List of international sports federations facts for kids
International sports federations are like big clubs that manage different sports around the world. They are non-governmental organizations, meaning they are not run by governments. Their main jobs are to create rules for their sport, help more people play and watch it, find and train new players, and organize big competitions like world or continental championships.
Sometimes, one federation might look after several activities that seem like different sports. For example, World Aquatics manages swimming, diving, artistic swimming (which used to be called synchronized swimming), and water polo. They see these as different "disciplines" within the larger "sport" of Aquatics.
These international sports federations are super important for events like the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. Each sport in the Olympics or Paralympics has its own international federation that helps run the events during the Games. For a sport to become an Olympic sport, its international federation must be officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Similarly, for a sport to be a Paralympic sport, its federation needs to be recognized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). Sometimes, the IPC itself manages certain Paralympic sports under its "World Para" brand. For instance, "World Para Athletics" looks after track and field for athletes with disabilities. Other times, the same federation that manages a sport for able-bodied athletes also manages it for Paralympic athletes, like the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) for cycling.
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Sports Federations for the Olympic Games
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognizes many sports federations. These federations are grouped into different associations.
Summer Olympic Sports Federations
The Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) includes federations for sports played in the Summer Olympics. In May 2023, ASOIF had 31 full members and 2 associate members.
However, in June 2023, the IOC made a big decision: they removed the International Boxing Association (IBA) from their recognized federations. This was the first time an international federation was ever removed from the Olympic Movement! Even so, boxing will still be an Olympic sport at the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Here are some of the federations that are full members of ASOIF and recognized by the IOC:
ASOIF Associate Members
These federations are also part of ASOIF, but as associate members:
| Sport | Federation |
|---|---|
| DanceSport | World DanceSport Federation |
| Baseball, softball | World Baseball Softball Confederation |
Winter Olympic Sports Federations
The Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF) includes federations for sports played in the Winter Olympics.
AIOWF Associate Members
There is one associate member for AIOWF:
| Sport | Federation |
|---|---|
| Ski mountaineering | International Ski Mountaineering Federation |
IOC Recognized Sports Federations (ARISF)
The Association of the IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF) has 39 member federations as of April 2024. These sports are recognized by the IOC but are not currently part of the Olympic Games.
| Sport | Federation |
|---|---|
| Air sports | World Air Sports Federation |
| American football | International Federation of American Football |
| Auto racing | International Automobile Federation |
| Baseball, softball | World Baseball Softball Confederation |
| Billiard sports | World Confederation of Billiards Sports |
| Bowling | International Bowling Federation |
| Bridge | World Bridge Federation |
| DanceSport | World DanceSport Federation |
| Cheerleading | International Cheer Union |
| Chess | International Chess Federation |
| Climbing and mountaineering | International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation |
| Cricket | International Cricket Council |
| Floorball | International Floorball Federation |
| Flying disc | World Flying Disc Federation |
| Karate | World Karate Federation |
| Kickboxing | World Association of Kickboxing Organizations |
| Lacrosse | World Lacrosse |
| Motorcycle sport | Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme |
| Muaythai | International Federation of Muaythai Amateur |
| Netball | World Netball |
| Orienteering | International Orienteering Federation |
| Polo | Federation of International Polo |
| Sambo | International Federation of Amateur SAMBO |
| Ski mountaineering | International Ski Mountaineering Federation |
| Squash | World Squash Federation |
| Sumo | International Sumo Federation |
| Tug-of-war | Tug-of-War International Federation |
| Underwater sports | World Underwater Federation |
| Water skiing and wakeboarding | International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation |
| Wushu | International Wushu Federation |
Sports Federations for the Paralympic Games
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) recognizes 17 international federations. The IPC itself also acts as the main federation for six sports.
Sports Directly Managed by the IPC
The IPC used to manage many sports directly, but they are slowly transferring them to other federations. Currently, the IPC still manages six sports:
| Sport | IPC sport committee name |
|---|---|
| Para athletics | World Para Athletics |
| Para Dance Sport | World Para Dance Sport |
| Para ice hockey | World Para Ice Hockey |
| Para powerlifting | World Para Powerlifting |
| Shooting Para sport | World Shooting Para Sport |
| Para swimming | World Para Swimming |
International Federations for Paralympic Sports
These are independent sports federations that the IPC recognizes as the official leaders for a Paralympic sport. As of 2024, there are 17 such federations for 19 Paralympic sports:
| Sport | Federation |
|---|---|
| Para alpine skiing, Para cross-country skiing, Para snowboard | International Ski and Snowboard Federation |
| Para archery | World Archery |
| Para badminton | Badminton World Federation |
| Boccia | World Boccia / Boccia International Sports Federation |
| Para biathlon | International Biathlon Union |
| Para equestrian | International Equestrian Federation |
| Paracanoe | International Canoe Federation |
| Para cycling | Union Cycliste Internationale |
| Para rowing | World Rowing Federation |
| Sitting volleyball | World ParaVolley |
| Para table tennis | International Table Tennis Federation |
| Para taekwondo | World Taekwondo |
| Para triathlon | World Triathlon |
| Wheelchair basketball | International Wheelchair Basketball Federation |
| Wheelchair curling | World Curling Federation |
| Wheelchair rugby | World Wheelchair Rugby |
| Wheelchair tennis | International Tennis Federation |
Organizations for Sports for the Disabled
These are independent organizations recognized by the IPC that represent specific groups of athletes with disabilities.
