the EDBF under the energetic President, Claudio Schermi. Many important speakers participated and the Keynotes Address were delivered by: Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, President of SportAccord and GAISF Stephan Fox, President of Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport Mike Thomas, President of International Dragon Boat Federation Mike Haslam, President of Honour of International Dragon Boat Federation AIMS very much congratulates IDBF on all their activities and EDBF for organizing this important forum.

THE WORLD GAMES SPORTS CONFIRMED FOR PARIS 2024 SUMMER OLYMPICS Breaking, a modern DanceSport discipline with youth appeal, has been confirmed as part of the final line-up for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Breaking will join Surfing, Skateboarding and Sport Climbing, which will be in the programme for the second time after debuting at the Tokyo Games to be held in 2021. This will be the first time for Breaking in the Summer Olympic Games. Before that, the discipline will make its debut at The World Games 2022 in Birmingham, Alabama. “With this programme, we are making the Olympic Games Paris 2024 fit for the post-corona world. We are further reducing the cost and complexity of hosting the Games. While we will achieve gender equality already at the upcoming Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, we will see for the first time in Olympic history the participation of the exact same number of female athletes as male athletes. There is also a strong focus on youth,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. To see Breaking in action, check out the video of The World Games Athlete of October 2020, b-boy Sergey Chernyshev, a.k.a Bumblebee.

His Royal Highness Prince HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal President of the Saudi Olympic Committee chaired this year’s edition of the Olympic Conference for the G20 countries, which was organised in partnership with the secretariat of G20 and the Saudi Olympic Committee. The theme of the important conference, which was held on the sidelines of the G20 was The Olympic Movement During and After the Covd19 pandemic. IOC President Thomas Bach congratulated the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for once again prioritising the importance of using the power of sport to change lives for better. His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz stated that now more than ever the world needs sports to reconnect, recover and sustain. AIMS and United Through Sports President Stephan Fox stated that we are living in a time where it is vital to strive for solidarity and unity and must promote inclusion, equality and nondiscrimination. These are the key themes of the United Through Sports World Virtual Youth Festival for the youth of all abilities under the patronage of IOC, SOI and IPC. President Fox thanked the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their commitment to sport and the youth. There were many more speakers from organisations […]

Youth from the five continents were united as one spirit with one heart for the UTS World Virtual Youth Festival 2020. Since the first UTS Festival in 2018, each event has focused on placing youth at the centre. This essential aspect of the UTS Festival concept ensures that youth of all abilities have an equal opportunity. The spectacular five-day Youth Festival has come to an end. Over the last 3 months, youth from around the world have prepared and been excited by the prospect of such a unique and all-inclusive event. We are all experiencing challenging times with the current pandemic and this event has brought the youth of the world back together, connected on one virtual platform. The finalists for the Aero Fit, Max Fit and Talent competitions have been announced and will take to the virtual podium on the 19 December during the worldwide virtual : Leaving a Legacy Behind Event Let us first congratulate all the winners of the International Paralympic and Special Olympic competitions. You are absolutely amazing, inspiring and we are looking forward to seeing you all 19 December. To all the UTS Youth Ambassadors, thank you for your inspiring messages, you made us smile, ponder […]

The UTS World Virtual Youth Festival 2020 made a decision to adjust the announcement of all finalists for the 19 December. On behalf of UTS we would like to thank all the youth from around the world who have participated in the competitions, workshops, and the opening ceremony. There has been an overwhelming number of incredible entries for the talent shows, exceeding all expectations. Therefore, we would like to announce that we have decided to make the winning  announcements on the 19 December. To be fair and equal to all competitors, we have decided to announce all finalists on this date. At the UTS Closing Ceremony tomorrow, we will  announce all Talent finalists and they will be posted on the UTS Website. UTS will organise a virtual gala night on the 19 December where all talent winners will be announced, and all medal ceremonies will take place. Special awards will be given to the most inspiring youth ambassadors and outstanding  organisations.

United Through Sports 2020 World Conference The opening ceremony of the 2020 United Through Sports World Virtual Youth Festival has been applauded by many for the innovative initiative to give opportunity for youth and to promote inclusion, equality, non-discrimination and peace promotion While the youth already started competing in the different events under the patronage of the IOC, IPC, and SOI, the world conference was opened by the Minister of Tourism and Sport of Thailand. He thanked United Through Sports for hosting this event from Thailand to the world, he further thanked all the participating organisations and the youth. A wide range of speakers gave their view on many important topics and importantly sent a united message to and for the youth of the world under the “One spirit one heart” slogan. Over the next days 8 different panels will be hosted discussing important topics from: Inclusivity and Non-discrimination in Sport, Sport Towards Peace Promotion, Sport as a Human Right, Millennials for The Future, Safeguarding of The Youth, Fair Play in Sport, Athletes United and Sport Leaders United. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Tourism and Sports Mohammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize Winner Ban Ki-Moon, 8th UN Secretary General Prince Albert II […]

