Sporting for All – Bringing sports to everyone

After the historic recognition of AIMS by the International Olympic Committee, the AIMS council convened at the Maison du Sport in the Olympic city, Lausanne. The AIMS council meeting took place to discuss the steps ahead, the council discussed many points on the steps forward, the strategic plans for the future of AIMS as an IOC recognised umbrella organisation, the upcoming General Assembly in Beijing and the sports festival in Beijing as part of the SportAccord Convention 2020 under the theme “United through Diversity”. AIMS will continue to be a credible, responsible member of the Olympic family and an organisation for the members through the members for the benefits of the next generation, integrating the sport with no discrimination a better tomorrow.

History was made as a unanimous vote was passed for the full recognition of AIMS and where they now become a fully recognised IOC umbrella group. The Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport was founded in 2009 by the Non-IOC recognised members of GAISF, where AIMS established itself as one of the five International Federation umbrella groups in the IOC and GAISF family. AIMS is a proud member of the Olympic family and as history has marked, they were granted provisional recognition by the IOC in 2015. With the key mission of the IOC to protect and promote the Olympic values of friendship, respect, excellence, determination, inspiration, courage and equality, AIMS has proven united towards honouring these values. The ethos of AIMS is to strengthen each individual sport, combine expertise, share knowledge along with protection of the members and close cooperation with the IOC, GAISF, SportAccord and WADA. In the last three years, six AIMS members have been given individual recognition by the IOC and where AIMS has held a memorandum of understanding since 2016. In October 2019, the IOC Executive Board put forward AIMS for full recognition into the IOC session, based on their incorporation and contribution towards […]

It has been a great opportunity to help International Federations to bring together stakeholders and organisations to help develop their sport in the region. The theme of the conference is “A United Approach to the International Sports Landscape in the Americas”. was a fantastic choice highlighted by Sportaccord and GAISF President Raffaele Chiulli who stated that this is a great opportunity to build bridges between IFs and National Olympic Committees from Pan American region and other stakeholders. The keynote address was delivered from the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations Executive Director, Andrew Ryan, focusing on “The Changing Landscape of the International Sports World”. Over 60 International federations participated in the event.

A special meeting took place at the highest level during the Sports Forum in Russia to discuss sporting cooperation. The AIMS President who is a highly respected member of the recognised sporting world in his capacity as the Vice President of GAISF and IFMA General Secretary had many meetings with the leaders of sport in Russia, most importantly the first Vice President of the Russian Olympic Committee, Igor Levitin and the Minister of Sports, Pavel Kolobkov. A special invitation was given to Mr Fox by the President of the Russian Federation Mr Vladimir Putin. Mr Putin is highly regarded in the world of sports especially combat sports in his position as honorary President of the International Judo Federation and the Honorary President of FIAS, the world recognised Sambo Federation in which President Putin holds many degrees. Mr Fox thanked Mr Putin for his invitation and the important fruitful discussions for the betterment of sport and society.

AIMS Vice President and President of International Jujitsu Federation Panagiotis Theodoropoulos welcomed the SportAccord and GAISF President Raffaele Chiulli and AIMS President Stephan Fox to the Jujitsu World Championships 2019 in Abu Dhabi. The President and Vice President had the opportunity to speak at the JJIF and AIMS Conference, discussing with the world leaders of JJIF the close cooperation between GAISF, AIMS and the JJIF family. The GAISF and AIMS President then had the opportunity to honour the Jujitsu family at a special gala dinner and most importantly witness world-class Jujitsu athletes in action competing for honour. The AIMS President praised the respectful standards of the Jujitsu family off, as well as on the field of play and was honoured to give the medals to the bronze, silver and gold winners of the competition. It was truly a memorable JJIF World Championships and seeing the Jujitsu world family stand united for the future of their sport was truly memorable for all.

IPF President Gaston Parage and the IPF family invited AIMS President Stephan Fox to Dubai for the United Through Sports; United in Powerlifting Forum as a guest speaker. Mr Fox was also invited to the IPF Championships where he congratulated Mr Parage for his re-election as IPF President and for the newly elected board. President Fox then congratulated the IPF family for their outstanding work as a credible and valuable member of the AIMS family. He went on to honour three key IPF figures, President Gaston, IPF Secretary General Robert Keller and IPF General Manager Emanuel Scheiber. Mr Fox thanked SportAccord and GAISF President Raffaele Chiulli for honouring IPF with his presence and shared his support of Mr Chiulli for his leadership. Mr Chiulli congratulated IPF President for his re-election and for the continued progress IPF is making to especially put all the athletes at the heart of their work. The President highlighted IPF’s fantastic work towards sport for all and their strong cooperation with the Special Olympics. Mr Fox was proud and honoured to be part and witness the pride and joy of these outstanding athletes. He encouraged IPF to continue their great work towards inclusivity.

The AIMS family met recently in Lausanne. An important council meeting took place and all AIMS current and former family members joined together to celebrate the friendship and the success of AIMS. There was a special reason for this celebration as the IOC Executive Board approved the proposal to put forward AIMS to the IOC session in January for full recognition. The AIMS family toasted to the success and the continued cooperation towards a common goal. Congratulations to the AIMS family.

