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List of International Sports Federations and Recognized Sports

Here is a list of international sports federations, which serve as a non-governmental governing body for the sport, and administers the sport at a world level. This list forms the foundation of the complete list of sports, which includes many more world sports than are listed here.



The role of the international sports federation includes regulating rules, promotion of the sport, developing players, and organizing championships. Some international sports federations may oversee multiple sports.

There are governing bodies which have become the first to achieve observer status with that are not yet officially recognised as sporting federations. In 2017, the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) gave 'observer status' to a few possible new official sports, such as armwrestling, dodgeball, footgolf, kettlebell lifting, poker, pole sports and table soccer.

Sports Federations & Associations List

Sport Federation
Aesthetic group gymnastics International Federation of Aesthetic Group Gymnastics (IFAAG)
Aikido International Aikido Federation (IAF)
Air sports (including aerobatics, air racing, ballooning, gliding, hang gliding, and parachuting/skydiving) Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI)
Alpine skiing (Para) World Para Alpine Skiing
American football International Federation of American Football (IFAF)
Amputee football World Amputee Football Federation (WAFF)
Aquatics (including swimming, diving, water polo, artistic swimming) FINA (Fédération internationale de natation)
Archery World Archery Federation (WA)
Archery (Para) World Archery Federation (WA)
Arm Wrestling World Armwrestling Federation (WAF)
Athletics (covering track and field, road running, cross country running, decathlon and racewalking) World Athletics (formerly International Association of Athletics Federations; IAAF)
Athletics (Para) World Para Athletics
Australian rules football Australian Football International (AFI)
Auto Racing Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)
Axe throwing International Axe Throwing Federation (IATF)
Badminton Badminton World Federation (BWF)
Badminton (Para) Parabadminton World Federation (PBWF) / Badminton World Federation (BWF)
Bandy Federation of International Bandy (FIB)
Baseball, softball and Baseball5 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC)
Basketball FIBA
Basque pelota Fédération Internationale de Pelota Vasca (FIPV)
Beach handball World Beach Handball Association (WBHA)
Beach Soccer Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW), Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)
Beeni World Beeni Federation (WBF)
Biathlon International Biathlon Union (IBU)
Billiard Sports - Carom Union Mondiale de Billard (UMB)
Billiard Sports - Pool World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA)
Billiard Sports - Snooker International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF)
Billiard sports (including carom billiards, pocket billiards (pool), and snooker) World Confederation of Billiards Sports (WCBS)
Bobsleigh and skeleton International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF)
Boccia Boccia International Sports Federation (BISFed)
Bodyboarding International Bodyboarding Association (IBA)
Bodybuilding International Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness (IFBB)
Bodybuilding, physique sports, and fitness World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Federation (WBPF)
Boot throwing International Bootthrowing Association (IBTA)
Boules - Bocce Confederazione Boccistica Internazionale (CBI)
Boule Lyonnaise Fédération Internationale de Boules (FIB)
Boules - Petanque Fédération Internationale de Pétanque et Jeu Provençal (FIPJP)
Boules sports Confédération Mondiale des Sports de Boules (CMSB)
Bowling (ninepin and tenpin bowling) International Bowling Federation (IBF), formerly World Bowling (WB)
Bowling - Nine-pin World Ninepin Bowling Association (WNBA)
Bowling - Ten-pin World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA)
Bowls Professional Bowls Association (PBA), World Bowls (WB)
Boxing World Professional Boxing Federation (WPBF)
Boxing (amateur) International Boxing Association (formerly Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur; AIBA). World Boxing
Brazilian jiu-jitsu International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF), Sport Jiu Jitsu International Federation (SJJIF)
Bridge World Bridge Federation (WBF)
Broomball International Federation of Broomball Associations (IFBA)
Budo International Budo Federation
Cageball Professional Cageball Association (PCA)
Canadian five-pin bowling Canadian 5 Pin Bowlers Association (C5PBA)
Canoeing International Canoe Federation (ICF)
Casting International Casting Sport Federation (ICSF)
Cheerleading International Cheer Union (ICU)
Chess Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE), International Amateur Chess Federation (IACF)
Climbing and mountaineering Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme (UIAA)
Corporate football International Federation of Corporate Football (FIFCO)
Correspondence chess International Correspondence Chess Federation (ICCF)
Cricket International Cricket Council (ICC)
Croquet World Croquet Federation (WCF)
Crossminton International Crossminton Organisation (ICO)
Curling World Curling Federation (WCF)
Cycling Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) (or International Cycling Union, ICU)
