Three New Feds Aiming High With ARISF

(ATR) The three newest member federations of the Association of IOC Recognized International Sports Federations (ARISF) are excited and optimistic regarding their futures as part of the IOC-supported organization.

The International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF) is the most recent addition to ARISF, officially becoming the 35th member IF in April 2014. The World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) joined the multi-sport organization in October 2013, while the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) became a member in December 2013.

Presidents from the three federations discussed the advantages of ARISF membership with Around the Rings.

"The inclusion of WFDF and flying disc sports in the Olympic family as an IOC-recognized sport has innumerable benefits for our organization," said flying disc president Robert Rauch.

"We believe that we are considered now an even more 'legitimate' sport, making it easier for us to introduce the game into schools and to receive the support of national sports bodies for introduction in new countries and growth in already established nations," said Rauch about his federation, which has governed the flying disc or "Frisbee" sports since 1985.

Ski mountaineering federation president Armando Mariotta emphasized the solidarity and brotherhood among ARISF members.

"Becoming part of the ARISF family the ISMF has the chance to share its objective and expectations with the other 34 recognized members," Mariotta said. "As a saying goes: 'United we stand, divided we fall.'"

Tommy Wiking, the IFAF president, also spoke of the positive aspects of inclusion into the multi-sports club.

"As a member of ARISF, we get the stamp of approval from the sporting world in the eyes of the media, fans and players," said Wiking, regarding IFAF, which oversees American football in more than 60 countries.

Established in Switzerland in 1983, ARISF aims to expand the scope, reach, and recognition of its member IFs within the Olympic Movement while also elevating their influence and strengthening relationships.

ARISF president Raffaele Chiulli, 56, who has served in the position since May 2013, advised of his vision is to continue to expand the organization.

"It is very important that the ARISF family continues to grow, develop and therefore welcome new member federations approved by the IOC," Chiulli told ATR.

Wiking, who has been president of IFAF since 2006 and also of the Swedish football federation since 2000, praised the work of the new president

"President Raffaele Chiulli has been excellent with how he has welcomed us into the family and is doing his best to help us open new doors," Wiking said. "Then we have to do the work, which of course we will."

ARISF Membership

The IOC handles the task of setting acceptance criteria and evaluating and determining new ARISF members based upon Rule 26 in the Olympic Charter.

Member federations receive annual financial support of $25,000 from the IOC, one-third of which must be used towards anti-doping activities.

Ninety-six member countries and more than 3,500 national sport federations are affiliated with ARISF. Over 1.2 billion people worldwide participate recreationally in the 35 ARISF member sports

Olympic Games Aspirations

Although measured in their expectations, the IFs expressed their optimism and hopes of someday joining the Olympic program.

Golf and rugby sevens, which will make their Summer Olympic debuts in Rio 2016, were both formerly ARISF members prior to acceptance in the Olympic program.

"It is a natural aspiration of WFDF to work toward this as an important objective of our organization," said Rauch regarding flying disc sports rising to Olympic status.

"While we are aware that this may very well be a long-term goal for an IF which was only recently recognized, we do believe that the new IOC president has kept the promise he made before the election to foster greater openness of the IOC to new sports on the program by initiating his Olympic agenda 2020."

Ski mountaineering federation president Mariotta conveyed similar goals for ISMF and its 31 member nations.

"ISMF strongly wants to enter in the Olympic program, possibly in 2022, and for this reason is asking all the help and the suggestions that ARISF can give, with the conviction that a sport so spectacular and so complete can give to the Winter Olympic Games real value," Mariotta said.

Wiking is striving towards making American football part of the Olympic Games.

"One of our long-term goals is becoming part of the Olympics and being IOC recognized and part of ARISF is crucial," Wiking said.

Wiking highlighted France, Great Britain, Poland and Sweden as countries where the American sport has grown exponentially in recent years, while predicting that the number of participating nations could rise to more than 100 over the next three to four years.

"What we can offer to the IOC is a sport that is by far the number one sport in North America and the USA and this shows the potential of what it can be globally in interest and how it can be developed for the TV media and fans to be the most entertaining sport that there is," Wiking said.

WFDF president Rauch shared his thoughts about what makes the flying disc sports appealing to the IOC as a potential new addition to the Olympic program?

"Flying disc sports are extremely attractive, fun to watch and are continuing to grow fast globally," Rauch said, estimating that Ultimate Frisbee is played by seven million participants worldwide.

"In addition to our competitive athletes, almost everyone has, at some time in their life thrown a flying disc, whether at the beach, in their backyard, or in the park," Rauch said.

"We believe that Flying Disc sports provide a significant value-added to the Olympic Movement."

Written by Brian Pinelli

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