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List of international sports federations

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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 like 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.

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

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.

Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF)

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

  • Aquatics : FINA
  • Archery: World Archery Federation (WA)
  • Athletics : International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)
  • Badminton: Badminton World Federation (BWF)
  • Basketball: FIBA (FIBA)
  • Boxing (amateur): International Boxing Association (AIBA)
  • Canoeing: International Canoe Federation (ICF)
  • Cycling: Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI/ICU)
  • Equestrianism: International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI)
  • Fencing: Fédération Internationale d'Escrime (FIE)
  • Football: FIFA
  • Golf: International Golf Federation (IGF)
  • Gymnastics: Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG/IFG)
  • Handball: International Handball Federation (IHF)
  • Hockey: International Hockey Federation (FIH)
  • Judo: International Judo Federation (IJF)
  • Modern Pentathlon: Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM)
  • Rowing: International Federation of Rowing Associations (FISA)
  • Rugby Union: World Rugby (WR)
  • Sailing: World Sailing (Until December 2015, International Sailing Federation (ISAF))
  • Shooting: International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF)
  • Table Tennis: International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)
  • Taekwondo: World Taekwondo Federation (WTF)
  • 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):

  • 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):

  • 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 and softball: World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC)
  • Basque pelota: Fédération Internationale de Pelota Vasca (FIPV)
  • Billard sports (including carom billiards, pocket billiards/pool, and snooker): World Confederation of Billiard 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)
  • Bowls: World Bowls (WB)
  • 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 (Nine-pin): World Ninepin Bowling Association (WNBA)
  • Bridge: World Bridge Federation (WBF)
  • Cheerleading: International Cheer Union (ICU)
  • Chess: Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE)
  • Cricket: International Cricket Council (ICC)
  • DanceSport: World DanceSport Federation (WDSF)
  • Floorball: International Floorball Federation (IFF)
  • Flying disc: World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF)
  • Karate: World Karate Federation (WKF)
  • Korfball: International Korfball Federation (IKF)
  • Life saving: International Life Saving Federation (ILS)
  • Motorcycle sport: Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM)
  • Mountaineering: Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme (UIAA)
  • 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, roller racing, rink hockey, roller derby, skateboarding and artistic): International Federation of Roller Sports (FIRS)
  • Squash: World Squash Federation (WSF)
  • Sports climbing: International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC)
  • 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)
  • Water skiing: 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.

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

  • Alpine Skiing: World Para Alpine Skiing
  • Archery: World Archery Federation (WA)
  • Athletics: World Para Athletics
  • Badminton: Parabadminton World Federation (PBWF) / Badminton World Federation (BWF)
  • Boccia: Boccia International Sports Federation (BISFed)
  • 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: World Para Dance Sport
  • 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".
  • Para Ice Hockey: World Para Ice Hockey
  • 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".
  • Powerlifting: World Para Powerlifting
  • Rowing: International Rowing Federation (FISA)
  • Sailing: International Association for Disabled Sailing (IADS)
  • Shooting: World Shooting Para Sport
  • At the time of the IPC's "World Para" rebranding, it changed the official name of the sport to "shooting Para sport".
  • Snowboarding: World Para Snowboard
  • Swimming: World Para Swimming
  • 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)
  • Disability specific organizations

  • 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)
  • Inas for athletes with an intellectual disability
  • SportAccord (GAISF)

    Federations which are members of the IOC (ASOIF, AIOWF and ARISF) are members of SportAccord, formerly known as General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF).
    And furthermore, several other federations which are not IOC members are members of the AGFIS, even if this is not a governing body of a sport.

