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The IFs have the responsibility and duty to manage and to monitor the everyday running of the world's various sports disciplines, including the practical organisation of events during the Games, and the supervision of the development of athletes practising these sports at every level.
Each IF governs its sport at world level and ensures its promotion and development. They monitor the everyday administration of their sports and guarantee the regular organisation of competitions as well as respect for the rules of fair play.

The IFs may, of course, formulate proposals addressed to the IOC concerning the Olympic Charter and the Olympic Movement in general, including the organising and holding of the Olympic Games; give their opinions concerning the candidatures for organising the Olympic Games, particularly concerning the technical capabilities of the candidate cities; collaborate in the preparation of the Olympic Congresses; and participate in the activities of the IOC commissions.

Recognised IFs whose sports appear on the Olympic programme have the status of International Olympic Federations. As such, they participate in annual meetings of the IOC Executive Board with the International Olympic Summer Federations and with their Winter counterparts.

In order to discuss common problems and decide on their events calendars, the summer Olympic federations, the winter Olympic federations and the recognised federations have formed associations: the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF), the Association of International Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF), the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF) and the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), which also includes other sports federations.

The Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF), created in 1983, coordinates and defends the common interests of its members to ensure close cooperation between them, the members of the Olympic Movement and those of other organisations. They do so with the aim of preserving the Olympic Movement while maintaining the authority, independence and autonomy of the member International Federations.

The Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF) works in close cooperation with the International Sports Federations which govern a sport featured on the Olympic programme as well as those affiliated to the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF). It encourages cooperation between its members.

The AIOWF is the qualified spokesperson dealing with specific questions connected with winter sports in general, and with the Olympic Games in particular.
The AIOWF is also responsible for choosing the joint delegation and/or appointments of the winter sports representatives on the commissions of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and other international organisations.
AIOWF also deals with the coordination of the competitions calendar as well as the submission to the IOC of proposals regarding the distribution of the share of television rights revenues.

Founded in 1983, the Association of the IOC Recognised International Sports Federations has several aims, namely:

• - to act as a spokesperson, and to defend and coordinate the common interests of its members whilst maintaining their authority, independence and autonomy. However, the Rules of the Olympic Charter prevail and no ARISF rule can go against these principles,
• - to determine the consensus of the member federations on questions of common interest in relation to the Olympic Movement,
• - to ensure the largest possible participation in the Congresses, programmes and projects of the International Olympic Committee (IOC),
• - to decide on nominations of ARISF representatives on commissions of the IOC and/or other international sports organisations.

The General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), founded in 1967, groups together the International Sports Federations and various associations with the aim of defending world-wide sport, becoming better informed and making themselves known, and cooperating and coordinating their activities.
Its aim is to create a forum which brings together all the sports bodies once a year for an exchange of views on subjects of common interest. Its mission is to maintain the authority and autonomy of its members, promote closer links between its members and all sports organisations, coordinate and protect common interests and collect, verify and disseminate information.

• Contact the GAISF