On 19 April 2022 IFA sent out the invitation to a virtual Extraordinary IFA 2022 Congress on 3 July 2022 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

On 26 June 2022 IFA updated the invitation and the congress file including the amendments to the IFA Statues and the reporting of the Board of Directors.

Please register your delegates on https://tinyurl.com/IFAcongress2022 latest 30 June 2022.

With a 4:1 (11:7, 11:6, 9:11, 11:7, 11:7) victory against Austria, the German men’s national Fistball team defended its title at the European Championships in Caldaro (ITA) (June 9-12, 2022). For six players from the squad of national coach Olaf Neuenfeld it was the first European Championship title. Almost 2,000 spectators watched the European Fistball Championships.

It was the remake of the World Championship gold medal match of 2019, the winner is again Germany at the European Championships. The team around captain Fabian Sagstetter was able to secure the 15th European Championship title four weeks before The World Games in Birmingham (Alabama/USA) after a hard-fought match. Only in the 3rd set the Austrians could challenge the favorite, the other sets were relatively clear in favor of the reigning World Champion.

Bronze went to Switzerland after a likewise very exciting and contested match. The Italians started strongly in the first set and were able to take a 1:0 lead in sets, but Switzerland was able to turn the match around afterwards and secure the bronze medal thanks to a 4:1 victory.

The Czech Republic managed to beat Belgium 3:1 in the 7th place match, while Denmark secured the 5th place thanks to a 3:1 win against Serbia.

The INTERACT Pledge Signing Ceremony took place on 9th June during the 27th TAFISA World Congress in Portoroz, Slovenia. 18 International Sport Organisations signed the INTERACT Pledge in front of an audience of over 300 people.

With their signature, the following organisations have taken the responsibility to create a better world through Sport for All for the next generation:
· ITTF Foundation
· International Fistball Association
· World Flying Disc Federation
· International Functional Fitness Federation
· International Federation Icestocksport
· Fédération Internationale de Teqball
· International Dance Organization
· International Taekwon-Do Federation
· Majorette Sport World Federation
· Confederazione Boccistica Internazionale
· World Minigolf Sport Federation
· International Zurkaneh Sport Federation
· World Judo Federation
· World Jiu Jitsu Confederation
· Badminton World Federation
· World Pilates Confederation
· International Tchoukball Federation
· International Jump Rope Union

Through the pledge’s resolution, based on international and Euopean Policy Papers, signatories commit to:
· Integrate Sport for All as part of elite and major sport events, as well as their legacy;
· Strengthen partnerships with national and local hosts to foster local Sport for All approaches;
· Adapt sports and disciplines to the needs of diverse target groups. This can be done through the modification of rules, equipment, environment and teaching styles;
· Team up with other International and European Sport Organisations and share your knowledge, experience, expertise and resources to promote Sport for All;
· Provide frameworks, support and assistance to national and local members, helping them develop Sport for All initiatives

The signing ceremony was a huge success for INTERACT – an Erasmus+ co-founded project of TAFISA in which IFA is member – , and showed once again how the Sport for All movement is growing.

The INTERACT Pledge is available here. International Sport Organisations interested in signing it should contact the INTERACT Team at contact@interact-sport.com. More signing ceremonies will be organized in the coming months, with the next event during the 2nd European Sport for All Games in Perugia, Italy, 23rd – 29th September 2022.

318 participants representing 173 organisations across 54 countries joined the 27th TAFISA World Congress in Portoroz, Slovenia, which was hosted by the Olympic Committee of Slovenia – Association of Sports Federation and Sports Union of Slovenia. Over the course of a week, the Global Sport for All Movement came together to meet, exchange, and discuss how Sport for All can adapt to a changing environment and better contribute to society. IFA was represented by President Jörn Verleger, Secretary General Chris Oberlehner and TAFISA INTERACT project member Theresa Eidenhammer.

On the evening of 8 June, Congress participants were welcomed by a cultural show. With features ranging from gymnastics performed by seniors to modern dance, the cultural performances demonstrated the joy of being physically active at all ages, setting the tone for the Congress.
Tackling the theme of “Sport for All in a Changing World”, the Congress offered insights from over 50 international speakers, moderators and panellists including International Fistball Association President Jörn Verleger contributed to an inspiring programme.

TAFISA General Assembly
On Friday 10 June, the TAFISA General Assembly, TAFISA’s supreme decision-making body, was held and voted on important decisions for the future of the organisation. The host of the 29th TAFISA World Congress 2025 was elected to be Sokol, in the city of Prague, Czech Republic.