                          UTS WORLD VIRTUAL YOUTH FESTIVAL 2020 EVENT PROGRAM 18-22 NOVEMBER The first ever world virtual youth festival 2020 will take place on the virtual stage from Wednesday 18 November 2020 until Sunday 222 November, on the UTS website, UTS YouTube and UTS Facebook. WEDNESDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 2020 All times are in local Bangkok time, ICT.   11.00am – 12.00pm               WORKSHOP “BECOMING A SUCCESSFUL CHANGE LEADER IN YOUR COMMUNITY THROUGH SPORT”, PRESENTED BY YUNUS SPORTS HUB &IOC YOUTH LEADERS Marisa Schlenker, YSH, Community Manager Geewon Yoo, Korea University, IOC Young Leader from South Korea Jean- Claude RUGIGANA, IOC Young Leader from Rwanda, Founder of Sport4Change Media, IT & Communication Officer for NOC-Rwanda Maria Renee Rodriquez, IOC Young Leader from Guatemala, Professional Racquetball Athlete Rohith Maradapa, IOC Young Leader India, National Rowing Team, Founder Just Play India, Officer in Provincial Government’s Energy Department   THURSDAY, 19 NOVEMBER 2020   COMPETITION TIMES            13.00pm – 20.00pm                  10.00am – 11.00am               WORKSHOP “CLEAN SPORT”, PRESENTED BY WADA & ITA Ms Yang Yang, Vice President, World Anti-Doping Agency, Three-time Olympian in Short Track Speed Skating (1998, 2002, 2006)|Gold and Silver Medalist (2002), […]

The annual AIMS General Assembly was held virtually for the first time in the history due to the current Covid-19 pandemic.  AIMS President, Stephan Fox welcomed all AIMS members, observers, former AIMS members and former AIMS Presidents. He especially thanked the AIMS Council for all their work and support, the General Secretary and the head of administration for working tirelessly during this challenging time of the pandemic. He also thanked especially, the IOC for all their support and for giving full recognition to AIMS to become the 5th IOC recognised umbrella organisation. President Fox, on behalf of AIMS thank the IOC President, Mr. Thomas Bach for his support and the IOC Sport Department for all their guidance. The IOC President, Mr. Thomas Bach delivered the welcome message to the AIMS family, outlining again the strong relationship between AIMS and the IOC and the cooperation over the years. He further thanked AIMS for their innovative initiative of the UTS World Virtual Youth Festival in which the IOC has been actively involved and given patronage. The AIMS family again thank the IOC and stands proud as an IOC recognised organisation. President Fox then thanked GAISF and SportAccord President Mr. Raffaele Chiulli for […]

  United Through Sports (UTS) World Virtual Youth Festival finalists for the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) ‘Inclusive Sports’ Challenge have been confirmed on 5 November following a review process by an expert panel of seven judges. A total number of 138 applications from across all regions in the world were received for both the under-12 and under-18 categories during the two-week long application period. Youngsters needed to film themselves performing an exercise routine of their choice for 60 seconds maximum. Then they needed to spend 45 seconds to the camera explaining their motivation to participate in the challenge and what world leaders need to do to create a more accessible and inclusive future for all people. https://youtu.be/bR2_FpdPsjk “It has been a treat to watch the enthusiasm of youngsters around the world towards sports and listen to their optimistic and inspiring messages”, said Indian Paralympic Committee President and Paralympic medalist Deepa Malik, who shared the judging panel with Para athletes, disability advocates and Paralympic leaders. When reviewing the videos, judges followed a criteria based on inspiration, passion, dedication and commitment. They looked for creativity within the exercise routine, how well it was performed, the youngsters’ motivation to participate and the content of the […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4 November 2020   Big-name Speakers to Kick Off IF Forum 2020   LAUSANNE, Switzerland – World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and SportAccord and the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) President Dr. Raffaele Chiulli are among the high-profile speakers who will participate in the fully virtual International Federation (IF) Forum 2020, which kicks off tomorrow.   The IOC President’s Welcome Remarks will be streamed online before Dr. Tedros, a leading figure in the global response to the Covid-19 pandemic, delivers a Keynote Address on the theme of the conference – ‘How Sport and Society Can Emerge Stronger from a Global Crisis’.   There will also be an Opening Address by Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, President of SportAccord and the GAISF, and a Member Keynote Address by Professor Fabio Pigozzi, President of the International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS).   Oscar Tosato, Municipal Councillor Sport and Social Cohesion at the City of Lausanne, will also provide a Host Welcome, while Evgeny Kuivashev, Governor of the Russian Federation’s Sverdlovsk Region, will deliver a SportAccord 2021 Host Address to give delegates a taste of what to expect at next year’s […]

The world youth are getting ready for the United Through Sports World Virtual Youth Festival. The event which is under patronage of International Olympic Committee, International Paralympic Committee and Special Olympics International, has brought together over 80 organizations bringing together the youth of the world. The Festival is about inclusion and non-discrimination. The youth have the chance to compete in 5 different categories and every day we will introduce a new category. Today, Max Fit: This competition category will focus on strength, power and stamina. The different sports disciplines and youth will be drawn against each other and their performance will be scored by 3 judges from different international federations. The competition is run over 3 rounds with each round requiring contestants to complete as many of a designated exercise drills within the allotted time per round. Let’s get ready for Max Fit!  

