Olympic Sports - Recognized International Federations

Recognized International Federations

Many sports are not recognized as Olympic sports although their governing bodies are recognized by the IOC. Such sports, if eligible under the terms of the Olympic Charter, may apply for inclusion in the program of future Games, through a recommendation by the IOC Olympic Programme Commission, followed by a decision of the IOC executive Board and a vote of the IOC Session. When Olympic demonstration sports were allowed, a sport usually appeared as such before being officially admitted. An International Sport Federation (IF) is responsible for ensuring that the sport's activities follow the Olympic Charter. When a sport is recognized the IF become an official Olympic sport federation and can assemble with other Olympic IFs in the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (for summer sports) or Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (for winter sports). A number of recognised sports are included in the programme of the World Games, a multi-sport event run by the International World Games Association, an organisation that operates under the patronage of the IOC. Since the start of the World Games in 1981, a number of sports, including badminton, taekwondo and triathlon have all subsequently been incorporated into the Olympic programme.

The governing bodies of following sports, though not contested in the Olympic Games, are recognized by the IOC: