Sport governing bodies

There are several different kinds of governing bodies for sports:

• International federations - these take care of one sport (or a group of sports, such as skiing). They create a common set of rules and organise international competitions. Promotion of the sport is also a task of an international federation.
• National federation - these have the same objectives as an international federation, but then within the scope of one country, or even part of a country.
• Multi-sport event organisers - these take care of the organisation of a certain event which contains more than one sport. The most important example is the IOC, organiser of the Olympic Games.
• General sports organisations - these take care of sports related topics, usually for a certain group, such as Catholic or Jewish sport, military or university sport.
• Professional leagues

The first international federations were formed at the end of the 19th century.

(more on history)

List of federations

• International Olympic Committee

International Sport Federations

• Fédération internationale d'escrime (fencing) http://www.fie.ch
• International Skating Union[?]
• Fédération Internationale de Football Association[?]
• Fédération Internationale de Basketball
• Australian Football League (Australian rules football)
• International Rugby Board[?] (rugby union)
• International Cricket Council[?]
• Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (auto racing)
• International Association of Athletics Federations
• Fédération internationale de Natation[?] (swimming)