The President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee (SAOC), HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, and the President of United Through Sports (UTS), Mr Stephan Fox, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Tuesday, October 6. The MoU, which will run for two years, was signed at the SAOC President’s office at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Olympic Complex in Riyadh and is a step to contribute to the development of humankind as well as the promotion and development of sport and youth locally and around the world, The MoU also promotes information-sharing, including academic and professional resources and documents, and additional events hosted by both parties. Both parties will jointly establish a working team to carry out the cooperation projects as defined under this MoU. HRH Prince Abdulaziz said: “The memorandum aims to promote and develop an active lifestyle and sports, exchange information, resources and academic and professional documents, participate in various events hosted by the two parties and develop practical relations between them. “The signing of the memorandum comes in the belief of the importance of strengthening cooperation between the two sides in the areas of common interests, developing sports and the youth development movement locally and around the […]

International Sports Federations (IFs) and GAISF Members marked World Mental Health Day this weekend with a wide variety of positive activations, digital campaigns and initiatives, all aimed at raising awareness of mental health issues at a time when it is more important than ever before. World Mental Health Day is held annually on 10 October, with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world. The Badminton World Federation, for example, published a web story explaining how regular badminton sessions, and physical activity in general, can help release natural brain chemicals which enhance and improve mental health. The International Rugby League also actively raised awareness during the day. The GAISF Observer published a video highlighting how 84 men take their own lives every week in the UK, with the number rising every year. The video encouraged men to change their approach to mental health and for anyone struggling to stand up and reach out. Several IFs engaged their global fanbases via social media. World Lacrosse, for example, released an infographic detailing nine ways team leaders can check in with their team’s mental health. Meanwhile, World Rowing supported the occasion by sharing scientific insights into the advantages of exercise on mental […]

IPC supports UTS World Virtual Youth Festival Multiple organisations including the IOC and the IPC join forces with United Through Sports to engage youngsters in sport during the pandemic06 Oct 2020 To get youngsters around the world active during the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and multiple other sport organisations have partnered with United Through Sports to launch the 2020 World Virtual Youth Festival. More than 60 organisations including the IOC, IPC and Special Olympics are supporting the event which will invite youngsters from under 18 years to take part in online qualification events in October. Winners from the qualification events will progress to the online finals that will be hosted in Thailand between 20-22 November to coincide with the United Nations World Children’s Day. The festival will include youths not only from participating International Federations, but also from migrant and refugee backgrounds, from the indigenous community and from vulnerable backgrounds who are often marginalised by society. The festival will include virtual medal ceremonies, inspirational opening and closing ceremonies and will incorporate a vital platform of education by including an opening conference, panel discussions and workshops. Topics of focus will include: Peace through sport, Inclusion and non-discrimination, Athletes’ […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 6 October 2020 IF Forum 2020 to Adopt Fully Virtual Format LAUSANNE, Switzerland – The International Federation (IF) Forum, the annual event that brings together leaders from across the global sporting community, will be hosted by SportAccord in a fully virtual format next month.In light of the challenges in relation to international travel and in-person gatherings in the context of the pandemic, the decision to switch to a fully virtual format was taken in order to give delegates sufficient time to adjust their plans ahead of the event in November. With preparations having already focused on optimising the experience for virtual attendees as part of what was initially planned to be a ‘hybrid’ gathering, SportAccord is committed to delivering an outstanding experience for all participants, connecting the sporting world via technology, with all of the sessions streamed live online. SportAccord President Raffaele Chiulli said: “The SportAccord team has worked incredibly hard to facilitate a solution that would allow the IF Forum to be held in a hybrid format as intended but, due to the evolving situation, this is no longer appropriate.” “While we will not gather together in-person this year, the strong programme and line-up of contributors means […]

