Sport Lacrosse Abbreviation FIL Location Toronto, Ontario | Jurisdiction International Founded August 2008 | |
Headquarters 3 Concorde Gate, Suite 306 | ||
The Federation of International Lacrosse, shortened to FIL, was established in August 2008 by a merger of both the men's and women's international lacrosse associations. Its headquarters are located in Toronto, Ontario, in Canada. The organization is responsible for the World Lacrosse Championship and Under-19 World Lacrosse Championships for both men and women as well as the World Indoor Lacrosse Championship.
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FIL is the only international sport organization to recognize First Nations at the national level; the Iroquois Nationals represent the Iroquois Confederacy that spans New York, Ontario, Pennsylvania and Quebec.
International Lacrosse Federation
The International Lacrosse Federation was founded in 1974 to promote and develop the game of men's lacrosse throughout the world. As of 2007, the international governing bodies for men's and women's lacrosse were separate, which was one of the obstacles of lacrosse one day becoming an Olympic sport. In August 2008, the ILF and the International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations (IFWLA) merged to become the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL).
The ILF conducted the World Lacrosse Championship, World Indoor Lacrosse Championship and Under-19 World Lacrosse Championships, all of which were taken over by the FIL.
International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations
The International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations (IFWLA) was formed in 1972 to promote and develop the game of women's lacrosse throughout the world. It wound up its affairs in August 2008 when it agreed to merge with the International Lacrosse Federation (ILF), the former governing body for men's lacrosse, to form the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL).
At the time of the merger, IFWLA was attempting to increase interest in women's lacrosse in South America. Promoting all levels of lacrosse included the IFWLA sponsorship of the Women's Lacrosse World Cup and the Under-19 World Lacrosse Championships, tournaments taken over by the FIL.