TAFISA’s Statutes were also revised and updated. The new statutes can be consulted here on TAFISA’s website: TAFISA Statutes 2022

Finally, the General Assembly concluded with the election of the new TAFISA Board of Directors. Wolfgang Baumann was elected TAFISA President and a new Board of Directors was elected for 2022-2025, with five women present on the Board for the first time in TAFISA’s history.

TAFISA’s 30th Anniversary
On the occasion of TAFISA’s 30th Anniversary, a very special programme was held in the Tartini Theatre, retracing the history of TAFISA and inviting both pioneers and the new generation to share their thoughts on Sport for All. The celebrations continued with a beach party where participants marveled at fire dancers while enjoying a slice of birthday cake and signature non-alcoholic cocktails.

Watch the Highlights
You can (re)live the Congress through the highlights video posted on the official TAFISA Congress YouTube channel.

Tonight the official group drawing of the Fistball competitions at The World Games 2022 was broadcasted on IFA Facebook.

The Men’s and Women’s preliminary rounds are played in 2 groups each (A, B).
The basis for this group drawing was the results of the last World Championships before the COVID19 pandemic: 2019 in Switzerland (MEN) and 2018 in Austria (WOMEN): Teams that were not participating there were automatically added to last pool of the competition.
The drawn teams were then allocated to either group A or B by a second draw.

Pool for the Drawing:

These are the groups of the Men’s Fistball Competition at The World Games 2022:

These are the groups of the Women’s Fistball Competition at The World Games 2022:

Download the match schedule for the Men’s and Women’s Fistball Competition at The World Games: SCHEDULE

In order to promote gender equality in Fistball the IFA Board of Directors established in its meeting on 4 June a Gender Equality Policy to support the equal representation of all genders at a volunteer and professional level within the IFA structures.

Achieving gender equity in Fistball will take time and patience. A step-by-step process from initial consideration, to starting a discussion, to implementing a strategy to promote gender equity is a long road, but it’s necessary and worth starting this journey.

In 2021, the IFA presented for the first time a Gender Equality Toolkit that provides information on gender equality and ideas/strategies specifically for Fistball organizers to make events more gender equitable.

Furthermore, the board approved a proposal to the Extraordinary IFA 2022 Congress on 3 July 2022 1:30 p.m. (CET) to include a link to the new Gender Equality Policy in the updated IFA Statues in fulfilling the IFA Strategic Plan.

The IFA Board of Directors has approved in its 15th virtual meeting on Saturday 4th June 2022 the 108-page IFA 2021 Annual Report and final Financial Report 2021.

Furthermore, the motion of the board to change the IFA Statues at the Extraordinary IFA 2022 Congress and the preparation of the 5th IFA Youth Congress on 3 July 2022 were discussed.

IFA Secertary General Chris Oberlehner repeorted about the latest developments in Birmigham (Alabama/USA) where in a few weeks 207 players and officials from the Fistball familiy will arrive at The World Games 2022. The official match scheduale will be published this week.

Furthermore, the board approved a new IFA Gender Equality Policy.

The International World Games Association (IWGA) and the Birmingham Organizing Committee team up with the Olympic Channel Services (OCS), to stream The World Games 2022 (TWG) at Olympics.com in the USA from 7 – 17 July 2022.

The agreement with Olympic Channel Services (OCS) will see a comprehensive digital offering to stream the live action from The World Games 2022 (TWG) in Birmingham, Alabama on Olympics.com, the sports content hub of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). OCS will provide a 24/7 feed as well as individual feeds of the multi-sports event, the second time it will be streamed on the platform following success in 2017. Fans in the USA will be able to watch the action live on Olympics.com.

This digital streaming agreement is in addition to CBS Sports’ wide-ranging coverage in the USA. CBS Sports Network will televise one-hour highlight shows after each day of competition and the CBS Television Network will broadcast two, one-hour specials, with broadcast coverage also streaming live on Paramount+. Fans in the USA will now be able to watch nearly all of the 223 medal decisions over 34 live events.

Not yet decided is if The World Games are broadcasted e.g. in Germany or Switzerland on public TV.

The World Games 2022 will add a chapter to the history of the city of Birmingham, USA. Randall Woodfin, the Mayor of the host city in Alabama, USA, stated this in person at the Annual General Meeting of the International World Games Association, held 49 days before the opening ceremony for the 11th edition of The World Games 2022 on 7th July. The AGM was attended by representatives of the 39 member federations. IFA was represented by President Jörn Verleger and Secretary General Chris Oberlehner.

Mayor Woodfin opened the host city’s presentation by the Birmingham Organising Committee (BOC) at Thursday’s meeting in Madrid. Jonathan Porter, Chairman of the BOC, could already announce to delegates from the 39 IWGA member federations the name of a world star: Lionel Ritchie will perform at the closing ceremony on July 17th 2022 at the new Protective Stadium.