Creator & Designer: Asad Merchant UTS INVITES INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION ITOS FOR THE FIRST TECHNICAL WEBINAR “Individual commitment to a group effort-that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” -Vince Lombardi The UTS Virtual Youth Festival 2020 aims to unite all participating sports, whose youth will be competing against one another during the November 20-22nd Festival Finals. Youth participants will be judged by other sports regardless to whether they are Olympic or non-Olympic, Summer or Winter sports. On the 25th September UTS hosted the first of three technical webinars which welcomed over 60 International Sport Federations. UTS President Stephan Fox opened the webinar giving a warm welcome and thanking all sports and organisations for inviting delegates from the highest level on a voluntary basis and putting the youth regardless to ability or sport, at the forefront of their work. During this pandemic more than ever, we witness the world sport community standing in solidarity for their most important asset, the youth. President Fox gave thanks to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Special Olympics (SOI), GAISF and SportAccord for their ongoing support. He gave a special thanks to the AIMS […]

Ahead of the International Day of Peace, celebrated around the world this Monday, 21 September, the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, has emphasised the power of sport.   “Sport contributes to peace by unifying people,” said the IOC President. “The Olympic Games today are the only event in our world which manages to really bring the entire world together. Athletes come to the Olympic Games respecting the same rules, all being equal, without any discrimination.” “SHAPING PEACE TOGETHER” “Shaping Peace Together” is the theme chosen to celebrate the International Day of Peace this year. The day also marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations (UN). “The partnership between the UN and the IOC is based on the shared goal of contributing to peace,” said the IOC President. “We are cooperating with the UN on many different issues, and this is possible because we share the same values and we are united in the fight for peace and solidarity. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres once said: ‘If there is a true symbol of peace in the world, it is the Olympic spirit.’” SOLIDARITY AT THE HEART OF THE COVID-19 CRISIS RECOVERY At a time […]

The GAISF Council met today at the new WBSC headquarters in Pully, Switzerland to discuss an array of topics including GAISF’s work to support its Members in key areas such as good governance, social inclusion and strengthening sport during the pandemic. Preparations for the forthcoming GAISF General Assembly and IF Forum, scheduled for early November, also provided an important focal point for the discussions. In particular, a new World Health Organisation project supported by GAISF and the International Olympic Committee was approved. Through this project, a risk assessment tool will be shared with IFs to further facilitate the safe hosting of competitions. Feedback on the successful mitigation of COVID-19 risks will be included in a database that will help further develop WHO’s guidance on hosting events during the pandemic. In addition, the Association of Paralympic Sports Organisations and World Transplant Games Federation will both be proposed at the upcoming GAISF General Assembly to become Associate Members. Both organisations strive to make sport accessible for all by harnessing its power to promote social inclusion. The International Federation of Teqball’s application was unanimously approved by the council for full membership and will be put forward at the next General Assembly. The Council […]

Duathlon, Flag Football, Lacrosse (men), Wheelchair Rugby and Wushu will feature as invitational sports in The World Games 2022 in Birmingham, Alabama. They complete the sports programme along with the 30 Official Sports. This is the first time that a Wheelchair sport will appear in the programme of The World Games. The Wheelchair Rugby played in 2022 will be Low Point, where the gap in function level of the athletes is smaller. “The decision to accept Low Point was facilitated through the strong collaboration of World Rugby, the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation, the Birmingham Organising Committee and local partners such as the Lakeshore Foundation. We’re looking forward to integrating disabled sports of the highest level into our event for the very first time,” IWGA Head of Games Services Sebastian Garvens says. While Duathlon has been an invitational sport in 2013 and Wushu in 2009 and 2013, men’s Lacrosse is new to The Games. Women’s Lacrosse featured at The World Games 2017 and is in the official programme also in 2022. American Football was invitational in 2005 and 2017, but Flag Football, a dynamic modern non-contact discipline of American football, is new too. Flag Football @TWG2022, presented by the NFL, will feature eight men’s […]

The Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) and The Sustainability Report have signed a partnership agreement to promote the environmental, social and economic sustainability projects of International Sports Federations and wider sports industry initiatives. The partnership follows the successful launch of sustainability.sport, a web portal created by GAISF in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). sustainability.sport aims to help further sport’s environmental goals by providing a free tool where sustainability resources from the entire sports community are collated onto one dedicated platform. As part of this content-sharing partnership, The Sustainability Report will publish sustainability.sport content on its platforms and vice versa. The Sustainability Report will also publish an exclusive article on the sustainability.sport platform every month. The Sustainability Report is an essential source of intelligence and insight for sports professionals committed to enhancing the environmental, social and economic sustainability of their organisations. GAISF President Raffaele Chiulli said: “We are very pleased to be partnering with The Sustainability Report to promote positive environmental initiatives in sport and ensure a bright future for sustainability in the international sports community. This partnership will support all our Members in their ongoing efforts to highlight important work in the field of environmental, social and […]