On Tuesday, November 19th, AIMS President, Stephan Fox, joined Right to Play in a powerful panel discussion at the ASEAN Youth Development Workshop for Peace and Leadership. Mr. Fox, a former Muaythai world champion, alongside Right To Play Track and Field Twin Athlete Ambassadors from the UK, Ms. Lina Nielsen and Laviai Nielsen and Ms. Pacharakamon Arkornsakul, a professional badminton athlete and lecturer at Thailand National Sports University Chiangmai Campus spoke on how professional athletes use the power of sport to bring about positive social change to themselves, others and communities. The President spoke about the unique power sport has to change the world, unite, include and give hope against all kinds of discrimination in a world that can be so harsh and cold. He commented that in a world where the leaders of the world cannot shake hands, the youth play together in sport and during the Olympics, the world declares Olympic truth when nations stop to fight. Mr. Fox highlighted the value of alliances and gave an example from his own experience in sport. The President reminded the youth leaders that “The real belt you win is not the physical belt you take from your sport, it is the […]

A new guide has been launched by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to provide information on good practice for sports organisations with regard to receiving and handling reports of wrongdoing, including competition manipulation, harassment, doping and corruption. The guide was launched at Olympic House here at the third edition of the International Forum for Sports Integrity (IFSI) which bought together key leaders from governing bodies, intergovernmental agencies such as the Council of Europe, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Interpol and Europol, betting operators and national regulating authorities. They also coincided with the International Federations (IF) Forum, which started here today. The IOC-UNODC Reporting Mechanisms in Sport: A Practical Guide for Development and Implementation was one of a series of initiatives launched design to help combat manipulation in sport. The guide claims to provide information on good practice for sports organisations with regard to receiving and handling reports of wrongdoing, including competition manipulation, harassment, doping and corruption. “In the spirit of this cooperation, we have taken many measures together since the launch of the IFSI in 2015,” IOC President Thomas Bach told delegates. “The most obvious example is the Council of Europe Convention on the manipulation of sports competitions, […]

The WMF Delegates Conference 2019 was held in Zhouzhuang, China on October 20th, 2019. WMF President Dr. Gerhard Zimmermann was re-elected unanimously. After the elections he pointed out, that the focus for the next years will be on youth, development and multisport events. This will be strongly reflected in the upcoming strategic plan 2021-2025. A Presidential Committee inside the Executive Committee has been established to clarify the legal responsibility for decisions and activities of WMF. WMF is becoming more and more solid in financials and Good Governance aspects. Former WMF Finance Manager Peter Joost Middag (NED) is going to transfer the financial duties to his successor Jürgen Elsishans (GER) at the end of the year and promised to ensure smooth transmission. WMF takes its social responsibility and continues with different valuable projects by implementing the Olympic values. The United Through Sports Conference with the slogan “United Through Minigolf – Building Bridges” will take place in Zhouzhuang on October 22nd, 2019 under the patronage of AIMS (Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport).

Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport (AIMS) President Stephan Fox has visited the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Championships in Thailand. He was was welcomed by IWF President Tamás Aján. The pair exchanged gifts and watched the women’s 81 kilograms and men’s 102kg A sessions won by Colombia’s Leidy Yessenia Solis Arboleda – at the expense of defending champion Lidia Valentín of Spain – and Belarus’ Yauheni Tsikhantsou, respectively. Fox also stopped off at the #iLiftClean information booth located on the outskirts of the venue being used for the IWF World Championships. President Fox stated that he enjoyed the competition, which really had me stayed until the last lift and see the Colombian beat the defending champion from Spain, and also a new champion. Fox stated how impressed he was by the widespread of medals at the event, with 30 countries having made at least one podium so far. Stephan Fox, also vice-president of the Global Association of International Sports Federations, stopped off at the #iLiftClean information booth located on the outskirts of the venue being used for the IWF World Championships ©IWF. He also said the visit gave him the chance to receive in-depth information from IWF director […]

Six current and former AIMS member participated in the World Masterships 2019 from the highest level. Aikido, Judo, Kick Boxing, Sambo, Savate, Jiu Jitsu and Muaythai all participated. Leading personalities from the AIMS Council, President Fox, Vice President Panagiotis, Council Members Miguel Buchel, Julie Gabriel, Kei Izawa and former president Espen Lund all contributed to the success of the event. The AIMS family says thank you to Chungju and the World Masterships!

Excitement is rising as we count down just one week until the spotlight shines bright on the World Urban Games. Over 50 cities approached GAISF the Global Associations of International Sports Federations, the key pillar of the wider sports movement with 125 members, associate members and observers including both Olympic and Non-Olympic sports. One of Europe’s most elegant and cosmopolitan cities is the Hungarian capital of Budapest, one of the major sporting capitals in Europe. Budapest will be the host of this significant event and without a doubt the ultimate global platform for the new generation of urban sports. 3×3 Basketball, BMX freestyle and Breaking, are set for inclusion in the Tokyo 2020 with Paris 2024 Olympic programs on the horizon. The International Olympic Committee welcomed the partnership between GAISF and Budapest stating it’s a great opportunity to test innovations that will bring the sports closer to the youth.  GAISF President, Raffaele Chiulli, stated that “WUG and Budapest 2019 will witness some of the most inspirational urban athletes travelling from around the world where the games comprise a diverse program of competitions and showcase urban sports, complemented by a festival of youth-focused music, art and culture. GAISF is grateful for […]

AIMS congratulates Mike Thomas on his re-election as IDBF President, at the occasion of the IDBF General Assembly in Pattaya, Thailand. Mike’s re-election goes to your enthusiasm and dedication which is highlighted in the 14th World Dragon Boat Racing Championships in Pattaya. It was an honour for the AIMS President to be invited and speak at the IDBF General Assembly and AIMS is looking forward to continuing the close cooperation between AIMS and IDBF as a valuable member of the AIMS family.