After the detailed presentation of the state of preparation by BOC Chief Operating Officer, Jay Kasten, IWGA President José Perurena summarised: “We expect nothing less than an outstanding event. I am convinced: Birmingham will deliver.”

In 2022, there are 223 Medal events in 34 sports. A record number of 108 nations will be represented at TWG. Men´s Fistball is part of the World Games since 1985 in London. In 2022 for the first time ever a female Fistball competition will take place.

Beyond Birmingham
During the AGM, which was held as a meeting in presence for the first time in two years, delegates were already looking beyond the 2022 Games. IWGA CEO Joachim Gossow unveiled plans for The World Games Series, a new multi-sport format under the patronage of the IWGA. The world-class invitation event – with top athletes and teams – will provide an additional platform for The World Games sports. It will be scheduled twice a year from 2023 onwards. The goal is to strengthen the TWG brand and to raise awareness in the years preceding editions of the Games, which are held every four years.

Already during The World Games 2022 the IWGA is launching its eGaming project. The IWGA will set up an eGaming pavilion at TWG Plaza, at the new location City Walk in Birmingham – as Hagen Bossdorf, TV and Marketing Coordinator of the IWGA, told the delegates. Three sports, Archery, Baseball and Racquetball, will present their virtual games to the visitors. Up to the 12th edition of The World Games in 2025 in Chengdu, Peoples Republic of China, the IWGA in cooperation with its federations wants to expand the circle to ten eGaming sports. Hagen Bossdorf described eGaming as a promotional tool for TWG and their sports. He even sees the possibility in the future of organising e-Gaming competitions at The World Games.

Projecting an Athletes Commission
The IWGA then plans to convene its Athletes Commission for the first time in October 2025. Executive Committee member Jan Fransoo presented the concept for this. Jan Fransoo said, concerning the reasons for establishing such a commission: “The World Games provides the highest podium for our athletes to showcase their athletic performance. Our ambition is that our athletes are at the centre of our considerations and be part of our decision-making processes.” Before 2025, the IWGA is planning to establish an interim Athletes Commission in late 2022. The IWGA board will appoint members of this Commission, based on the nomination of the international federations. “It is crucial that these athletes do not represent their sport, but all the athletes who participate in The World Games,” Jan Fransoo said.

Memorandum of Understanding
Another agenda item dealt with the Memorandum of Understanding just signed between the IWGA and International University Sports Federation (FISU). In addition, the Board is in negotiations about similar agreements with the National Olympic Committees as well as National Sports Organisations and the International Paralympic Committee.

For the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Irina Gladkikh, Andrew Hofer and Céline Moyat Pérez participated in the AGM. The World Games are under the Patronage of the IOC. The IOC President Thomas Bach has announced that he will attend the 11th edition of The World Games in Birmingham, Alabama. Thomas Bach showed his commitment to the TWG family virtually, by opening the AGM with his welcome video message.

Dear Member Federation, dear potential host club and host city,

The IFA Board of Directors seeks bids from potential host organizers for

– the IFA 2024 Fistball U18 World Championships,
– the IFA 2024 Fistball Women´s World Championship,
– the IFA 2023 Fistball World Tour Finals and
– the IFA 2024 Fistball World Tour Finals.

Please find the information on the respective events in detail in the following documents:
– Call for Applications U18 World Championships
– Call for Applications Women’s World Championships
– Call for Applications World Tour Finals

It is the aim of the Board to award the events if possible at the IFA 2022 Extraordinary Congress on Sunday 3 July which will be held online. Every applicant will be invited to present the bid to the member federations.

Bidding process and timeline:

1. Express your interest to bid for one of the events latest by 1 June 2022 via the following online form https://tinyurl.com/IFAevents2024

2. IFA contacts you to discuss the event concept from 2 June 2022

3. Submit your bidding documents with your event concept to office@ifa-fistball.com
latest by 26 June 2022

4. Assessment of bidding documents by IFA jury and 2nd round questions from 27-30 June 2022

5. Awarding of the event in the IFA Congress on 3 July 2022

6. Signing of Event contract Mid of July

To all potential hosts: Please do not hesitate to contact IFA Secretary General by mail (office@ifa-fistball.com) any time within the bidding process for consultation concerning the bid.

IFA will provide all potential bidders showing interest the same support to prepare their bidding document.

Potential bidders/hosts could be a:
– national IFA member association or
– club or
– city in co-operation with a club.

Bids will be reviewed by an IFA Jury with input from the IFA Sports Commission, the IFA Youth Commission and the IFA Women’s Commission, with final approval upon their recommendation by the IFA Board of Directors.

In case you have any questions about these events or the process of bidding please contact Christoph Oberlehner, IFA Secretary General via office@ifa-fistball.com.