The International Rugby League (IRL) is today celebrating the 125th anniversary of rugby league and commemorating its past successes to build towards the future development of the sport. Rugby league’s origins can be traced back to the George Hotel in Huddersfield, United Kingdom, where a group of 21 pioneering clubs effectively founded the sport of rugby league on 29 August 1895. The first matches took place just eight days later on 7 September. Since its inception, rugby league quickly went international, with the first international match played in 1908 between Wales and New Zealand, the first International Federation established in 1948 and the first rugby world cup hosted in 1954. Fast forward to the twenty-first century and the sport continues to quickly develop whilst increasing its global recognition and reach in emerging markets such as Latin America and Africa. Rugby league is now played in over 53 countries and enjoyed by millions of fans worldwide, and the IRL also secured GAISF Observer Status in 2017 which has since been extended until 2021. GAISF President Raffaele Chiulli said: “First and foremost, I would like to congratulate the sport of rugby league and its millions of passionate fans on its 125th anniversary. It is […]

THE PARALYMPIC “RISING PHOENIX” GIFT TO THE WORLD The Paralympic movement achieved a global milestone with the release on the 26th August of their phenomenal documentary the “Rising Phoenix” which premiered on Netflix. This captivating and truly life-changing documentary is the perfect warm-up towards Tokyo 2021. Giving the audience a riveting understanding of what it means to be a Paralympic athlete, we are able to look with new vision and open our hearts to better understanding and embracing our unique differences. The Paralympic Movement began under the vision and soul of Sir Ludwig Guttman and where Sir Philip Craven poured his heart into ensuring a legacy for the Paralympic Games. The Paralympics has now reached another level of success and global support, under the dedication of current President Andrew Parsons. The Rising Phoenix is a raw and poignant examination of the Paralympic movement’s formation and where the documentary has the audience on the edge of their seats, quite literally. Featuring 9 heroes from around the world, each tells their own unique story, sharing their battle to make the impossible possible. These athletes demonstrate the power of self-belief and the spirit to keep moving forward against all odds. AIMS and UTS […]

AIMS Honours His Excellency Ban Ki Moon                             Ban Ki Moon was the 8th Secretary General of the United Nations. He is a builder of bridges, giving voice to the vulnerable and to the world’s poorest. He is a visionary, whose efforts to combat global poverty and universal strategy on women’s and children’s health has made him one of the most outstanding UN Secretary Generals to date. His excellency Ban was also elected chair of the IOC ethics commission, and has supported the United Through Sports initiative not only as a speaker but actively and together with the IOC President, as they opened the United Through Sports Festival during the 2019 SportAccord Convention on the Gold Coast.                                  We would like to extend our utmost gratitude to His Excellency, for truly making this world a better place.  

Interview with Stephan Fox, President of AIMS Stephan Fox is a former Muaythai world champion, who now holds various administrative roles in sport including the Presidency of the Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport (AIMS). Fox is also Vice President of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) and the General Secretary of the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA). He has a passion for global sports development and has been integral in guiding multiple International Federations on their journey in the Olympic Movement. Fox is also dedicated to using sport as a tool for social change, with AIMS being the founding member of United Through Sports, which brings many organisations together for the benefit of youth around the world and also has been the driving force behind the sport festival during SportAccord and other events. Stephan Fox also serves as President of UTS. Can you tell us more about the background of AIMS? AIMS was formed in 2009 when all the GAISF recognised Members that had not yet been recognised by the IOC and had no voice in the GAISF family as an umbrella group. As a result,  all the recognised Members at the time, that did […]

Student projects underway, the 2020 FISU World Forum looks to set new benchmarks LAUSANNE, 5 August – The 2020 edition of the FISU World Forum is one week away, and preparations are in full swing for what will be a first-of-its kind event, with nearly 1500 participants coming together virtually. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 FISU World Forum from 12-14 August 2020 will be the first ever online edition of this flagship FISU educational event. Among the 1200 participants that have already registered, about half are students, 40% are officials from FISU’s member federations and more than 100 are from the extended FISU Family. “Every two years, the FISU World Forum offers an opportunity for the entire FISU Family to gather and to exchange ideas, contacts, and good practices in the field of university sports,” said Dr Verena Burk, Chair of the FISU Education Committee. “Despite this year’s situation worldwide, I am pleased that the FISU World Forum will be hosted digitally. This pioneering event organised by FISU, the Hungarian University Sports Federation as well as the University of Physical Education of Budapest will allow students, officials and other partners involved in the University Sports Movement to share […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 7 August 2020 SportAccord Gold Partner FISU Marks Three-Year Countdown to the Ekaterinburg 2023 FISU World University Games  LAUSANNE, Switzerland – SportAccord is delighted to confirm the International University Sports Federation (FISU), as a Gold Partner for the 19th edition of the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit taking place in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Today’s announcement is especially exciting as tomorrow marks the three-year countdown to the start of the Ekaterinburg 2023 FISU World University Games in the Sverdlovsk Region of Russia. As a SportAccord 2021 Gold Partner, FISU is playing a key role in supporting preparations for the sports industry’s most influential global gathering at the IEC Ekaterinburg-Expo from 23-28 May next year. For FISU, SportAccord 2021 will provide a timely signpost in the build-up to the FISU World University Games. The FISU World University Games are the largest global multi-sports events for university athletes and the Ekaterinburg 2023 edition will take place from 8-19 August 2023, about seven months after the winter edition that will be held in Lake Placid, USA, in January the same year. The city was awarded the World University Games following a unanimous vote by the FISU Executive Committee a year ago, […]

