List of international sports federations

This is a list of international sports federations, each of which serves as a non-governmental governing body for a given sport and administers its sport at a world level, most often crafting rules, promoting the sport to prospective spectators and fans, developing prospective players, and organizing world or continental championships. Some international sports federations, such as the International Swimming Federation and the International Skating Union, may oversee multiple activities referred to in common parlance as separate sports: FINA, for example governs swimming, diving, synchronised swimming, and water polo as separate "disciplines" within the single "sport" of Aquatics.

International sports federations form an integral part of the Olympic and Paralympic movements. Each Olympic sport is represented by its respective international sports federation, which in turn helps administer the events in its respective sport during the Games. For a sport to become an Olympic sport, its international sports federation must be recognized by the International Olympic Committee.^[1]

Likewise, an international sports federation must be recognized by the International Paralympic Committee for its sport to become a paralympic sport, though in the latter case, several Paralympic Sports are governed by a dedicated committee of the International Paralympic Committee itself, under the World Para branding, for example track and field athletics for disabled athletes is governed by the IPC itself, under the name "World Para Athletics". Other Paralympic sports are governed within the structure of the able-bodied equivalent: for example, the UCI governs both able-bodied and paralympic cycling.

Federations recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC)[]

Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF)[]

The following are recognised by the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF):

Sport	Federation
Aquatics	FINA (Fédération internationale de natation)
Archery	World Archery Federation (WA)
Athletics	World Athletics (formerly International Association of Athletics Federations; IAAF)
Badminton	Badminton World Federation (BWF)
Basketball	FIBA
Boxing (amateur)	International Boxing Association (formerly Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur; AIBA)
Canoeing	International Canoe Federation (ICF)
Cycling	Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) (or International Cycling Union, ICU)
Equestrianism	International Federation for Equestrian Sports (Fédération Équestre Internationale, FEI)
Fencing	Fédération Internationale d'Escrime (FIE)
Football/Soccer	FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association)
Golf	International Golf Federation (IGF)
Gymnastics	Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) (International Gymnastics Federation, IFG)
Handball	International Handball Federation (IHF)
Field Hockey	Fédération Internationale de Hockey (FIH) (International Hockey Federation)
Judo	International Judo Federation (IJF)
Modern Pentathlon	Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM)
Rowing	Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d'Aviron (FISA) (International Rowing Federation)
Rugby union	World Rugby (WR)
Sailing	World Sailing (Until December 2015, International Sailing Federation (ISAF))
Shooting sports	International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF)
Table tennis	International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)
Taekwondo	World Taekwondo (WT)
Tennis	International Tennis Federation (ITF)
Triathlon	International Triathlon Union (ITU)
Volleyball and Beach volleyball	Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB)
Weightlifting	International Weightlifting Federation (IWF)
Wrestling	United World Wrestling (UWW)

Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF)[]

The following are recognized by the Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF):

Sport	Federation
Biathlon	International Biathlon Union (IBU)
Bobsleigh and skeleton	International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF)
Curling	World Curling Federation (WCF)
Ice hockey	International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF)
Ice skating (including figure skating, speed skating, and Short-track speed skating)	International Skating Union (ISU)
Luge	Fédération Internationale de Luge de Course (FIL)
Skiing (including Alpine, Nordic combined, cross-country, freestyle, ski jumping, and snowboarding)	Fédération Internationale de Ski (FIS)

Association of the IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF)[]

The following are recognised by the Association of the IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF):^[2]

