List of international sports federations

This is a list of international sports federations. These organizations are non-governmental groups that help manage and guide different sports around the world. They create rules, help grow the sport, and organize big competitions like world championships. Some federations, like World Aquatics and the International Skating Union, oversee more than one type of activity. For example, World Aquatics looks after swimming, diving, and water polo.

International sports federations are very important for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Each Olympic sport has a federation that helps run its events during the Games. For a sport to join the Olympics, its federation must be recognized by the International Olympic Committee.

Similarly, for a sport to become part of the Paralympics, its federation needs approval from the International Paralympic Committee. Some Paralympic sports, like track and field for disabled athletes, are managed directly by the IPC under the name "World Para Athletics." Other Paralympic sports use the same federations as their able-bodied versions, such as the UCI for cycling.

Federations recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC)

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognizes many groups that help manage different sports around the world. These groups make rules for their sports, help grow the sports, and organize big competitions like world championships.

There are special groups for summer sports, winter sports, and other sports that the IOC knows about. Each group works to make their sport better and more fun for everyone.

Federations recognized by SportAccord or GAISF

Federations that are part of the Olympic Games or recognized by the IOC are also part of SportAccord. This happened after the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) ended in 2023. Other groups that are not recognized by the IOC but are part of SportAccord are called the Alliance of Independent Recognized Members of Sport (AIMS).

Alliance of Independent Recognized Members of Sport (AIMS)

AIMS is a group in SportAccord for sports federations that are not yet recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). As of September 2025, AIMS had 20 full member federations.

Associate Members

As of September 2025, AIMS had 9 associate members.

Observers of GAISF

Associate members of GAISF

Before GAISF ended in 2023, there were groups called Associate members of GAISF. After GAISF ended, these groups were suggested to become observers at the SportAccord General Assembly. The following were associate members:

Federations recognized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC)

There are 18 international federations recognized by the IPC, and the IPC itself serves as the international federation for six sports. The IPC also recognizes 3 International Organisations of Sports for the Disabled. Additionally, there are 15 federations recognized by the IPC that are not eligible to be IPC members.

Sports directly governed by IPC

On 30 November 2016, the IPC introduced the "World Para" brand for 10 sports it directly governed at that time. In 2021, IPC members decided that the IPC should stop acting as the international federation for these 10 sports by the end of 2026. Para-alpine skiing, para cross country skiing, and para snowboard were moved to the FIS, and Para biathlon was moved to the IBU under a joint steering committee. Currently, the IPC acts as the international federation for six sports:

International Federations

International Federations are independent groups recognized by the IPC as the main representatives of a Paralympic sport. As of August 2025, the IPC recognizes 18 International Federations for 20 parasports:

International Organisations of Sports for the Disabled

International Organisations of Sports for the Disabled (IOSDs) are independent groups recognized by the IPC as the main representatives for specific impairment groups. The IPC currently recognizes 3 IOSDs:

In January 2023, the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CPISRA) and the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) combined to form World Abilitysport.

IPC-recognised international sports federations (not eligible for membership)

The IPC recognizes some international sports federations that cannot be IPC members but help develop sports opportunities for Paralympic athletes and share the IPC's goals. There are 13 such federations:

Non-SportAccord and non-GAISF federations that are TAFISA members

The international groups listed here are not part of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) or SportAccord. However, they are members of The Association for International Sport for All (TAFISA).

Other federations

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by editing the page to add missing items, with references to reliable sources.

The international federations listed below are not related to either of Global Association of International Sports Federations, SportAccord or The Association for International Sport for All (TAFISA):

Defunct federations

Miscellaneous

• International Game Fish Association (IGFA)
• International Gay Bowling Organization (IGBO)
• International Federation of Corporate Football (FIFCO)

Sports governed by national associations

Some sports do not have international federations to govern them. Instead, they are managed by groups in each country, called national associations.