While the first tournaments of the new World Tour season are already played, the best 16 teams of the last year have another highlight coming up: The World Tour Final 2020 from July 17th to 19th in Birmingham, Alabama (USA). Birmingham is a very special venue, as next year the city will also host the World Games, where for the first time in the history of the World Games, fistball will be represented by a men’s and women’s competition, which means a huge progress in the development of fistball. The World Tour Finals will serve as a pre-event before this international sports spectacle, in order to make the sport of fistball more widely known in Birmingham and to bring the sport closer to people in the USA as well.
So who are the “glorious 16” who will be competing for the World Cup at this year’s World Tour Final? A total of 8 men and 8 women teams from 3 continents and 6 countries are represented at the big finals. With the winners of the World Tour Final 2019 Pfungstadt and Dennach, as well as Stammheim, Germany provides three strong teams, who will certainly give everything to be at the top again. Neighbour Austria could double the number of participants this year and is sending state champion Nussbach as well as World Tour newcomer Wolkersdorf/Neusiedl to the women’s competition and vice champion Vöcklabruck and the boys from Froschberg to the men’s event. From Switzerland the men and women of the SVD Diepoldsau-Schmitter will travel to the USA. The representatives from Brazil are the women and men from Duque de Caxias and Novo Hamburgo as well as the girls from Sogipa. With Club Manquehue in the women’s competition, another South American team has qualified and host USA is with Swim&Sports Club from New Jersey also represented in the men’s competition.
We can therefore look forward to an exciting World Tour final with the best club teams in the world and are curious to see who will be wearing the fistball crown in 2020.
Today the IFA Board of Directors conducted its 4th meeting since the election in Winterthur (SUI) last year in August.
The International Fistball Association (IFA) is pleased to announce that the Board of Directors has approved Malta Sports For All, the Federacion Boliviana de Fistball and the Uganda Fistball Association as its newest member associations, increasing IFA’s membership to 66 national member associations. “IFA is proud to welcome the new member associations to the IFA,” said IFA President Jörn Verleger.
The board heard several reports from IFA Secretary General Chris Oberlehner about the preparation of the IFA 2020 Fistball Women´s World Championship Chile, the IFA 2020 Fistball U18 World Championship Austria with 19 registered teams, the IFA 2020 Fistball World Tour Final in Birmingham and the IFA 2020 World Tour which lift off this weekend in Chile. The fourth season of the IFA Fistball World Tour starts with a total of 27 tournaments on five continents. A record number of 124 teams will fight for the club-fistball crown and the title of the best team in the world. A total of six new tournament organizers are on the tour calendar for the new season of the IFA Fistball World Tour.
IFA Commissions approved
The Board decided about the composition of several IFA commissions. The IFA Youth Commission is composed by chairman Uwe Schneider (GER), Cory Dahn (USA), Verena Hieslmaier (AUT) and an Under 18 representative, who will be elected by the players participating in the IFA 2020 U18 Fistball World Championships in Grieskirchen (Austria). The IFA Ethics Commission is composed by Petra Huber (Secretary General of the Austrian NPC), Thomas Weikert (International Table Tennis Federation ITTF President) and Julia Govinden (CEO of United through Sports) as chairwomen. As a new commission the board established a Sustainability Working Group and asked all member federations for proposals. The board decided unanimously to sign the Sports for Climate Action Framework and approved the first ever IFA 2019 Sustainability Report
Future of Women´s World Championships
Furthermore, the Board established a working group to prepare a decision if their should be a common men´s and women´s world championships 2023 in Mannheim. Currently there will be the women´s event at The World Games 2021, as well as IFA Fistball Women´s World Championships in 2022 and 2024 as well as a possible women´s event at The World Games 2025 in China.
AIMS Council candidate
Finally the IFA Board of Directors nominates IFA President Jörn Verleger as candidate for the position as AIMS Secretary General. The Alliance of Independent recognised Members of Sport (AIMS) was found in 2009 by the non- IOC recognised members of GAISF. Currently, AIMS has 18 sporting international federations as full members. The AIMS President is the General Secretary of IFMA, Stephan Fox. The AIMS Statutory Ordinary General Assembly will be held on Tuesday 21st April 2020 in Beijing and elect a new AIMS Council following the end of the current council’s term. Currently the former IFA President, IFA Honorary President Karl Weiss IFA represents IFA in the AIMS Council.