AIMS President followed an invitation by the Ju-Jitsu International Federation to visit the Ju-Jutsu Gand Prix held in Bangkok, Thailand. JJIF Director-General, Joachim Thumfart, welcomed the President and gave him a full tour through the venue. The AIMS President was not only impressed with the quality of the competition but also the number of participants and the inclusion of the social projects as part of the event. A special ceremony took place in which competition uniforms were being donated towards JJIF social projects and United Through Sports initiative. The AIMS President stated that Ju-Jitsu is an important member of the GAISF and AIMS family and the growth of the sport around the world speaks for itself.

The final attended by AIMS President Stephan Fox and AIMS Secretary General Gerhard Zimmermann as well as by GAISF Director Philippe Gueisbuhler, Andrew Hofer from the IOC Sports Department, IWGA board members Lukas Hinder, Volker Bernardi and IWGA CEO Achim Gossow was a demonstration of strength: With a 4-0 victory (11:4, 11:4, 11:9, 11:5) against Austria, the German Fistball team in Winterthur (Switzerland) won the world championship title. With an impressive performance in all positions, the defending champion in front of 5,819 spectators in the Schützenwiese stadium did not give the challenger from the neighbouring country the slightest chance and celebrated the third world title in a row after less than 50 minutes of playing time. Jörn Verleger from Munich, Germany was elected the sixth president in the history of the International Fistball Association (IFA). The 47-year-old sports manager succeeds Karl Weiss (Austria). Karl Weiss did not run for re-election after serving eight years as president of the Association. Weiss, who has led the IFA from 27 member nations to 61 national associations in the last eight years, has been elected Honorary President by the Congress. Vice Presidents elected Giana Hexsel (Brazil), Vikki Buston (New Zealand) and Steve Schmutzler (Germany). At […]

WINTERTHUR. Every four years the Men’s Fistball world championships take place. This year they are being held in Winterthur, Switzerland. From 11 to 17 August, 18 of the world’s best men’s fistball teams are playing for the coveted World Championship title. The event is also Qualifier for The World Games 2023. Furthermore, IFA will elect a new President and Board of Directors as IFA President Karl Weiss in not running again. New standards on the Schützenwiese The main games are being held in a fistball stadium that has been built within the football stadium Schützenwiese. The stadium has a seating capacity of 7,500. For the semi-finals and finals, the stadium should be a sell out and pre-sales have sold 11,000 tickets. The national teams from Germany, Brazil, Austria and Switzerland are the main contenders for the Gold Medal. The entire field of participants covers five continents and teams from New Zealand, Japan and Argentina will also be playing in Winterthur. All teams want to overthrow top seed Germany With eleven titles won out of the previous 14 World Championships, Germany is the favourite at the upcoming event. The team of national coach Olaf Neuenfeld currently holds all the titles up for […]

GAISF President Raffaele Chiulli and GAISF Vice President Stefan Fox visited the Star Judo Club in Naples last week to meet its founder Gianni Maddaloni, a man who credits judo with keeping him on the right path and out of trouble. And now Maddaloni is committed to doing the same for the young people in his community. As part of the International Judo Federation’s (IJF) ‘Judo for the World’ initiative, the International Federation commissioned a series of videos which showcase individuals who have dedicated their time to changing the lives of others in their community through judo. Based in Scampia, near Naples, one of the most dangerous suburbs in Italy, Maddaloni opened the Star Judo Club in 1992 as a place to care of and inspire local people. After his son Giuseppe won the gold medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, Maddaloni was able to develop his idea. His mission was to give the community the opportunity to practice a sport, something they had not had beforehand. Many of the young people visiting his gym have no family support network and come from all walks of life. “Scampia was full of criminals, my own brother died in a prison […]

The second round of the Bangkok Urban Tournament took place last weekend with youth teams meeting again to compete in futsal, 3X3 basketball, sepak takraw, badminton and muaythai. The Bangkok Urban Youth Tournament is the continuation of the legacy left in the wake of the SportAccord Convention 2018 in Bangkok where charity, social and sports organisations such as United Through Sports, EXtreme Sports and Right To Play united to launch a multi-sports event to bring kids from different socio-economic backgrounds on to a shared field of play. All hands were on deck with officials and coaches from the Badminton Association of Thailand, International Federation of Muaythai Amateur, Sepak Takraw Association of Thailand, Thailand Basketball Association, Thailand Department of Physical Education and the Amateur Muaythai Association of Thailand volunteering their time to provide the various sports for the youths to partake. IFMA President Dr Sakchye Tapsuwan was representing Thailand, Khun Paisan Rangsikitpho from the Badminton Association of Thailand represented the Chair of the event Khun Ying Patama, Vice President of the World Badminton Federation and IOC Member. GAISF was represented by Vice President Stephan Fox and Right To Play by Asia Director Niamh De Loughry. One of the highlights of the events was the fact that a team […]

The 8th General Secretary of the United Nations was the keynote speaker at the 2019 AIMS General Assembly. Mr. Ban Ki-moon earned the highest respect for his work for peace, justice and human rights and he also chairs the IOC Ethical Commission. Mr. Ban Ki-moon spoke about the unifying power of sport. He spoke about the ability to unite, inclusivity, equality and the power of sport towards social change. He gave grace to the AIMS family for their initiative, United Through Sports, and this year’s United Through Sports Youth Festival as part of the Sport Accord Convention on the Gold Coast. The initiative which started in Bangkok at the convention is a perfect example of what can be accomplished by working together, sharing the same vision for the future and the youth of the world. The initiative, which again is patronized by the IOC, outlines the Olympic values and Olympic humanity and Mr. Ban Ki-moon thanked all the AIMS members council and the UTS team under the leadership of President Stephan Fox and he encouraged everyone to continue this inspiring initiative.

