Global Association of International Sports Federations looks to end operations in 2022
Ivo Ferriani, the newly elected President of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), has announced has intention to see the body cease operations next year.
The influential GAISF, the umbrella organisation for all Olympic and non-Olympic international sports federations, has more than 100 members and has observer status on International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board.
With GAISF’s Presidency held in rotation, Ferriani, representing the Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF), replaced longstanding GAISF President, Dr Raffaele Chiulli, last week.
He then immediately advised his intention to wind up the organisation the news in a letter to GAISF members, saying they will have a motion to dissolve on its agenda at their general assembly in Yekaterinburg, Russia next May.
The motion is expected to be approved.
Ferriani brings with him a wealth of experience in sports administration, having served as AIOWF President since 2020, and President of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation since 2010. He has also been an International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board Member since 2018.
In the lead up to the election, Ferriani shared his plans for the future of GAISF, underlining his commitment to bringing the global sports community closer together for the benefit sport.
He praised GAISF for its tireless efforts to promote sustainability in sport and underlined how he will use his role as a Member of the IOC Sustainability and Legacy Commission to build on this progress.
The winding up of the GAISF would serve the IOC’s plans to streamline international sport administration.
However, if the dissolution goes ahead it is uncertain what would happen to its events such as the World Combat Games and the World Urban Games, first held in Budapest in 2019 and the SportAccord international convention, held on the Gold Coast in 2019.
Saudi Arabia has been awarded the 2023 World Combat Games, last staged in 2013, and meetings between the country and the GAISF to discuss preparations for the event were held earlier this month.
Image: New GAISF President Ivo Ferriani. Credit: GAISF.
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