July 30 – Working on the frontline to end human trafficking: UN World Day Against Trafficking in Persons Every year, hundreds of thousands of children are trafficked for sport. To help clubs and sporting bodies prevent this from happening, anti-trafficking charity Mission 89 and GoodCorporation have developed a Framework on Safeguarding Children from Trafficking in sport . Paul Tergat, former world marathon record holder and elite Kenyan long-distance runner supports its launch. “There is a general growing and serious problem where people are exploiting sports to engage in human trafficking, especially targeting children. Every effort to curb this vice deserves the support of all of us that love and protect the beauty and spirit of sports. As such, I welcome the launch of this noble and timely framework and laud the efforts of Mission 89 and GoodCorporation in seeking to combat this menace. I ask people, especially those with leadership and positions of influence to give their voices to this effort”. Leading sports organisations committed to the fight against child trafficking in sport have also given their support for the principles outlined in the framework, including FIFA. Child traffickers operate in the world’s poorest and most economically vulnerable communities. Masquerading as agents, often claiming affiliation to high-profile […]

Tackling crime in and through sport, protecting the credibility of sport and enhancing the strategic partnership between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) were the key issues discussed by IOC President Thomas Bach and UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly , who met virtually on Tuesday 21 July 2020. President Bach underscored the importance of protecting the credibility of the values of sport and “the positive role played by sport in terms of social inclusion, drug and violence prevention, and rehabilitation”. Ms Waly also underlined that “sport is key in helping to build back after COVID-19 and promoting gender equality and female empowerment” and stressed the importance of enhancing the credibility of sport by tackling corruption at all levels. In parallel to the call, the IOC, the UNODC,  and INTERPOL, with the support of the Council of Europe, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) organised a two-day virtual workshop for the Baltic region aimed at tackling the manipulation of sports competitions. Held on 21 and 23 July 2020, the workshop brought together over 40 registered participants from Estonia, […]

GLOBAL SPORTS COMMUNITY MARKS ONE YEAR TO GO FOR TOKYO 2020 The global sports community today joins the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee in celebrating one year to go until the start of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Through the #StrongerTogether campaign, the sports community will be sharing messages of solidarity, unity, resilience, progress and hope with the entire world. Be sure to check out GAISF’s Twitter page where we will share the best content from International Sports Federations marking One Year to Go. In addition, to mark this major milestone, an event will be held at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo which can be viewed below at 11:00 UTC.

AIMS will continue to support IPSF in every way possible. IPSF was part of an important online meeting with the AIMS leadership to discuss continued cooperation to ensure the continued growth of IPSF. THE RISE AND DEVELOPMENT OF POLE SPORTS WORLDWIDE Pole, introduced as a sport in 2006 after it became a popular form of fitness in 2000, has experienced rapid growth around the world, following the creation of the International Pole Sports Federation (IPSF) in 2009. In 11 years, the IPSF has gone from standardising elements of pole sports, such as scoring, judging and competitions, to hosting eight world championships and establishing 35 national federations. In July 2018, more than 200 athletes from 40 countries competed in the World Pole Sports Championships in Tarragona, Spain. As a result of the efforts of the IPSF, including gaining GAISF Observer Status in 2017, the sport is now practised in more than 60 countries with over 5,000 male and female athletes competing every year. Commenting on the development of pole sports and the federation’s support from GAISF, IPSF President Katie Coates said: “Gaining Observer Status in 2017 was a fantastic opportunity for the IPSF, and over the last two years we have […]

AIMS Sends Best Wishes And Congratulations IOC SESSION ELECTS TWO VICE-PRESIDENTS, TWO EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS AND FIVE NEW MEMBERS THE 136TH SESSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (IOC), THE FIRST-EVER SESSION TO BE HELD BY VIDEOCONFERENCE, ELECTED MR JOHN D. COATES AND MR SER MIANG NG AS VICE-PRESIDENTS, AND MRS MIKAELA COJUANGCO JAWORSKI AND MR GERARDO WERTHEIN AS MEMBERS OF THE IOC EXECUTIVE BOARD (EB). THE SESSION ALSO ELECTED FIVE NEW IOC MEMBERS FOLLOWING THE PROPOSAL OF THE EB ON 10 JUNE. Mr John D. Coates and Mr Ser Miang Ng will replace Professor Uğur Erdener and Mr Juan Antonio Samaranch as Vice-Presidents. Mrs Mikaela Cojuangco Jaworski and Mr Gerardo Werthein will replace Mr Sergey Bubka, whose eight-year term on the Board came to an end, and Mr Ser Miang Ng, whose four-year term came to an end and who was elected Vice-President. Their terms of office will start at the end of the 136th IOC Session. With this election, female representation on the EB has grown to 33.3 per cent. Also, the First Vice-President, Ms Anita DeFrantz, is female. The newly elected IOC Members include four Individual Members and one Member whose election is linked to a function within […]