The Sports Ministry of Kazakhstan invited the GAISF leadership to the Capital City, Nursultan,  which has been awarded the 2021 World Combat games. The two day visit included an important conference in which over 500 delegates of various combat sports and martial arts came together for the forum. The former Prime Minister and Chairman of the National Security Committee Karim Massimov who is also the President of the Kazakhstan Martial Art Federation, did a welcome speech to the President of GAISF and SportAccord , Raffaele Chiulli, GAISF Vice President, Stephan Fox and the Director of GAISF, Philippe Gueisbuhler. Mr. Massimov outlined the unique power of sport, especially martial arts and the importance of GAISF as the umbrella body for recognized international sports federations. Many other important personalities were included: Mr. Muhamediuly Arystanbek, Minister of Culture and Sports, Mr. Dauren Abayev, Minister of Information and Communications, Mr. Saken Mussaibekov, Kazakhstan NOC Secretary General and Mr. Anuar Sadykulov, Head of the State of Security Service. President Mr.  Chiulli thanked on behalf of GAISF for the invitation, highlighting again, the importance of Kazakhstan in the world of sport and the importance Kazakhstan gives to sport and active society. Stephan Fox, the Chair of the Multi-sport Games […]

As done in previous years, at the start of the SportAccord Convention, the 60 members of the ARISF & AIMS family came together for a night between friends. Many VIP delegates from the IOC, Queensland Government joined the surprise party including the 8th Secretary General of the United Nations, H.E. Mr Ban Ki Moon. Three buses and many VIP cars whisked the delegates off to the surprise venue the Warner Bros. Movie World Theme Park. Delegates were welcomed by none other than Ms Marilyn Monroe at the Fountain of Fame after walking the red carpet. GAISF/SportAccord and ARISF President Raffaele Chiulli and AIMS President Stephan Fox made their welcome speech and everyone toasted to sport and friendship. The function kicked into high gear as the DC Roller Coaster opened up for the private function where all delegates including Mr Ban Ki Moon took a ride (or two!) on the thrilling ride. After the adrenaline rush, the guests were led to the Star Pavillion through a vibrant street setting and a live performance by Ms Monroe. The lights went out and Bat Man arrived on his Bat Mobile to the delight of all the young-hearted delegates experiencing the first welcome dinner of […]

A special ceremony took place in the presence of the IOC President Thomas Bach, HRH Prince Faisal, GAISF & SportAccord President Raffaele Chiulli, WADA President Sir Craig Reedie and many others. The 8th Secretary General of the United Nations H.E. Ban Ki Moon awarded the AIMS President, Stephan Fox, the position of Co-Chairman of the 2019 Chungju World Martial Arts Masterships of which Mr Ban Ki Moon is Honorary President. The 8th UN Secretary General whom is also Chairman of the IOC Ethics Commission stated that the AIMS President is a great advocate to the Olympic and Martial Arts values and Olympic humanity.

Ju-jitsu has a huge popularity in the world and is very active in the Kingdom itself. IJJF, the world governing body for Ju-jitsu is recognized by GAISF and AIMS. The President of IJJF, Khun Chuchart, is also the Vice President of AIMS. IJJF is included in many multi-sport games. The Thailand Ju-jitsu Federation under the presidency of Khun Chuchart, staged the National Championship and invited AIMS President as the guest of honor. President, Stephan Fox, congratulated the Thailand Ju-jitsu Federation on all their efforts and having over 700 junior athletes participating at the National Championships speaks for itself. Congratulations to the Ju-jitsu Thailand Federation!  

In an often divided world, sport is an important connection that unites people across and within societies promoting unity in diversity. There are countless examples of the unifying strength of sport. The Olympic value focuses on friendship, respect and excellence combined with the paralympic values of determination, inspiration, courage and equality. The objective of the Olympic movement is to contribute in building a more peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport and practise without discrimination of any kind. Pierre de Coubertin founder of the modern Olympic movement believed that sport contributed to the harmonious and well-balanced development of the body, personality and the mind. The interaction between sport, education and culture is encouraged by the Olympic movement to promote Olympism, Olympic ideals, reinforce cooperation with educational bodies and with projects focused on the youth. Alliances are crucial, and this is what was established at the 2018 SportAccord Convention in Bangkok with the formation of United Through Sports (UTS) and the many supporters. The IOC, AIMS, GAISF, RTP, UNESCO, UN Women, Generation for Peace, Peace and Sport, WADA and Royal Thai Government were amongst those endorsing the initiative. One of the key persons behind UTS is GAISF Vice President […]