Sport	Federation	Sub-Sport	Federation
Air sports (including aerobatics, air racing, ballooning, gliding, hang gliding, and parachuting/skydiving)	Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI)
American football	International Federation of American Football (IFAF)
Auto racing	Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)
Bandy	Federation of International Bandy (FIB)
Baseball, Softball, and Baseball5^[3]	World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC)
Basque pelota	Fédération Internationale de Pelota Vasca (FIPV)
Billiard sports (including carom billiards, pocket billiards (pool), and snooker)	World Confederation of Billiards Sports (WCBS)	Carom	Union Mondiale de Billard (UMB)
		Pool	World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA)
		Snooker	International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF)
Boules sports	Confédération Mondiale des Sports de Boules (CMSB)	Bocce	Confederazione Boccistica Internazionale (CBI)
		Boule Lyonnaise	Fédération Internationale de Boules (FIB)
		Pétanque	Fédération Internationale de Pétanque et Jeu Provençal (FIPJP)
Bowling	World Bowling (WB)	Bowling (Ten-pin)	World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA)
Bowling	World Bowling (WB)	Bowling (Nine-pin)	World Ninepin Bowling Association (WNBA)
Bridge	World Bridge Federation (WBF)
Cheerleading	International Cheer Union (ICU)
Chess	Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE)^[4]^[5]^[6]
Climbing & Mountaineering	Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme (UIAA)
Cricket	International Cricket Council (ICC)^[7]
DanceSport	World DanceSport Federation (WDSF)
Floorball	International Floorball Federation (IFF)
Flying disc	World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF)
Ice stock sport	International Federation IceStockSport (IFE)
Karate	World Karate Federation (WKF)
Kickboxing	World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO)
Korfball	International Korfball Federation (IKF)
Lacrosse	Federation of International Lacrosse
Life saving	International Life Saving Federation (ILS)
Motorcycle sport	Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM)
Muaythai	International Federation of Muaythai Amateur (IFMA)
Netball	International Netball Federation (INF)
Orienteering	International Orienteering Federation (IOF)
Polo	Federation of International Polo (FIP)
Powerboating	Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM)
Racquetball	International Racquetball Federation (IRF)
Roller sports (including inline hockey, , rink hockey, roller derby, skateboarding, and artistic roller skating)	World Skate (WS)
Sambo	Fédération Internationale de Sambo (FIAS)
Ski mountaineering	International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF)
Sport climbing	International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC)
Squash	World Squash Federation (WSF)
Sumo	International Sumo Federation (ISF)
Surfing and bodyboarding	International Surfing Association (ISA)
Tug-of-war	Tug-of-War International Federation (TWIF)
Underwater sports	Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS)
University sports	Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU)
Water skiing and wakeboarding (including cable skiing and cable wakeboarding	International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF)
Wushu	International Wushu Federation (IWUF)

Federations recognized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC)[]

There are 11 international federations recognized by the IPC, while the IPC itself serves as the international federation for 10 sports.^[8]^[9]

On 30 November 2016, the IPC adopted the "World Para" brand for all 10 of the sports that it directly governs.^[10]

Sport	Federation
Alpine Skiing	World Para Alpine Skiing
Archery	World Archery Federation (WA)
Athletics	World Para Athletics
Badminton	(PBWF) / Badminton World Federation (BWF)^[11]
Boccia	Boccia International Sports Federation (BISFed)^[12]
Cycling	Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)
Equestrian	International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI)
Flying disc	World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF)
Nordic skiing (including Biathlon and Cross-Country Skiing)	World Para Nordic Skiing
Para Dance Sport^[i]	World Para Dance Sport
Para Ice Hockey^[ii]	World Para Ice Hockey
Powerlifting	World Para Powerlifting
Rowing	International Rowing Federation (FISA)
Sailing	International Association for Disabled Sailing (IADS)
Shooting^[iii]	World Shooting Para Sport
Snowboarding	World Para Snowboard
Swimming	World Para Swimming
Para table tennis	International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)
Volleyball	World Organization Volleyball for Disabled (WOVD)
Wheelchair basketball	International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF)
Wheelchair curling	World Curling Federation (WCF)
Wheelchair rugby	International Wheelchair Rugby Federation (IWRF)
Wheelchair tennis	International Tennis Federation (ITF)

ⁱ At the time of the IPC's "World Para" rebranding, it changed the official name of the sport from "wheelchair dance sport" to "Para dance sport".^[10]

ⁱⁱ At the time of the IPC's "World Para" rebranding, it changed the official name of the sport from "sledge hockey" to "Para ice hockey".^[10]

ⁱⁱⁱ At the time of the IPC's "World Para" rebranding, it changed the official name of the sport to "shooting Para sport".^[10]

Disability specific organizations[]

Sport	Federation
Paralympic sports for athletes with cerebral palsy	Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CPISRA)
Football 7-a-side	International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football (IFCPF)
Football 5-a-side	International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA)
Goalball	International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA)
Judo	International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA)
Wheelchair Fencing	International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS)
For athletes with an intellectual disability	Inas

Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF)[]

Federations whose sports are either included into the Olympic Games (ASOIF, AIOWF) or recognized by the IOC (ARISF) are also members of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), formerly known as SportAccord. Other members of GAISF (non-IOC recognized) compose the (AIMS).