| Sport | Federation |
|---|---|
| Wheelchair Fencing, Powerchair Hockey, Frame running, Wheelchair slalom, Frame football | World Abilitysport |
| Blind football, Goalball, Para judo | International Blind Sports Federation |
| For athletes with an intellectual disability | Virtus |
In 2023, two organizations, the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CPISRA) and the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS), joined together to form World Abilitysport.
Other International Sports Federations
Besides the federations linked to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, there are many other international sports federations.
Alliance of Independent Recognized Members of Sport (AIMS)
These federations are recognized by SportAccord (a big group for sports organizations) but are not part of the Olympic Games.
| Sport | Federation |
|---|---|
| Aikido | International Aikido Federation |
| Arm wrestling | World Armwrestling Federation |
| Bodybuilding and fitness | International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation |
| Darts | World Darts Federation |
| Dragon boat racing | International Dragon Boat Federation |
| Draughts | World Draughts Federation |
| Fishing | International Confederation of Sport Fishing |
| Fistball | International Fistball Association |
| Go | International Go Federation |
| Sport Ju-Jitsu | Ju-Jitsu International Federation |
| Kendo | International Kendo Federation |
| Miniature golf | World Minigolfsport Federation |
| Powerlifting | International Powerlifting Federation |
| Practical Shooting | International Practical Shooting Confederation |
| Savate | Federation Internationale de Savate |
| Sepak takraw | International Sepaktakraw Federation |
| Sled dog sports | International Federation of Sleddog Sports |
| Soft tennis | International Soft Tennis Federation |
| Teqball | International Federation of Teqball |
Federations Not Linked to Olympic/Paralympic Groups
There are many other international sports federations that are not currently connected with the main Olympic or Paralympic sports groups. Here are a few examples:
| Sport | Federation |
|---|---|
| Aesthetic group gymnastics | International Federation of Aesthetic Group Gymnastics |
| Amputee football | World Amputee Football Federation |
| Australian rules football | Australian Football International |
| Axe throwing | International Axe Throwing Federation |
| Beach handball | World Beach Handball Association |
| Brazilian jiu-jitsu | International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation |
| Boxing | International Boxing Association |
| Croquet | World Croquet Federation |
| eSports | Global Esports Federation |
| Futsal | Asociación Mundial de Futsal |
| Horse racing | International Federation of Horseracing Authorities |
| Mixed martial arts | International Mixed Martial Arts Federation |
| Parkour | World Freerunning Parkour Federation |
| Pickleball | International Pickleball Federation |
| Rubik's Cube | World Cube Association |
| Skateboarding | World Skateboarding Federation |
| Sport stacking | World Sport Stacking Association |
| Street and ball hockey | International Street and Ball Hockey Federation |
| Table hockey | International Table Hockey Federation |
| Unicycling | International Unicycling Federation |
| Yoga | Yogasports Confederation of World |
Sports Governed by National Associations
Some sports are not yet managed by international federations. Instead, they are mainly governed by national associations within specific countries.
| Sport | Federation |
|---|---|
| American handball | United States Handball Association |
| Canadian five-pin bowling | Canadian 5 Pin Bowlers Association |
| Gaelic football, Gaelic handball and hurling | Gaelic Athletic Association |
| Horseshoes | National Horseshoe Pitchers Association of America |
| Paddleball | National Paddleball Association |
| Pesäpallo (Finnish baseball) | Finnish Pesäpallo Association |
| Pigeon racing | Royal Pigeon Racing Association |
| Rodeo | Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association |
| Rounders | Rounders England |
| Rugby fives | Rugby Fives Association |
| Shinty | Camanachd Association |
Images for kids
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A robot playing sports, representing international federations.
See also
- Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF)
- Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF)
- Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF)
- International Olympic Committee (IOC)
- International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