Bankgkok, Thailand – The SportAccord Convention 2018 in Bangkok has been remembered as one of the most outstanding, particularly with the initiative United Through Sports which saw events leading up to the convention and building up to the Bangkok Sports Festival with over 60 sports participating. History was made when the youth team of displaced and disadvantaged children from the Mae La Camp participated in the event. The festival opened with a conference joined by many personalities including IOC President Dr Thomas Bach. The four-day event came to an inspiring close with the conference “Leaving a Legacy” behind with key-note speaker His Royal Highness Prince Faisal. The initiative spear-headed by AIMS under the full patronage of the IOC, GAISF and SportAccord raised donations throughout the week to leave something behind for children in need. As the SportAccord convention prepares for the Gold Coast Australia, Bangkok holds activities and where donations have been made. United Through Sports, Right To Play and IFMA teamed up to distribute donations form SportAccord Convention to the Tak Province Mae La camp in December. Last Saturday saw the SportAccord Managing Director Nis Hatt travel to Bangkok to participate in the extension of the Sport Is Your […]

Over 30 years ago, countless Rohinga families fled from violent human rights abuse and conflict within Myanmar (Burma) and have been “temporarily” living in nine refugee camps within the Tak Province along the western border of Thailand. With over 120,000 refugees in this region, they contribute to the fastest growing refugee crisis in the world. Rohinga families currently have no alternative than to live in cramped shacks in over-crowded make-shift communities. Regular risk of fires sweeping through these camps means that each house is adorned with rows of small plastic bags above their entrances filled with water or sand. These families live where they can, with little access to medical care, they are dependent on donations. Many have been born into the camps never stepping foot outside of the gated and guarded compounds. Dusty air, poor nutrition and hygiene is the reality for these families. There is no alternative but to live off donated rations. Here they eat what is available and what they are given. Here there is no privacy, almost no personal space and a lack of basic amenities. Children marry young, create their own families, receive basic education provided by elected teachers within the camps. With limited […]

The AIMS family would like to wish everyone happy holidays and a great start to the New Year.    

The 2018 general assembly of the World Masterships was held in Korea under the chairmanship of the esteemed governor of Cheoungju province, Governor Si Jong Lee. Representatives from around the world traveled to Cheoungju to participate in the forum which had many important speakers. The afternoon meeting was on the organisation of the upcoming 2019 Games, under the honourary president of former UN General Secretary, Ban Ki Moon, and the President for 2019 of the World Taekwando Federation, Dr. Chungwon Choue. The governor opened the assembly followed by GIASF Vice President, Mr. Stephan Fox, honouring the late President Patrick Baumann with a minute of silence. Many AIMS member federations participated in that meeting including AIMS Vice President and President of Ju Jitsu, Mr. Panagiotis Theorodopoulus.

The Annual Aikido Seminar in Netherlands, that is conducted by female instructors, run its course full well. Women and also men gathered to practice together on tatami. The instructors that lead the course were Jeanette Tanis, Trudeke Sterringa, Satomi Ishikawa and Caroline Bied-Charreton, all four of them from Netherland, and also Laura Copello from Argentina. With over 45 years of Aikido experience, Laura brought a lot of knowledge to the seminar, showed many steady positions and effective movements. Despite the different backgrounds, all the teachers looked for common frame. The participants worked on Aikido basics such as taking low stands, making correct tai sabaki, opening the chest and connecting to others with the hara. The seminar took place on the 28th of October, in Amsterdam. It was a seminar of meeting and sharing with a good atmosphere. Article from : http://www.aikido-international.org

LAUSANNE, Switzerland – SportAccord is delighted to announce Beijing, capital of the People’s Republic of China, as Host City for the 18th edition of SportAccord which is set to take place from 19 – 24 April 2020. One of the six ancient cities in China, Beijing is the nation’s economic, political and cultural centre. It serves as the main transportation hub for Northern China with frequent flights and an excellent infrastructure, making it easy for delegates to reach Beijing. Mr. Chen Jining, Mayor of Beijing and Executive President of Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, said: “Hosting the 2020 SportAccord Convention will promote the sports development in Beijing and China at large, further Beijing’s exchanges and cooperation with the international sports community, boost the preparations for the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, and contribute to the development of world sports.” “SportAccord shows its trust for my city by hosting 2020 SportAccord Convention in Beijing. We will fully explore the strengths of the city and deepen cooperation with the SportAccord and International Sports Federations to ensure the Convention is a fruitful event.” With many high-profile events on the horizon such as the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup and […]

The AIMS family come together in Lausanne to honour the late former President of GAISF, Patrick Baumann. Patrick died in the evening of October 13, following a heart attack while attending the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. Only 2 days before, he was at the AIMS council meeting to inspire the AIMS family. He was an inspirational leader whose vision, enthusiasm, personality, transformed GAISF following his election to the Presidency in 2016. His life was dedicated to sport and he was one of the leading administrators of his generation. The AIMS family come together to mourn but also to celebrate Patrick’s life and the best way to remember him is to continue his legacy.