Sport	Federation
Aikido	International Aikido Federation (IAF)
Arm wrestling	World Armwrestling Federation (WAF)
Bodybuilding	International Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness (IFBB)
Casting	International Casting Sport Federation (ICSF)
Darts	World Darts Federation (WDF)
Dragon boat racing	International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF)
Draughts	World Draughts Federation (FMJD)
Fistball	International Fistball Association (IFA)
Go	International Go Federation (IGF)
Sport Ju-Jitsu	Ju-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF)
Kendo	International Kendo Federation (IKF)
Miniature golf	World Minigolfsport Federation (WMF)
Powerlifting	International Powerlifting Federation (IPF)
Savate	Federation Internationale de Savate (FISav)
Sepak Takraw	International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF)
Sled dog sports	International Federation of Sleddog Sports
Soft Tennis	International Soft Tennis Federation (ISTF)
Fishing	International Confederation of Sport Fishing (CIPS)
Teqball	International Federation of Teqball (FITEQ)

Other than full members (composing ASOIF, AIOWF, ARISF and AIMS), there are Associate members of GAISF.

Sport	Federation
Commonwealth Games	Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF)
Masters Games	International Masters Games Association (IMGA)
Mediterranean Games	International Committee of Mediterranean Games (ICMG or CIJM)
Military World Games	Conseil International du Sport Militaire (CISM)
World Mind Sports Games	International Mind Sports Association (IMSA)
	World Olympians Association (WOA)
	Panathlon International (PI)
Paralympic Games	International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
School Sports	International School Sport Federation (ISF)
Special Olympics	Special Olympics (SOI)
	International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS)
	Federation Internationale de Chiropratique du Sport (FICS)
Sports for the Deaf	International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (CISS)
	International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS)
	International Sports Press Association (AIPS)
CSIT World Sports Games	International Workers and Amateurs in Sports Confederation (CSIT)
World Games	International World Games Association (IWGA)

Other international sports federations[]