This year, the fourth season of the IFA Fistball World Tour starts into a new round with a total of 27 tournaments on five continents. A record number of 124 teams will fight for the club-fistball crown and the title of the best team in the world. The tournament kicks off at the beginning of February in Chile, where the first points of the World Tour will be collected.
A total of six new tournament organizers are on the tour calendar for the new season of the IFA Fistball World Tour. This year 124 teams have the possibility to participate in 27 tournaments on five continents and the tournament series starts and ends in Chile in 2020. The new season begins on February 1st with an IFA 250 tournament in Llanquehue (CHI), with Club Manquehue, participant in the World Tour Final 2020. The World Tour season 2020 ends in Chile with an IFA 500 tournament on 1 November in Santiago de Chile.
“The Fistball World Tour is constantly evolving. We have again integrated the feedback of the clubs and hosts and made some changes. New is that with the IFA 250, 500 and Major there are now only three tournament categories. We are very happy about the positive development of the World Tour series and are looking forward to an exciting 2020 season. We are very glad that the World Tour will be carried out on five continents and that we have this amazing number of 124 participating teams. It is particularly pleasing to have another World Tour host in USA, Asia and Australia in addition to the proven World Tour stations and major tournaments in South America and Europe. In addition, there are some new tournaments, especially in Europe,” says Winfried Kronsteiner, chairman of the IFA Sports Commission and co-founder of the World Tour.
Verleger: “Tournament hosts and teams are looking forward to the start of the season”
“The Fistball World Tour is developing very well. In 2020 we will again see many exciting tournaments around the world and the best teams will fight for the World Cup title at the World Tour Finals. I am pleased to see how motivated the tournament organizers and teams are for the new Fistball World Tour season. Especially the record number of participants has put me in a very optimistic mood for this season and I am excited to see which teams can place themselves at the top of the world ranking this year “, says IFA President Jörn Verleger.
IFA 2020 Fistball World Tour with 6 Major tournaments
Six tournaments achieved the quality criteria for the highest category, the major category, in which 1000 points are awarded. 14 tournaments are held in the second tour category with 500 points each, whereas the 250 category consists of 7 tournaments. When taking part in the World Tour clubs can secure a wildcard for the World Tour Finals – the former World Cup. In addition to the six continental winners from Europe, North and South America, Australia, Africa and Asia, the two best-placed teams in the World Tour qualify for the World Tour Final. The women’s team from TSV Dennach (GER) and the men’s team from TSV Pfungstadt (GER) won the IFA 2019 World Tour Finals.
Congrats to The World Games Athlete of the Year Rani and congrats to our Mateus Kuntzler who finished 7th place with very honorable 28.529 votes. We are very proud of you. Thanks to all who voted for him and Fistball!
Mateus Kuntzler started with Fistball when he was 10 years old. Sport has always been very important in his life, but him becoming a world-class Fistball player was a surprise to a lot of people, because he was born with a malformation on his left arm, which is not fully developed: he has practically no left forearm.
Mateus always wanted to prove to himself that he could become a very good player in ‘normal’ sport rather than para-sport. Winning the bronze medal with Team Brazil at the Fistball World Championship in 2019 was the greatest proof of this aim in his life so far. He continued to show outstanding performance throughout the year 2019, being voted as the Most Valuable Player of the Fistball World Tour Finals, where he was runner-up with his club team Novo Hamburgo.
The 3rd Olympic Winter Youth Games, the Youth Olympic Games, took place in Lausanne from January 9 to 22, 2020. 1,880 athletes between the ages of 15 and 18 from more than 70 nations fought for medals in 8 sports. For the first time in Olympic history, the best young winter athletes in 3 regions, 2 countries came together for a binational event. Lausanne 2020 impressively filled the “Youth Olympic Games” with life.