A dream came true for Thailand’s Krisana Padsawa (10) and Arithat Nilsarika (11). Sport Is Your Gang (SIYG) is an initiative founded by the International Federation Muaythai Amateur many years ago. The youth-based initiative functions in corporation with many key humanitarian organisations including Peace and Sport, Generation for Peace and UNESCO. The objective of SIYG is to support and empower youth from challenging backgrounds and encourage them to participate in exercise and dialogue exchange programs towards a healthier and active lifestyle. SIYG focuses on communities facing economic hardship, increased immigrant populations in urban environments and includes victims of crime and bullying. Many youths find themselves without real opportunities for self-advancement and consequently many of these youths find belonging in street gangs where education suffers through truancy and lack of a stable support system. IFMA advocates the potential of sport understanding how importance of cultivating self-respect and self-belief, and for these children to find a safe and trusted environment amidst adversity. The SIYG project has been successfully integrated in many IFMA National Federations around the world and has gained the highest respect from the sports community. In 2014, they were awarded the SportAccord “Spirit of Sport Award” for their contribution towards […]

Uruguay gathered a lot of active people yesterday, in Canelones, for the Nanairo Ekiden event. The Aikido Federation of Uruguay, member of IAF, joined the activities of the Nanairo Ekiden organized by Red Internacional Basquetbol Educativo, the Juan Salvador Gaviota School and the University of Tsukuba, on the 7th of October 2018, in Canelones, Uruguay. “It was a pleasant surprise to see that even though there were a lot of loud expressing spectators, during the Aikido demonstration everybody turned quiet and paid attention to what was happening on the tatami.” said Lilamani de Soysa, from the University of Tsukuba, present at the event. The Aikido demonstration was one of the featured sports together with basketball, baskin (adapted basketball), wheelchair basketball and zumba dancing, performed by the Uruguayan Down Syndrome Federation. His Excellency, the Japanese Ambassador Tatsuhiro Shindo, together with wife, watched the demonstration and the activities.     The Aikido demonstration, with the participation of Makoto Kikugawa Sensei, JICA volunteer in Uruguay, was added value to this inclusive educational event. The Nanairo Ekiden is based on the traditional Japanese Ekiden race together with educational activities based on Olympic and Paralympic values: friendship, respect, excellence, determination, inspiration, courage and equality. It is […]

Kosice will be the heart city of the 24-hour Aikido Marathon this year. 14 instructors from 7 countries will conduct the trainings of this event, during the 6 th -7 th of October 2018. At least a hundred people are expected to be on the tatami on the Saturday of October 6 and train continuously for 24 hours. The marathon starts at 11 a.m. and it is planned to have a break every 45 minutes so that the aikidoka would be able to go through the entire series of trainings. The panel of instructors emphasizes teachers from Slovakia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Sweden, Belgium, Germany and Ukraine. They are ready to train when they don’t teach so that they keep the motion of the marathon: Dusan Dreisig, Iveta Sudorova, Panni Becsagh, Norbert Hochstrsser, Helena Reguli, Zdenko Reguli, Martin Svihla, Vanda Svihlova, Andreas Falk, Sylvia Mucke, Alain Dujardin, Olga Stegura, Mikhail Rogach, Zuzana Gajdosova. Some may wonder how this could be possible, but the answer has multiple aspects such as enthusiasm of meeting friends, joy of training with passionate people or even establishing new limits of mind and physical resistance. The marathon is open to all aikidoka, regardless of rank or experience. […]

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Nat Indrapana, IOC Member in Thailand, at the age of 80. With a strong academic background, Nat Indrapana was a key figure in the development of sport in Thailand and Asia, holding numerous positions within sports organisations in his country and continent. He was Deputy Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand; Chairman of the Sports Development and Improvement Committee at the Southeast Asian Federation; President of the Asian Trap and Skeet Shooting Federation; a Council member of the Asian Games Federation and of the Olympic Council of Asia; and a member of the University Sports Board of Thailand. IOC President Thomas Bach said: “With the death of Nat Indrapana, the IOC loses a true gentleman of sport. With his outstanding gentleness he made many friends around the world, including me. Over the years of his membership, Nat contributed greatly to the Olympic Movement and the protection of its values. For this, he mobilised all his personal forces to serve the IOC even while fighting his serious disease. We will all miss him greatly.” Indrapana entered the IOC in 1990 and had more recently […]

GAISF has officially launched the .sport extension programme, offering its members the opportunity to secure their own .sport domain portfolio. As digital technology continues to evolve, International Federations (IFs) with a recognised and protected domain will ensure they are positioned as the global leader in their sport. Owning a .sport domain from GAISF helps by instantly identifying an organisation or individual as a recognised, credible and trusted member of the global sports family. Each IF will acquire a portfolio that can include a number of domains, providing information for fans in more than 30 different languages. For every domain that isn’t actively managed by a Member, GAISF creates pages which includes a visual of the IF or event and a redirection to the Member’s main website, ensuring that each IF has a vast digital landscape but that traffic to its active sites are never lost. Having an identifiable domain such as .sport gives all federations that choose to opt in to the initiative an unmistakable association to the sport ecosystem, as well as the opportunity to adopt a fresh and straightforward digital image that is easy discoverable by fans of the sport. Governing bodies, athletes, clubs, event organisers, media/publishers, as […]

The SportAccord Convention 2018 edition took a fresh direction with the incorporation of activities that included a United Through Sports Art workshop led by Valentina Jarrett. With her warm spirit, the engaging Mrs. Jarrett volunteered to teach and inspire a group of displaced children from the Tak province (Mae la, Umpiem and Nu Po camps) to create art depicting sports using recycled materials to create beautiful pieces.   Aside from being a part of the United Through Sports opening ceremony, the displaced youth participated in the Bangkok Sports Festival including; 3×3 basketball, street football and sepaktakraw. They also enjoyed other activities and workshops with Peace and Sport Olympic champion medal winner Pascal Gentil, French football legend Christian Karembeu and NBA basketball superstar Bismack Biyombo. During the unique afternoon event, the children expressed their freedom of creativity by using the logos of the 64 International Federations and the result was contemporary art illustrating sports of the participating IF’s. Assisting the afternoon events were translators from the organization Right To Play where the atmosphere was one of laughter, education about the principles of art and an exchange of ideas. The workshop came to a close over snacks and group photographs, with appreciation and thanks given […]