  • Aikido: International Aikido Federation (IAF)
  • Bodybuilding: International Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness (IFBB)
  • Casting: International Casting Sport Federation (ICSF)
  • Cheer: International Cheer Union (ICU)
  • College athletics: Federation Internationale du Sport Universitaire
  • Commonwealth Games: Commonwealth Games Federation
  • Darts: World Darts Federation (WDF)
  • Dragon boat racing: International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF)
  • Draughts: World Draughts Federation (FMJD)
  • Fishing: International Confederation of Sport Fishing (CIPS)
  • Fistball: International Fistball Association (IFA)
  • Floorball: International Floorball Federation (IFF)
  • Flying disc: World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF)
  • Football (American and Canadian): International Federation of American Football (IFAF)
  • Go: International Go Federation (IGF)
  • Ice stock sport: International Federation Ice Stock Sport (IFE)
  • Ju-jitsu: Ju-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF)
  • Kendo: International Kendo Federation (IKF)
  • Kickboxing: World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO)
  • Lacrosse: Federation of International Lacrosse
  • Labour Sport: International Labour Sports Federation
  • Masters Games: International Masters Games Association
  • Military Sports: International Military Sports Council (Conseil International du Sport Militaire)
  • Miniature golf: World Minigolfsport Federation (WMF)
  • Muaythai: International Federation of Muaythai Amateur
  • Panathlon: Panathlon International
  • Paralympic: International Paralympic Committee
  • Cerebral Palsy International Sport and Recreation Association
  • International Blind Sports Federation
  • International Sports Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability
  • International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation
  • Powerlifting: International Powerlifting Federation (IPF), WUAP, GPC, WPC
  • Sambo: Federation International of Amateur Sambo (FIAS)
  • Savate: Federation International De Savate
  • School Sport: International School Sport Federation
  • Sepak Takraw: International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF)
  • Ski mountaineering: International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF)
  • Sled dog sports: International Federation of Sleddog Sports
  • Soft Tennis: International Soft Tennis Federation (ISTF)
  • Special Olympics: Special Olympics, Inc.
  • Sports Chiropractic: Fédération Internationale de Chiropratique du Sport; or International Federation of Sports Chiropractic
  • Sports Facilities: International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities
  • Sports fishing: Confédération Internationale de la Pêche Sportive
  • Sports for the Deaf: International Committee of Sports for the Deaf
  • Sports Press: Association Internationale de la Presse Sportive
  • Timekeepers: Fédération Internationale des Chronométreurs
  • World Games: International World Games Association
  • Wushu: International Wushu Federation (IWUF)
  • Other international sport federations

