IOF Governance: Best-in-Class and areas of improvement identified

As a service to its members, the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) has carried out an external independent review of a number of parameters related to the good governance of sports organisations. The study was performed by the company I Trust Sport Ltd and was focused around the governance of the 54 members of the Association of Recognized International Sports Federations (ARISF) and the  Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport (AIMS).  A similar study has previously been carried out by I Trust Sport for the Association of Summer Olympic International Sports Federations (ASOIF) and the Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF). The results of the study were presented to the GAISF General Assembly in Gold Coast, Australia on May 10th. The IOF is a member of ARISF.

The study looked at parameters in the areas of Transparency, Integrity and Democracy, and Development and Control Mechanisms. The full study including overall results and findings and information about the study methodology can be found on the GAISF Homepage.

Link to News Article
Link to the full report

IOF Best-in-Class

In the overall review the IOF scored 65 points of a maximum possible 80 and had the highest score of the 54 federations included in the study. The feedback given in the report is extremely valuable for the continued development of the IOFs governance. Good Governance is a clearly stated ambition in the IOF Strategic directions.

Areas for improvement identified

The study also identified a number of areas for improvement and these have already been discussed by the IOF Council at its meeting in April (The Council had received a preliminary version of the report prior to its meeting). The Council decided at its meeting to prepare proposals for statutory and structural changes aimed at improving Athlete Representation, gender balance and at strengthening educational and development activities for the IOF membership.

GAISF and I Trust Sport are now working on documenting areas of best practice among both the Olympic, Recognized and Independent federations. This will be a very valuable resource for the IOF as it continues to improve governance.

Link to the document: GAISF governance review – International Orienteering Federation