ARISF believes strongly in the concept of a unified front to support the healthy development of the sport on all levels. Over the last few years IFMA, ARISF International Federation Member, has initiated rigorous efforts to unify all Muaythai groups within the member countries. The unification processes have been accomplished in cooperation with the international sport governing bodies and national Olympic committees, in line with the interests of ARISF International Federations such as IFMA. Italy has become the latest member to sign this important MOU unifying the two national Muaythai federations in cooperation with the National Olympic Committee, the CONI. The signing ceremony took place in Rome in presence of the ARISF President Raffaele Chiulli, IFMA General Secretary Stephan Fox, CONI representative Anna Riccardi, FIKBMS President Donato Milano, FIMT President Mauro Bassetti and IFMA Executive Board Member Davide Carlot. ARISF President Raffaele Chiulli stated: “IFMA is an important member in the IOC recognised sporting family and I applaud IFMA’s initiatives to work for the overall sport development in each country”. “This cooperation was very important and its significance was truly highlighted by the presence of both the ARISF President and CONI representative at the signing ceremony” IFMA General Secretary Stephan […]

The 15 IOC and or GAISF recognised Combat Sports met in Bangkok under the leadership of chairman Stephan Fox who is also GAISF Vice-President. The meeting was shared by IOC Executive Member, Nenad Lalovic, who is also the President of United World Wrestling. Many topics were discussed in regards to establishing a working group towards the World Combat Games. Also discussions took place in order to do a martial arts and combat forum. Mr Stanislas Frossard, EPAS Executive Secretary, did an extensive presentation on behalf of the European Council. The GAISF combat commission has become a strong group within the world recognised family and 6 out of the 15 members will be part of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The 17th of April was a historical day in the world of sport with the official launch of the United Through Sport (UTS) initiative during the SportAccord Convention 2018 held in Bangkok. The Bangkok Sport Festival and UTS initiative was under the full patronage of the IOC and to show his support, IOC President Dr.Thomas Bach was keynote speaker at the opening conference of the festival. The President made a heartfelt speech congratulating the GAISF Vice President Mr Stephan Fox for his initiative and thanks was also given to United Through Sport CEO Mrs. Julia Govinden. The President outlined the goal of the Olympic movement, with emphasis on the Olympic spirit which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play. He highlighted the importance of the opening ceremony in PyeongChang with the unified Korean team reminding us that sport does not build walls, today more than ever we need the unifying power of sport. There were many welcoming speakers, including the GAISF President Patrick Baumann, President of ASOIF Francesco Ricci-Bitti and President of WADA Sir Craig Reedie. The event was opened by the Minister of Tourism and Sport his excellency Weerasak Kowsurat with many other speakers; […]

Over 100 representatives of local and international press turned up at the official prelaunch held at the Arnoma Hotel Ballroom. The event opened with a powerful video showcasing the 92 recognised sports grouped together under the GAISF umbrella. Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul opened the press conference showing her pride as a Thai and IOC member that the SportAccord convention has been awarded to Thailand and the unique opportunity for Thailand to present itself to the world. It furthermore outlines Thailand as a sporting hub in the South East Asian region. As an IOC member Khunying also showed her pride that the IOC has granted patronage to the festival and she congratulated all organisations and individuals who have joined hands in the United Through Sport Campaign. Khunying thanked especially Stephan Fox the Vice President of GAISF and AIMS President for his vision in the unique power of sport. Colonel Ruj Sangudom Deputy Governor of the Sport Authority of Thailand stated that Thailand looks forward to welcoming the leading personalities to Bangkok includingg the IOC President and preparations are well on the way both at the convention to be held at the Centara Centre and the festival which will be held outside of the […]

WMF is now delighted and excited to be able to inform that we have signed the contract for WC 2019 with the local organizer and China Minigolf Sport Federation (CMF). This means that the Minigolf World Championships will take place for the first time ever outside Europe in 2019. This is a consequent step in the development of WMF to make the game more global. The negotiation process lasted about six months from the day when CMF President Xiaolong He announced that they have found an investor/organizer, who wants to bring the championships to China. The investor / organizer is a real estate company who is building a new hotel and recreational area in Zhouzhuang, the ancient water town of China. This real estate company is a subsidiary of high tech public company Invengo Information Technology Co. Ltd. who plans to bring more intelligent technologies to the minigolf course. They are also the Intelligent Campus Solution provider of Shanghai Disney Park. The negotiations were very smooth and we could reach a result with which all sides are satisfied. Also the regional government is supporting the championships, which is essential in China for the success of such an event. This contract […]

LAUSANNE, Switzerland – This year’s CityAccord conference taking place on Tuesday 17 April 2018 at SportAccord in Bangkok will focus on ‘Making Relationships a Priority’. During the session ‘Between Events’, delegates who register for SportAccord will hear about ground-breaking initiatives from UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) and UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), and the tremendous impact these initiatives are having at both governmental and grassroots levels. With non-communicable diseases (NCDs) now accounting for the majority of health-related deaths in Asia and the Pacific, especially among youth[1], interventions to increase or improve the quality of spaces in urban planning, can have a transformative effect on the lives of individuals and the community. Caroline Baxter Tresise, International Consultant for Sport, Social and Human Sciences Sector, UNESCO Paris, will reveal how they are working with IFMA (International Federation of Muaythai Amateur) in Thailand as part of the initiatives, Sport is Your Gang and The New Urban Agenda. Together, these programmes are helping to combat the rise of NCDs as a result of the increase in dedicated urban green public spaces for sport and physical activity such as Muaythai. “Parks and celebrated public spaces for sport are rapidly disappearing across the world in favour of shopping malls and […]