Sport	Federation
Aesthetic group gymnastics	(IFAAG)
Amputee football	(WAFF)
Australian rules football	Australian Football International (AFI)
Auto racing	Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)
Axe throwing	World Axe Throwing League (WATL)
Beach handball	(WBHA)
Beach soccer	Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW), Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)
Beeni	World Beeni Federation (WBF)
Brazilian jiu-jitsu	International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF), Sport Jiu Jitsu International Federation (SJJIF)
Bodyboarding	International Bodyboarding Association (IBA)
Bodybuilding, , and Fitness	(WBPF)
Boot throwing	(IBTA)
Canadian Five-pin bowling	(C5PBA)
Bowls	Professional Bowls Association (PBA)
Bowls	World Bowls (WB)
Boxing	(WPBF)
Broomball	International Federation of Broomball Associations (IFBA)
Cageball	(PCA)
Chess	International Amateur Chess Federation (IACF)
Correspondence Chess	International Correspondence Chess Federation (ICCF)
	International Federation of Corporate Football (FIFCO)
Cricket	International Cricket Council (ICC)
Croquet	World Croquet Federation (WCF)
Crossminton	International Crossminton Organisation (ICO)
Debating	(WDC)
Debating (in Spanish)	(COMUDEES)
Debating (in Spanish)	Consejo Mundial de Debate (COMUDEES)
eSports	International e-Sports Federation (IeSF), Global Esports Federation (GEF)
Dodgeball	World Dodgeball Federation (WDBF)
Elephant Polo	(WEPF)
Floor Tennis	World Floor Tennis Federation (WFTF)
Gaelic football	Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA)
Gaelic handball	Irish Handball Council, United States Handball Association (USHA)
Gateball	(WGU)
Gillidanda
Goalball	International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA)
Golf	The R&A; United States Golf Association (USGA)
Greyhound racing	American Greyhound Track Operators Association (AGTOA), National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC)
	(IGGF)
Gungdo
Ham Radio Contesting, Amateur Radio Direction Finding, and High Speed Telegraphy	International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)
	(HBIO)
Harness horse racing	Harness Horsemen International (HHI), Union Europeenne du Trot (European Trotting Union) (UET)
Horseback archery	International Horseback Archery Alliance (IHAA)
Horse racing	International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA)
Horseshoes	(NHPA)
Hurling	Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA)
Intercrosse	Fédération Internationale d’Inter-Crosse (FIIC)
Sport Jiu-Jitsu (Jujutsu)	Sport Jiu Jitsu International Federation (SJJIF), Ju-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF)
Ssireum	(WSF)
Krav Maga	(IKMF)
Kendo
Kabaddi	International Kabaddi Federation (IKF)
Kickboxing	International Kickboxing Federation (IKF)
Kin-Ball	(IKBF)
Kite Sports	International Federation of Kitesports Organisations (IFKO)
Lethwei	(WLF)
Mallakhamb	(MCW)
Mixed martial arts	(ISCF)
Modern Arnis	International Modern Arnis Federation (IMAF)
Mountain running	World Mountain Running Association (WMRA)
Mountainboarding	(IMRA)
Muay Thai	International Kickboxing Federation (IKF)
Obstacle racing	World Obstacle (FISO)
O-SPORT	World O-Sport Federation (WOF)
Paddleball	(NPA)
Padel	International Padel Federation (IPF)
Parkour	World Freerunning Parkour Federation (WFPF)
Pencak Silat	International Pencak Silat Federation (PERSILAT)
Pesäpallo (Finnish baseball)
Pickleball	International Federation of Pickleball (IFP)
Pigeon racing	Royal Pigeon Racing Association (RPRA)
Pogo stick	(WPSF)
Poker	International Federation of Poker (IFP)
Pole dance	International Pole Sports Federation (IPSF)
Practical shooting	International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC)
Quidditch	International Quidditch Association (IQA)
Quizzing	International Quizzing Association (IQA)
Racketlon	Fédération Internationale de Racketlon (International Racketlon Federation) (FIR)
Radio-controlled car racing	International Federation of Model Auto Racing (IFMAR)
Rafting	International Rafting Federation(IRF)
Ringball	(IRBF)
Ringette	International Ringette Federation (IRF)
Rogaining	International Rogaining Federation (IRF)
Rounders	(NRA)
Rock-It-Ball	(IRIBF)
Rope skipping	(WRSC), (IRSF), (WIRSO)^[13] [ https://ropeskippingsport.org / International Rope Skipping Organisation]
Rubik's Cube	World Cube Association (WCA)
Rugby Fives	(RFA)
Rugby league	Rugby League International Federation (RLIF)
Shinty	Camanachd Association
Shuttlecock
Silambam	World Silambam Association (WSA)
Skateboarding	(WSF); International Skateboarding Federation (ISF)
Skibobbing	(FISB)
Slot car racing	(ISRA)
Sport Jiu-Jitsu	Sport Jiu Jitsu International Federation (SJJIF)
Sport stacking	World Sport Stacking Association (WSSA)
Street and ball hockey	(ISBH)
Sqay	(ICS)
Table hockey	International Table Hockey Federation (ITHF)
Table football (Table soccer; foosball)	International Table Soccer Federation (ITSF)
Tag	World Chase Tag
Tank biathlon
^[i]	(ITF)
Tchoukball
Tent Pegging	International Tent Pegging Federation (ITPF)
Throwball	(ITF)
Touch football	Federation of International Touch (FIT)
Unicycling	International Unicycling Federation (IUF)
	(GVMA)
Vovinam	(IVF), (VVWF)
VX	Global VX^[14]
Wheel gymnastics
Yoga	(YCW)

ⁱ The sport was made by Indian man Dr. Sonu Sharma in 2012. For further reading: http://www.targetballindia.com/

Miscellaneous

International Ball game Confederation (CIJB) (Confederation Internationale du Jeu de Balle)
International Game Fish Association (IGFA)
International Gay Bowling Organization (IGBO)
International Pitch and Putt Association (IPPA)
(IRBF)

Notes and references[]

