Three Federations Set to Join SportAccord

(ATR) Around the Rings is told that arm wrestling, poker and rugby league will be recommended for SportAccord membership at next month’s general assembly.

The applications of the World Armwrestling Federation, Rugby League International Federation and International Federation of Poker will be reviewed at a SportAccord Council meeting before the April 22 annual meeting.

ATR is told that the council is expected to approve the trio of federations, recommending them for full membership.

More than 10 federations have applied to join the umbrella organization for Olympic and non-Olympic federations in the past year.

While some federations are "very close" to fulfilling the necessary criteria to gain acceptance, others are said to be some way off meeting requirements.

For the federations that have missed the cut this time around, more work and documentation is needed in areas such as governance and anti-doping. Others may lack the 40 national member federations required to show their global universality.

They will be asked to reapply for membership next year. The 2017 host city will be announced on the final day of the SportAccord Convention, which takes place April 17-22 in Lausanne.

Reported by Mark Bisson

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.