DanceSport World DanceSport Federation (WDSF)
Darts World Darts Federation (WDF)
Debating World Debating Council (WDC), Consejo Mundial de Debate (COMUDEES)
Dodgeball World Dodgeball Federation (WDBF)
Dragon boat racing International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF)
Draughts World Draughts Federation (FMJD)
Elephant Polo World Elephant Polo Association (WEPF)
Equestrian International Federation for Equestrian Sports (Fédération Équestre Internationale, FEI)
eSports (gaming) International e-Sports Federation (IeSF), Global Esports Federation (GEF)
Fencing Fédération Internationale d'Escrime (FIE)
Field hockey Fédération Internationale de Hockey (FIH) (International Hockey Federation)
Fishing International Confederation of Sport Fishing (CIPS)
Fistball International Fistball Association (IFA)
Floor tennis World Floor Tennis Federation (WFTF)
Floorball International Floorball Federation (IFF)
Flying disc World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF)
Football 5-a-side International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA)
Football 7-a-side International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football (IFCPF)
Football/Soccer FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association)
Footgolf Federation for International FootGolf (FIFG)
Futsal Asociación Mundial de Futsal (AMF), Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)
Football (Gaelic) Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA)
Gaelic handball Irish Handball Council, United States Handball Association (USHA)
Gateball World Gateball Union (WGU)
Gillidanda Gilli Danda International Federation
Go International Go Federation (IGF)
Goalball International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA)
Golf International Golf Federation (IGF), The R&A; United States Golf Association (USGA)
Greyhound racing American Greyhound Track Operators Association (AGTOA), National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC)
Ground golf International Ground Golf Federation (IGGF)
Gungdo World Kung-do Federation
Gymnastics, (including rhythmic gymnastics, sports acrobatics, sports aerobics, trampolining and tumbling) Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) (International Gymnastics Federation, IFG)
Ham radio contesting, amateur radio direction finding, and high speed telegraphy International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)
Handball (team) International Handball Federation (IHF)
Hapkido boxing Hapkido Boxing International Organization (HBIO)
Harness horse racing Harness Horsemen International (HHI), Union Europeenne du Trot (European Trotting Union) (UET)
Horse racing International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA)
Horseback archery International Horseback Archery Alliance (IHAA)
Horseshoes National Horseshoe Pitchers Association of America (NHPA)
Hurling Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA)
Ice hockey International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF)
Ice skating (including figure skating, speed skating, and Short-track speed skating) International Skating Union (ISU)
Ice stock sport International Federation IceStockSport (IFI)
Intercrosse Fédération Internationale d’Inter-Crosse (FIIC)
Judo International Judo Federation (IJF)
Judo (Blind) International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA)
Juggling World Juggling Federation (WJF)
Kabaddi International Kabaddi Federation (IKF)
Karate World Karate Federation (WKF)
Kendo International Kendo Federation (IKF), World Kendo Association
Kettlebell lifting International Union of Kettlebell Lifting (IUKL)
Kickboxing World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO), International Kickboxing Federation (IKF)
Kin-Ball International Kin-Ball Federation (IKBF)
Kite sports International Federation of Kitesports Organisations (IFKO)
Korfball International Korfball Federation (IKF)
Krav maga International Krav Maga Federation (IKMF)
Lacrosse Federation of International Lacrosse
Lethwei World Lethwei Federation (WLF)
Life saving International Life Saving Federation (ILS)
Luge Fédération Internationale de Luge de Course (FIL)
Mallakhamb Mallakhamb Confederation of World (MCW)
Miniature golf World Minigolfsport Federation (WMF)
Mixed martial arts International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF), International Sport Combat Federation (ISCF)
Modern Arnis International Modern Arnis Federation (IMAF)
Modern pentathlon Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM)
Motorcycle sport Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM)
Mountain running World Mountain Running Association (WMRA)
Mountainboarding International Mountainboard Riders Association (IMRA)
Muay Thai International Kickboxing Federation (IKF), International Federation of Muaythai Amateur (IFMA)
Netball International Netball Federation (INF)
Nordic skiing (Para) World Para Nordic Skiing
Obstacle racing World Obstacle (FISO)
Obstacle sports (O-sport) World O-Sport Federation (WOF)
Orienteering International Orienteering Federation (IOF)
Paddleball National Paddleball Association (NPA)
Padel International Padel Federation (IPF)
Para Dance Sport World Para Dance Sport
Para ice hockey World Para Ice Hockey
Para table tennis International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)
Parkour World Freerunning Parkour Federation (WFPF)
Pencak Silat International Pencak Silat Federation (PERSILAT)
Pesäpallo (Finnish baseball) Pesäpalloliitto
Pickleball International Federation of Pickleball (IFP)