^ "Olympic Sports". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
^ "Members". Association of the IOC Recognised International Sports Federations. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
^ "High five: baseball5 hits the YOG". Olympics.com. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
^ Recognised Sports of the International Olympic Committee International Olympic Committee official website. Retrieved 2 May 2008.
^ International Federation for Chess. International Olympic Committee official website. Retrieved 2 May 2008.
^ FIDE - Uniting the Chess World Archived 6 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine FIDE Official website. Retrieved 2 May 2008.
^ Cricket edges closer to Olympic roster AFP. Retrieved on 13 February 2010.
^ International Sports Federations, International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
^ Contacts - International Sports Federations (IFs), International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d "The IPC to rebrand the 10 sports it acts as International Federation for" (Press release). International Paralympic Committee. 30 November 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
^ PBWF/BWF gets IPC recognition, but Paralympics 2016 unfortunately without Parabadminton Archived 22 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Parabadminton World Federation (PBWF), 11 December 2010
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ "World Inter-School Rope Skipping Organisation | About us". Retrieved 1 May 2020.
^ "GlobalVX". GLOBALVX. Retrieved 21 August 2015.

show v t International sports federations
ASOIF (28) Summer Olympics Federations	FINA (aquatic sports) WA (archery) World Athletics (athletics) BWF (badminton) FIBA (basketball) AIBA (boxing) ICF (canoeing) UCI (cycling) FEI (equestrian) FIE (fencing) FIFA (football) IGF (golf) FIG (gymnastics) IHF (handball) FIH (field hockey) IJF (judo) UIPM (modern pentathlon) FISA (rowing) WR (rugby union) WS (sailing) ISSF (shooting) ITTF (table tennis) WT (taekwondo) ITF (tennis) WT (triathlon) FIVB (volleyball) IWF (weightlifting) UWW (wrestling)
AIOWF (7) Winter Olympics Federations	IBU (biathlon) IBSF (bobsleigh and skeleton) WCF (curling) IIHF (ice hockey) FIL (luge) ISU (skating sports) FIS (skiing sports)
ARISF (42) Others recognised by IOC	FAI (air sports) IFAF (american football) FIA (auto racing) FIB (bandy) WBSC (baseball, softball and Baseball5) FIPV (basque pelota) WCBS (billiards sports) CMSB (boules) IBF (bowling) WBF (bridge) ICU (cheer) FIDE (chess) ICC (cricket) WDSF (dance sport) IFF (floorball) WFDF (flying disc) IFI (ice stock sport) WKF (karate) WAKO (kickboxing) IKF (korfball) FIL (lacrosse) ILSF (life saving) FIM (motorcycle sport) UIAA (mountaineering) IFMA (muaythai) World Netball IOF (orienteering) FIP (polo) UIM (powerboating) IRF (racquetball) WS (roller sports) FIAS (sambo) ISMF (ski mountaineering) IFSC (sport climbing) WSF (squash) IFS (sumo) ISA (surfing) TWIF (tug-of-war) CMAS (underwater sports) FISU (university sports) IWWF (waterski and wakeboard) IWUF (wushu) WUKF (karate)
AIMS (19) Others in GAISF	IAF (aikido) WAF (arm wrestling) IFBB (bodybuilding) ICSF (casting) WDF (darts) IDBF (dragon boat) FMJD (draughts) IFA (fistball) IGF (go) JJIF (ju-jitsu) FIK (kendo) WMF (minigolf) IPF (powerlifting) FISav (savate) ISTAF (sepak takraw) ISFF (sleddog) ISTF (soft tennis) CIPS (sport fishing) FITEQ (teqball)
GAISF observer members (12)	(dodgeball) (footgolf) (jump rope) IUKL (kettlebell lifting) FISLY (landsailing) IPF (padel) IFP (poker) IPSF (pole dance) IPSC (practical shooting) IRF (rafting) IRL (rugby league) ITSF (table football/soccer)
Others (21)	IBA (bodyboarding) PBA (bowls) IBJJF (Brazilian jiu-jitsu) IFBA (broomball) WCF (croquet) IGAA (Gaelic football and hurling) IKF (kabaddi) IKF (kempo) IMMAF (mixed martial arts) WMRA (mountain running) ORSI (ocean rowing) IQA (quidditch) IFMAR (radio-controlled racing) IRF (rogaining) WSSF (snowshoe running) ISF (skyrunning) WSSA (sport stacking) ITPF (tent pegging) FIT (touch football) ITRA (trail running) IAU (ultra running)
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