  • Aesthetic group gymnastics: International Federation of Aesthetic Group Gymnastics (IFAAG)
  • Amputee Football: World Amputee Football Federation (WAFF)
  • Arm wrestling: World Armwrestling Federation (WAF)
  • Auto Racing: Score International Off-Road Racing (SCORE)
  • Australian rules football: AFL Commission
  • Beach Handball: World Beach Handball Association (WBHA)
  • Beach Soccer: Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW), Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)
  • Behcup: World Behcup Federation (WBF)
  • BJJ: Sport Jiu Jitsu International Federation (SJJIF)
  • Bodyboarding: International Bodyboarding Association (IBA)
  • Boot throwing: International Bootthrowing Association (IBTA)
  • Bowling (Canadian five-pin): Canadian 5 Pin Bowlers Association (C5PBA)
  • Bowls: Professional Bowls Association (PBA)
  • Boxing: World Professional Boxing Federation (WPBF)
  • Broomball: International Federation of Broomball Associations (IFBA)
  • Cageball: Professional Cageball Association (PCA)
  • Correspondence Chess: International Correspondence Chess Federation (ICCF)
  • Croquet: World Croquet Federation (WCF)
  • Debating: World Debating Council (WDC)
  • Debating (in Spanish): Consejo Mundial de Debate (COMUDEES)
  • Electronic Sports: E-Sports International Federation (ESIF)
  • Electronic Sports: International e-Sports Federation (IeSF)
  • Electronic Sport: Panamerican e-Sports Confederation (PAMESCO)
  • Elephant Polo : World Elephant Polo Association (WEPF)
  • Virtual Motorsport Global Vitual Motorsport Association (GVMA)
  • Football (Gaelic): Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA)
  • 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)
  • Guli-Danda: International Guli-Danda Federation (IGDF)
  • Handball (court): Irish Handball Council, United States Handball Association (USHA)
  • Ham Radio Contesting, Amateur Radio Direction Finding & High Speed Telegraphy: International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)
  • Hapkido Boxing: Hapkido Boxing International Organization (HBIO)
  • Harness horse racing: Harness Horsemen International (HHI), European Trotting Union (UET)
  • Horse racing: International Racing Bureau (IRB)
  • Horseshoes: National Horseshoe Pitchers Association of America (NHPA)
  • Hurling: Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA)
  • Intercrosse: Fédération Internationale d’Inter-Crosse (FIIC)
  • Jiu-Jitsu: Sport Jiu Jitsu International Federation (SJJIF)
  • Jujutsu: World Ju-Jitsu Federation
  • Ju-Jitsu: Ju-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF)
  • Krav Maga: World Krav Maga Federation (WKMF)
  • Kendo : World Kendo Association
  • Kabaddi: International Kabaddi Federation (IKF)
  • Kite flying: International Federation of Kitesports Organisations (IFKO)
  • Mallakhamb: Mallakhamb Confederation of World (MCW)
  • Mixed martial arts: International Sport Combat Federation (ISCF)
  • Modern Arnis: International Modern Arnis Federation (IMAF)
  • Mountain running: World Mountain Running Association (WMRA)
  • Mountainboarding: International Mountainboard Riders Association (IMRA)
  • Muay Thai: International Kickboxing Federation (IKF)
  • Obstacle Racing: Obstacle Racing Federation (IORF)
  • O-SPORT: World O-Sport Federation (WOF)
  • Paddleball: National Paddleball Association (NPA)
  • Padel: International Padel Federation (IPF)
  • Parkour: World Freerunning Parkour Federation (WFPF)
  • Pesäpallo: Pesäpalloliitto
  • Pigeon racing: Royal Pigeon Racing Association (RPRA)
  • 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: International Racketlon Federation (FIR)
  • Radio-controlled car racing: International Federation of Model Auto Racing (IFMAR)
  • Rafting: International Rafting Federation (IRF)
  • Rodeo: Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Professional Bull Riders (PBR)
  • Rogaining: International Rogaining Federation (IRF)
  • Ringette: International Ringette Federation (IRF)
  • Rounders: National Rounders Association (NRA)
  • Rock-It-Ball: International Rock-It-Ball Federation (IRIBF)
  • Rope skipping: World Rope Skipping Confederation (WRSC) and International Rope Skipping Federation (IRSF) [World Inter School Rope Skipping Organisation - WIRSO] (WIRSO)
  • Rubik's Cube: World Cube Association (WCA)
  • Rugby Fives: Rugby Fives Association (RFA)
  • Rugby league: Rugby League International Federation (RLIF)
  • Shinty: Camanachd Association
  • Shuttlecock: International Shuttlecock Federation
  • Skateboarding: World Skateboarding Federation (WSF); International Skateboarding Federation (ISF)
  • Skibobbing: International Skibob Federation (FISB)
  • Slot car racing: International Slot Racing Association (ISRA)
  • Sport Jiu-Jitsu: Sport Jiu Jitsu International Federation (SJJIF)
  • Sport stacking: World Sport Stacking Association (WSSA)
  • Sqay: International Council Of Sqay (ICS)I
  • Table hockey: International Table Hockey Federation (ITHF)
  • Table football (Table soccer; foosball): International Table Soccer Federation (ITSF)
  • Tchoukball: Fédération Internationale de Tchoukball
  • Tent Pegging : International Tent Pegging Federation (ITPF)
  • Throwball: International Throwball Federation (ITF)
  • Touch football: Federation of International Touch (FIT)
  • Unicycling: International Unicycling Federation (IUF)
  • Vaquejada: Associação Brasileira de Vaquejada (ABVAQ)
  • Villowo: International Villowo Federation (IVF)
  • Vovinam: International Vovinam Federation (IVF)/The Vovinam-VietVoDao World Federation (WVVF)
  • VX: Global VX
  • Wheel gymnastics: International Wheel Gymnastics Federation (IRV)
  • Yoga: Yogasports Confederation of World (YCW)
  • 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)
  • References

    List of international sports federations Wikipedia