The Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) was a nonprofit organisation of international sports federations. It changed its name to SportAccord from March 2009 to April 2017, when it reverted to its GAISF. It was an international sport organisation with 97 full members (international sports federations governing specific sports worldwide) and 20 associate members (organisations which conduct activities closely related to the international sports federations).
In November 2022, the members of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) voted to dissolve the organisation.
The revised governance structure will see the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF) and the Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport (AIMS) join the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and the Winter Olympic Federations (WOF) as the four main stakeholders of SportAccord.
Members of the GAISF approved the final steps in the liquidation of the organisation at an extraordinary general assembly held on 14 September 2023.
Contents
GAISF Council
The council was composed of a president, two vice presidents, a treasurer, and five members.
The council's final composition was:
Function
GAISF was the umbrella organisation for both Olympic and non-Olympic international sports federations, as well as organisers of international sporting events. In this role it provided expertise in, for example, anti-doping, integrity, and social responsibility.
By establishing multi-sports games that group together similar sports, GAISF aimed to promote the members and the members' visibility.
Membership
Member international federations could be either full or associate members of GAISF.
History
GAISF is deeply rooted in the sports movement. As early as 1921, international sports federations (IFs) expressed the need for a representative of their common objectives and interests. Under the direction of Paul Rousseau, Secretary General of the Union Cycliste International (UCI), a permanent bureau of the IFs was established to facilitate dialogue with the Olympic authorities.
In 1967, 26 international sports federations met in Lausanne, agreed on the need to increase permanent liaisons, and adopted the name "General Assembly of International Sports Federations". In order to establish a more formalised organisation, the "General Association of International Sports Federations" (GAISF) was formed in 1976, and the headquarters were moved to Monaco two years later.
The new millennium brought important changes to the organisation. Reacting to the increasing pressure on IFs to professionalise and develop, GAISF, in collaboration with the Associations of Summer and Winter Olympic International Federations (ASOIF and AIOWF), launched the first SportAccord International Convention in 2003. This new format, “by sport for sport,” allowed IFs and sports business to get together, share knowledge, and network.
In March 2009, GAISF was rebranded SportAccord, and, in the same year, its offices moved from Monaco to Lausanne, the Olympic capital.
In April 2017, following the former president Marius Vizer's controversial attack against IOC president Thomas Bach during the opening SportAccord's 2015 convention in Sochi and his subsequent resignation, the organisation rebranded back to GAISF under its new president Patrick Baumann.
1920s
As early as 1921, under the direction of Paul Rousseau, Secretary General of the “Union Cycliste International”, a permanent bureau of the international sports federations (IFs) was created. With regular IFs/IOC meetings taking place, dialogue with the Olympic authorities became easier. However, organisations that were not part of the Olympic movement were excluded.
1960s
Associate members at time of dissolution
Association of Paralympic Sports Organisations (APSO)
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 Transplant Games Federation (WTGF)
Paralympic Games: International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
School Sports: International School Sport Federation (ISF)
Special Olympics: Special Olympics (SOI)
Sports for the Deaf: International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (CISS)
The World Games: International World Games Association (IWGA)
CSIT World Sports Games: International Workers and Amateurs in Sports Confederation (CSIT)
Other members were:
European broadcasting: European Broadcasting Union (EBU / UER)
Panathlon: Panathlon International (PI)
Observers at time of dissolution
Before the dissolution of GAISF in 2023, the GAISF Observer Status could be requested by the applicants for GAISF membership interested to obtain support and guidance in their path to fulfil the GAISF membership criteria. At the time of dissolution, it had 11 observers: