Sport governing bodies

There are several different kinds of governing bodies for sports:

• International federations - these take care of one sport (or a group of sports, such as skiing). They create a common set of rules and organise international competitions. Promotion of the sport is also a task of an international federation.
• National federation - these have the same objectives as an international federation, but then within the scope of one country, or even part of a country.
• Multi-sport event organisers - these take care of the organisation of a certain event which contains more than one sport. The most important example is the IOC, organiser of the Olympic Games.
• General sports organisations - these take care of sports related topics, usually for a certain group, such as Catholic or Jewish sport, military or university sport.
• Professional leagues
• Trusts - these are organizations or groups that have control over money that will be used to help someone else, such as the Youth Sport Trust.

The first international federations were formed at the end of the 19th century.

(more on history)

List of federations

• International Olympic Committee

International Sport Federations

• Fédération internationale d'escrime (fencing) http://www.fie.ch
• International Skating Union
• Fédération Internationale de Football Association
• Fédération Internationale de Basketball
• Australian Football League (Australian rules football)
• International Rugby Board (rugby union)
• International Cricket Council
• Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (auto racing)
• International Association of Athletics Federations
• Fédération internationale de Natation (swimming)