International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles - Organization and Governance

Organization and Governance

FILA is now based in Corsier-sur-Vevey, outside of Lausanne, Switzerland. The official languages are English and French. FILA is governed by a Congress made up of representatives from each of the 174 national wrestling federations (the nation's governing body for wrestling). National federations that at least govern the two Olympic wrestling styles are admitted as affiliate members. Those national federations exclusively govern traditional wrestling and other styles can be admitted as associated members. Up to three representatives from each federation may attend the conference, and only one may vote. The Congress meets at least every two years, usually during the Olympic games or during the World Championships that meet between Olympic games. The FILA Congress in turn elects members of the FILA Bureau and the FILA President.

The Bureau serves as the directing and administrating body of FILA. The FILA Bureau is composed of the president, four vice presidents, the Secretary General, 12 other elected members (with two seats reserved for women), the Presidents of the five Continental Committees, and an Honorary President who advises but has no vote (currently, Milan Ercegan). Honorary members are also in turn elected to the Bureau but do not vote. The President, the Vice Presidents, and the Secretary General make up the Executive Committee. Each of the members represents himself or herself personally and has an individual vote in the Congress. No two members represent the same nationality (exceptions may be made for the President, the two female members, the Continental Committee Presidents, and the Honorary President).

The FILA President manages the day-to-day affairs of the organization. The President represents FILA at international meetings, before the International Olympic Committee, and before the general public. The current President of FILA is Raphaël Martinetti from Switzerland who has served in that role since 2002. Bureau members and the President serve for six year terms and can be reelected. Usually one third of the Bureau members are up for reelection every two years.

A Secretary General is chosen by the bureau for six years and is the secondary director of FILA behind the President, serves as secretary of both the Bureau and the Congress, and maintains healthy communication between the national federations, the Continental Committees, the Commissions, and all the departments of FILA. The current Secretary General is Michel Dusson from France.

There are also auxiliary bodies of FILA. One group of auxiliary bodies is the Continental Committee, made up of each of the national federations on each continent (currently Africa, Asia, North and South America, Europe, and Oceania). The Continental Committees are directed by an executive bureau composed of a president, vice president, and 3 other members who all serve for a term of four years. Continental Committees meet at least every two years in the year following the Summer Olympics, in which there is usually the Continental Championship.

Other auxiliary bodies include commissions, which are made of a president, vice president, secretary, and four other members who all serve for four years. Commissions include those dealing with Technical issues; Officiating; Medical Safety and Anti Doping; Promotion; and for Athletes. The members of the commissions are nominated and financially supported by the national federations that they originate from and are generally specialists in the field that the commission supervises.