The 3rd site visit took place between the LOC of the Royal Thai Government and lead by Lt. Co. Ruj Saeng-Udom, Deputy Governor of SAT and Nis Hatt, CEO of SportAccord Convention. Over 70 people from various departments participated in this important meeting in which all departments put their progress reports forward. GAISF Vice President, Stephan Fox, also made a welcome speech, again thanking the Royal Thai Government for bringing the convention to Bangkok and that the over 100 recognised sports and organisations are looking forward to the convention from 15 – 10 April 2018. There is a great progress on all aspects of the convention including the Sport Festival which is coming together very nicely and is drawing much interests across all sports. The Festival will be a great message to show the power of youth and sport for a brighter future for all.  

PRESS RELEASE 22 December 2017 ISTAF CONGRESS 2017 General Charouck Arirachakaran, President of Takraw Association of Thailand (TAT) was re-elected unopposed as President, International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF) for a 4 years term during the International Sepaktakraw Federation’s Congress. A total of 50 delegates from 17 countries attended the Congress held at Alexander Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand. Details of the council members who were elected and appointed willserve the next term from 2018-2021 (4 years term) are as follows: President 1 Gen. Charouck Arirachakaran – Thailand Deputy President 1 Boonchai Lorhpipat – Thailand Deputy President 2 Sohrab Azad Khan Kandi – Iran Vice President 1 S.R. Premraj – India, 2 Lee Qoea Gyu – Korea, 3 Muhammad Fariq Abdul Halim – Singapore, 4 Meas Sarin – Cambodia, 5 Karen Tanchanco-Caballero – Philippines, 6 Shunichi Takeshita – Japan, 7 Yeh Chen Yen – Chinese Taipei, 8 Dhurba Bahadur Gurung – Nepal Secretary General Abdul Halim Bin Kader, BBM – Singapore Deputy Secretary General Muhammad Taufiq – Singapore Asst. Secretary General Yogender Singh Dahiya – India Treasurer Prof. Chalerm Chaiwatcharaporn – Thailand Council Members 1 Abdul Sarip Naharawi – Singapore, 2 Ali Fouladi Rad – Iran, 3 Kazi Rajib Ahmed Chapol – Bangladesh, 4 […]

MADRID – 14 December 2017 – Following the recent celebration of its one-year anniversary, the Olympic Channel today announced that it has reached cooperation agreements with the Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport (AIMS), and the international governing bodies for fistball, muaythai, polo, powerlifting and tug of war to collaborate on content for the multi-platform global media destination. The agreements with AIMS, International Fistball Association (IFA), International Federation of Muaythai Amateur (IFMA), Federation of International Polo (FIP), International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) and Tug of War International Federation (TWIF) bring the number of partners who have announced similar agreements with the Olympic Channel to 63. Federation partners include international sports federations (IFs), recognised federations and organisations, multi-sport organisers and non-recognised federations. “We are excited to welcome these organisations to the Olympic Channel’s robust family of federation partners,” said Mark Parkman, general manager of the IOC’s global Olympic Channel. “As we look ahead to 2018, we are in a great position to promote all sports and athletes within the Olympic Movement, and help to distribute their content and grow their audiences worldwide.” AIMS President Stephan Fox expressed his joy and said, “this is an important step for AIMS and the 21 […]

An official signing took place with representatives of the Chinese Taipei government and National Olympic Committee to host the 2019 World Combat Games. The contract was signed by representatives of the Chinese Taipei government, Director General of Sports Administration, Ministry of Education Lin Te-Fu and Director of International and Cross-Strait Sports Division Maggie Hsu.   The GAISF Council approved the MOU which was then followed by the signing. GAISF President, Mr. Patrick Baumann counter signed together with GAISF Vice President and Chairman of the GAISF Combat Commission, Mr. Stephan Fox.   The announcement was made at the GAISF briefing in front of the 92 GAISF member federations. The combat meeting has already been scheduled.      

LAUSANNE, 8 November 2017- GAISF and International Olympic Committee (IOC) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), underscoring the unity of vision and purpose between the two organisations and paving the way to a continuing close and fruitful relationship, which will benefit all of sport’s stakeholders. The MoU was signed by IOC President Thomas Bach and GAISF President Patrick Baumann, ahead of the official opening of the International Federations Forum in the Olympic Capital Lausanne. The signing marks a new era in the ever-closer relationship between GAISF and the IOC, and the closure of a transition period which has seen Sportaccord re-name as GAISF, as well as the re-evaluation and redefinition of its role, aims and objectives. The relationship between GAISF and the IOC is increasingly important in a changing international sports landscape and emphasises the IOC’s continued commitment to the International Federation (IF) Family, which was highlighted in Olympic Agenda 2020. This gave IFs a greater responsibility in key areas including nomination of new sports, the Olympic Games bidding process and ensured a voice at the top table across the Olympic Movement. The MoU covers membership criteria, services to members and multi-sport games, and is designed to serve as […]