Congratulations to SPORTACCORD https://www.sportaccord.sport/news/2020/sportaccord-2019-gold-coast-recognised-prestigious-australian-events-sector-awards

  AIMS Observer Meeting GAISF has over 100 International Federations and other sports bodies as members. Since 2017 GAISF opened its doors to observers. The observer status aids the development of each and every sport and takes advantage of the GAISF network. This will further contribute towards their fulfilment of all criteria for full membership and also to increase the possibility of their members receiving the required recognition by the highest national sport authorities and or national Olympic committees. All of these International Federations and sports have interest to join the AIMS family. This very much reflects the constantly evolving nature of sport. GAISF is the entry point in joining the Olympic family. From GAISF membership the new members will become part of the AIMS family.                                 The observers are an important part of the AIMS family. AIMS President Stephan Fox, invited all the 13 observers to an online conference to discuss current challenges during the pandemic and post pandemic. The AIMS president was joined by Vice President Panagiotis Theodoropoulus, General Secretary Gerhard Zimmermann, and Council members Dr. Julie Gabriel and Mike Haslam. The AIMS […]

AIMS & UTS Thank ASOIF President Francesco Ricci Bitti       Francesco Ricci Bitti needs no introduction in the world of sport. A successful athlete, the former President of the International Tennis Federation, the former President of GAISF and Sportaccord as well as the current President of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations.                                                Mr. Ricci Bitti, is also on the Executive Committee of Sportaccord and he has been a strong supporter of AIMS and United Through Sports since the inauguration. Mr. Ricci Bitti has spoken at every conference and has been valuable towards the development of the initiative. We all remember fondly his active role in Bangkok at the first festival and once again on the Gold Coast where he was on stage with His Royal Highness Prince Feisal Al Hussein,Ban Ki-Moon,Anita DeFrantz, Honourable Minister Kate Jones, Mayor Thomas Tate, Raffaele Chiulli and Stephan Fox playing in the band with the Australian youth.                         On behalf of AIMS, the social initiative United Through Sports and the legacy it leaves behind for youth of all abilities and socio-economic statuses we would like to say thank you, to a true leader and visionary in the world of sports.               […]

World Draughts Federation Continues to Grow                                                                       FMJD which was founded in 1947 and has grown to nearly 80 national federation worldwide. FMJD is an active member of GAISF and one of the founding members of AIMS, both organisations recognised by the IOC. In the times of the pandemic FMJD has continued to engage with the national federation planning for post pandemic and staying positive to ensure that all athletes given online opportunities. On the 4th July we will see again one of the activities, when one of the best players, former world champion Alexander Swarzman will make history by playing online simultaneously against 40 players from all over the world. The events will start on Saturday the 4th of July at 12:00 Western European Time. The events will be broadcasted live on YouTube with commentary in Dutch and English. It is a fantastic opportunity to see the best of the best and learn more about the sport. For more information please go to www.fmjd.org . […]

GAISF and several International Sports Federations (IFs) have pledged their commitment to the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations’ (UNAOC) One Humanity campaign, which calls for solidarity, compassion and unity in the face of discrimination and divisiveness. The leading United Nations’ initiative to advance understanding, cooperation and dialogue among nations and peoples across all cultures, the UNAOC has recognised the ability of sport to further its call for promoting diversity and positive social change. Through the One Humanity campaign in particular, sport, together with the Alliance, will promote diversity as an advantage rather than a threat. Following GAISF’s announcement of support for the One Humanity campaign last week, several IFs have already expressed their commitment to the cause, including the International Ski Federation (FIS), the International Judo Federation (IJF), the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) and the International Federation of Sports Chiropractic (FICS). In addition, several GAISF Observers have also pledged their support for the campaign, including the International Jump Rope Union (IJRU), the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) and the World Dodgeball Association. The campaign will see these sports champion One Humanity by demonstrating their commitment to peaceful and inclusive societies through a range of initiatives. In addition, these […]