Pigeon racing Royal Pigeon Racing Association (RPRA)
Pogo stick World Pogo Stick Federation (WPSF)
Poker International Federation of Poker (IFP)
Pole dance International Pole Sports Federation (IPSF)
Polo Federation of International Polo (FIP)
Powerboating Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM)
Powerlifting International Powerlifting Federation (IPF)
Powerlifting (Para) World Para Powerlifting
Practical shooting International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC)
Quidditch International Quidditch Association (IQA)
Quizzing International Quizzing Association (IQA)
Racketlon Fédération Internationale de Racketlon (International Racketlon Federation) (FIR)
Racquetball International Racquetball Federation (IRF)
Radio-controlled car racing International Federation of Model Auto Racing (IFMAR)
Rafting International Rafting Federation(IRF)
Ringball International Ringball Federation(IRBF)
Ringette International Ringette Federation (IRF)
Rogaining International Rogaining Federation (IRF)
Roller sports (including inline hockey, roller racing, rink hockey, roller derby, skateboarding, and artistic roller skating) World Skate (WS)
Rope Skipping International Jump Rope Union (IJRU), World Rope Skipping Confederation (WRSC), International Rope Skipping Federation (IRSF), World Inter-School Rope Skipping Organisation (WIRSO), International Rope Skipping Organisation (IRSO)
Rounders National Rounders Association (NRA)
Rowing Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d'Aviron (FISA) (International Rowing Federation)
Rubik's Cube World Cube Association (WCA)
Rugby Fives Rugby Fives Association (RFA)
Rugby league Rugby League International Federation (RLIF)
Rugby union World Rugby (WR)
Sailing World Sailing
Sailing (Para) International Association for Disabled Sailing (IADS)
Sambo Fédération Internationale de Sambo (FIAS)
Savate Federation Internationale de Savate (FISav)
Sepak Takraw International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF)
Shinty Camanachd Association
Shooting (Para) World Shooting Para Sport
Shooting International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF)
Shuttlecock International Shuttlecock Federation
Silambam World Silambam Association (WSA)
Skateboarding World Skateboarding Federation (WSF); International Skateboarding Federation (ISF)
Ski mountaineering International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF)
Skibobbing International Skibob Federation (FISB)
Skiing (including Alpine, Nordic combined, cross-country, freestyle, ski jumping and snowboarding and snowboarding) Fédération Internationale de Ski (FIS)
Sled dog sports International Federation of Sleddog Sports
Slot car racing International Slot Racing Association (ISRA)
Snowboarding (Para) World Para Snowboard
Soft Tennis International Soft Tennis Federation (ISTF)
Sports climbing International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC)
Sport jiu-jitsu Sport Jiu Jitsu International Federation (SJJIF)
Sport Ju-Jitsu Ju-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF)
Sport stacking World Sport Stacking Association (WSSA)
Sqay International Council of Sqay (ICS)
Squash World Squash Federation (WSF)
Ssireum World Ssireum Federation (WSF)
Street and ball hockey International Street And Ball Hockey Federation (ISBH)
Sumo International Sumo Federation (ISF)
Surfing and bodyboarding International Surfing Association (ISA)
Swimming (Para) World Para Swimming
Table football (Table soccer; foosball) International Table Soccer Federation (ITSF)
Table hockey International Table Hockey Federation (ITHF)
Table Tennis International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)
Taekwondo World Taekwondo (WT)
Tag World Chase Tag
Tank biathlon International Federation of Tank Biathlon
Targetball International Targetball Federation (ITF)
Tchoukball Fédération Internationale de Tchoukball
Tennis International Tennis Federation (ITF)
Tent Pegging International Tent Pegging Federation (ITPF)
Teqball International Federation of Teqball (FITEQ)
Throwball International Throwball Federation (ITF)
Touch football Federation of International Touch (FIT)
Triathlon International Triathlon Union (ITU)
Tug-of-war Tug-of-War International Federation (TWIF)
Underwater sports Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS)
Unicycling International Unicycling Federation (IUF)
Virtual motorsport Global Virtual Motorsport Association (GVMA)
Volleyball (Para) World Organization Volleyball for Disabled (WOVD)
Volleyball and Beach volleyball Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB)
Vovinam International Vovinam Federation (IVF), Vovinam-VietVoDao World Federation (VVWF)
VX (Rock-It-Ball) Global VX, International Rock-It-Ball Federation (IRIBF)
Water skiing and wakeboarding (including cable skiing and cable wakeboarding) International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF)
Weightlifting International Weightlifting Federation (IWF)
Wheel gymnastics International Wheel Gymnastics Federation
Wheelchair basketball International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF)
Wheelchair curling World Curling Federation (WCF)
Wheelchair Fencing International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS)
Wheelchair rugby International Wheelchair Rugby Federation (IWRF)
Wheelchair tennis International Tennis Federation (ITF)
Wrestling United World Wrestling (UWW)
Wushu International Wushu Federation (IWUF)
Yoga Yogasports Confederation of World (YCW)


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