Sports Organizations and Structures

The post “Defining a Sport!” attempted to define what constitutes a sport and what does not. It however does not claim to be perfect since there would be grey areas neither it factors in or seeks to define mind sports.  Having attempted to define a sport, the next layer would be classifying the sports. The Sports Encyclopaedia of 2003 claims to trace more than 8000 indigenous sports and games.  Yet, there are several grey areas.

One would wonder whether test cricket, one day cricket and T20 are different sports altogether or should they be classified as variations of a single sport. In athletics where there are numerous events often with tenuous linkages, it is difficult to classify whether all belong to the same sport  or some clustering is essential as with sprint running, middle distance, throws, jumps etc.

Globally, sports have sought to be classified based on the organizations governing the sport. As the International Olympic Committee (IOC) requires, one only international organization has to exist to represent an entire sport. At times however, there are multiple sports which can be represented by a single organization. In aquatics, swimming and water polo are two different sports. Diving is the third sport while artistic swimming is a different manifestation altogether. Therefore the problem compounds in identifying sports. Multi sports governed by same organization are termed disciplines. Therefore in the Olympics, aquatics has four disciplines viz. swimming, artistic swimming, diving and water polo. Similarly canoeing has discipline of flat water and slalom. Cycling is represented by the disciplines of track, road, BMX and mountain biking. In some sports however, there is no clear delineation of disciplines. In shooting for example, shotgun, rifle and pistol are not considered separate disciplines formally.

Therefore in the first instance, sports are those governed by a single organization whereas different but similar styled sports governed by the said organization constitute the disciplines. Each discipline might not have a single event but multiple forms. In swimming for instance there are four different styles raced over different distances and in some certain all round medley races too happen. Further, some races are in swimming pool, some in open water, and some in short course swimming pool. Therefore an ambiguity emerges about whether these should be disciplines or not. The answer is obtained by classifying them as events. However, each of these require different skillsets. Thus the kind of body supplements essential too differ. Therefore with this in mind during drug testing, these events are clubbed along similar skill sets and thus reported as different disciplines. In swimming, short distances like under 200 metres are reported differently from those in 400-800 metres which are classified separately from those involved greater than 800m races. Similarly in athletics, sprints are classified as different discipline compared to middle distance to long distance track etc. Road race like marathon become a discipline in themselves as do the race walks. A deeper analysis in classifying them as separate disciplines for reporting becomes important in analysing the impact of drug usage and effects among various athletes.

The international sports organizations represent as sole body for their sports. Of course certain events in those sports might evolve differently and function aside of the main organization. Long distance races like ultra-marathons or sky-running or tower running or combined evens like icosathlon etc. do not come under the purview of the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF). Professional boxing is not part of International Boxing Federation (AIBA) and governed by multiple organizations like International Boxing Federation, World Boxing Association etc. Some of these have historical reasons and some evolved of different nature. In newer sports organizations, there is a tendency to claim recognition given its obvious payoffs in monopsony market and thus conflicting organizations emerge. In martial arts for instance, small changes in style and movements result in a new sport altogether and organizations spring up claiming to represent the genuine style of the said martial art. Rival organizations in wushu, karate, kickboxing etc. are pretty common. Some organizations evolve separate style for political reasons like taekwondo variations from South and North Korea. Currently, the South Korean version is recognized internationally.

At the apex of the sports hierarchy in terms of payoff sit those sports which are part of the Olympics. The twenty eight sports of the Summer Olympics have their sub association called Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF). Their seven winter counterparts have formed their own unit called Association of Winter Olympic International Federation (AWOIF). These being part of the Olympics carry high prestige. Yet to be in the Olympics, there are certain criteria that has to be met before the recognition by the IOC. A recognition by IOC is not sufficient to be core part of the Olympics. From 2020 onwards few additional sports selected by the local organising committee to would be part of the Olympics. These include karate in 2020, sport climbing in 202 and ’24 etc.  Sports which are eligible to be part of the Olympics by having secured recognition of IOC have formed an organization called Association of Recognized International Sports Federation (ARISF). All the three together represent sports recognized by IOC.

There are many sports which do have this recognition but remain part of global sports community. To be part of IOC, currently, sports federations must have a membership of Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF). All those recognized by IOC are members of GAISF. Those non IOC recognised sports but part of GAISF community have formed their unit called Association of Independent Member Sports Federations (AIMS). Securing a membership of GAISF entails payoffs in terms of recognition by national federations, national Olympic Committees, possible inclusion in IOC thus Olympics. Therefore there is continuous clamour for inclusion or recognition or admission into GAISF. More than 100 bodies are aspirants to membership in GAISF. Of course GAISF offers associate membership for multi sports bodies or those engaged in sports broadcasting and other dimensions of sports industry. Currently, as a step towards full membership, GAISF offers an entry as an observer into the community. This is more of handholding prima facie for the organization to fulfil the requirements and thus become eligible for full membership. There are around 13 observers at the moment. A necessary condition for entry into GAISF is non rivalry with existing member, the observer stage being a mean to resolve if such issues exist. To observers evolving into full members,  it is essential to integrate rival bodies and thus become a single body to represent a said sport.

Some sports might not be recognized yet do undertake regular drug testing and thus as signatories to anti-drug code by the World Anti Drug Agency (WADA). A signatory to WADA code is essential for membership of GAISF. Many other sports might not be formal signatories yet would be undertaking drug testing both in and out of competition. Their reports too might be in the format of WADA ADAMS system. Therefore the sports community is larger when observing the data from the drug testing.

Therefore, a simple overview of organizing principles in international sports governance offers fascinating insights into classification and governance of sports. It also gives a peek into the rivalrous dimensions among sports organizations and the methodology to simplify the micro classifications of sports and disciplines.