Our Thanks And Gratitude To FISU UTS and AIMS are proud to be supported by FISU, an organisation founded in 1949 which offers opportunity and inspiration to students around the globe to participate in sport. FISU is the world’s leading body that provides students with a healthy lifestyle and chance for them to become leaders of their societies. FISU’s motto: “Today’s Stars, Tomorrow’s leaders”  empowers young athletes to give their best. More than 60 sports are part of the FISU family and the FISU World University Games, Winter FISU World University Games, FISU World University Championships and FISU World University World Cups. The FISU values are based on excellence, teamwork, innovation, the joy of sport and integrity. FISU has been part of the United Through Sports initiative since the inception. Since 2015 FISU’s President Mr. Oleg Matytsin has been a true example of what sport exemplifies. Oleg is also the Russian Minister for Sport, he is in the IOC Education Commission and is a valued member of the International Fair Play Committee. He has inspired many as a speaker at every conference UTS has held during the annual UTS Sports Festival in conjunction with SportAccord Convention and was happy to […]

Olympic Day Workout: AIMS Joins Olympic Day Celebration The world sport family is celebrating Olympic World Day 2020 and we all join the live workouts at 11 AM, across 20 time zones. Covid-19 has forced our world into a lockdown and we have seen athletes from all sports across the world sharing their daily workouts keeping us in good spirit to stay healthy in body and mind. IOC President, Thomas Bach stated, “Celebrating Olympic Day may feel very different from all previous years, but at the same time, on this Olympic Day, our message of the power of sport to bring hope and optimism to everyone resonates even stronger,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. “Let us join together to use this power of sport to prepare the postponed Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 as a moment of solidarity and resilience of humankind,” AIMS president, Stephan Fox stated, “Now more than ever, we are connected through our love for sport and in these uncertain times we must stay together to promote and foster our shared Olympic values of respect, friendship, excellence and most important, solidarity. We must continue to use sport towards hope and remember that there are so many vulnerable to […]

Coronavirus has meant families have spent months apart.   These three IOC Refugee Athlete Scholarship-Holders have spent years without seeing their loved ones. To celebrate World Refugee Day, Tokyo 2020 hopefuls Yonas Kinde, Abullah Sediqui and Khaoula share their reasons why sport has helped them through the tough times. https://www.olympic.org/news/olympic-channel-podcast-refugees-on-hope-tokyo-2020-and-dreaming-big

                                                     AIMS AND UTS GIVES THANKS TO THE IOC United Through Sports (UTS) was founded in 2017 with the first event held during the annual SportAccord Convention in 2018 held in the beautiful kingdom of Thailand. The UTS initiative under the IOC recognised umbrella organisation AIMS work together to use the powerful platform of sports towards social change and positive development.                  UTS and AIMS would like to pay their utmost respect and give thanks acknowledging all valuable organisations and individuals who have contributed and dedicated their support towards the UTS initiatives. As a consequence of their contribution, smiles have been brought upon the faces of countless youths from challenged backgrounds, athletes around the world and through our combined efforts we will continue to celebrate the unifying power of sports. Today we would like to thank the International Olympic Committee which has given patronage to the last 2 festivals held in Bangkok and on the Gold Coast. The IOC President has been the keynote speaker at the last 4 consecutive conferences, from Lausanne […]

Registration for webinar #4 is now open – please find the link and details below. During next week’s session, we will discuss Medications, Supplements, TUEs and the Prohibited List. This session is especially valuable for athletes and athlete support personnel – inadvertent doping continues to be a big challenge in many sports and we hope that this session helps prevent some of these cases. Registration link: https://www.bigmarker.com/international-testing-agency/Medications-Supplements-TUEs Please feel free to share the link with any stakeholders of your Sport Federation. Note that the webinar attendee limit is 1,000 and registration is open on a first-come, first-served basis. Attached are two banners that you can use for social media promotion. If you want to add a logo of your International Federation, please contact me and we will send you a custom banner. Event date: Tuesday, June 16th, 14h-15h30 CET Presenters: Mark Stuart – Sports Pharmacist & ITA Operations Development Manager Margo Mountjoy – Sports Medicine Physician Eric Mackenzie – Former Professional Australian Rules Football Player Moderator: Olya Abasolo OLY, ITA Education Manager  

On this year’s United Nations’ World Environment Day, International Sports Federations (IFs) demonstrated their commitment to protecting biodiversity and promoting awareness for pressing environmental issues. The focus of this year’s day was the celebration of biodiversity, which is vital for our planet’s ecosystems, and many IFs took the opportunity to illustrate their ongoing work in furthering sustainable sport. “Sport has an unparalleled platform to raise awareness amongst a vast community, so it is only right that sport honours World Environment Day,” GAISF President Raffaele Chiulli said. “To see the tremendous progress our Members have made towards sustainable sport makes me immensely proud, and I know that, united, we can make a lasting and positive impact on protecting our planet’s biodiversity.” https://gaisf.sport/international-sports-federations-celebrate-biodiversity-on-world-environment-day/