An aerialist athlete lands next to the Youth Olympic Cauldron and hands over the flame to the youngest representative of the Swiss Team present in Lausanne standing by the cauldron. The athlete can now ignite the cauldron in the stadiumin the Lausanne Vaudoise Arena at the Opening Ceremony for the Winter Youth Olympic Games, Lausanne, Switzerland, Thursday 09 January 2020. Photo: OIS/Chloe Knott. Handout image supplied by OIS/IOC.
The opening ceremony was atmospheric, dynamic and colorful, but above all it was designed by and with young athletes for young athletes. Olympic Capital and the home of the IOC not only sprayed the Olympic fever in the competition venues, but also in the streets, shops and cafes. Everywhere you saw one of the more than 3,000 volunteers who were always ready to answer questions with a smile.
The third edition of the Winter Youth Olympic Games will be remembered by many as one full of symbolism. In a year that marks the 10th anniversary of the first Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Singapore, as already it was the case in Buenos Aires 2018, it set out to draw young people to sport, and to live by the Olympic values of friendship, excellence and respect.
Through a decade, the event has grown and carved a unique identity of its own, moving from Asia to Europe, South America and now stands on the cusp of making history in Africa as the first Games to be held on the continent.
“The Youth Olympic Games have constantly evolved to remain relevant to youth,” said Antoine Goetschy, associate director of the YOG. “In 10 years it became an incubator for innovation. It has served as a test bed for new sports and event formats – some making their way to the Olympic Games.
There is 3-on-3 basketball from Singapore 2010, due to make its debut at Tokyo 2020. It was at the Innsbruck 2012 Winter YOG that women’s ski jumping featured at an Olympic event for the first time, later added to the Olympic roster from Sochi 2014.
The greatest benefit of the YOG is not just the competition but the activities around it and the education of the athletes on certain important issues like doping and fair play.
Niels Conradt GER (blue bib, Silver Medalist), Alvaro Romero ESP (yellow bib, Bronze Medallist), Valerio Jud SUI (red bib, Gold Medallist) and Quentin Sodogas FRA (green bib, fourth place) during the Final of the Snowboarding Men’s Snowboard Cross at Villars Winter Park. The Winter Youth Olympic Games, Lausanne, Switzerland, Monday 20 January 2020. Photo: OIS/Ben Queenborough. Handout image supplied by OIS/IOC.
“It’s got a little bit more emotions than the senior Olympics, in a way less formal. And these are friendships that will serve these athletes their whole lives,” said Tara Geraghty-Moats, an American ski jumper and Nordic combined athlete in Lausanne as an Athlete Role Model.
IOC President Dr. Thomas Bach praised at the closing ceremony the 1,880 athletes who took part in these games: “You are the best ambassador of the Olympic Spirit. Stay true to these values for your future Olympic career. I look forward to welcoming you to the Olympic Games again soon. ”
The 4th Winter Youth Olympic Games will take place in Gangwon (South Korea) in 2024.
“We had a very productive trip to Lausanne during these momentous Youth Olympic Games,” IFA President Jörn Verleger said. “I would like to congratulate Lausanne 2020 Organising Committee and the tireless effort of the 3,800 volunteers, without whom this event would not have been possible.”
During their time in Lausanne, President Verleger and Secretary Christoph Oberlehner met with a number of sports movement leaders, including AIMS President Stephan Fox and United Through Sports CEO Julia Govinden.
IFA would like to ask all members of the Fistball family to join us in supporting Australia as they endure the horrific fires that are currently ravaging so much of the country. We are grateful that none of our Fistball family have lost their homes, but we ask for your support for the many families who have suffered loss due to the wildfires. If you are able to help in any way, please visit www.rfs.nsw.gov.au
Congrats to The Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport (AIMS) and especially to AIMS President Stephan Fox as AIMS received unanimously full recognition by the IOC at the IOC Session in Lausanne on 10 of January. “Although this does not mean that individual AIMS members such as IFA are recognized, it is a tribute to the successful work that sports associations that have not yet received recognition by the IOC do” said IFA President Jörn Verleger who was present at the IOC Session in Lausanne (Switzerland).
History was made as a unanimous vote was passed for the full recognition of AIMS and where they now become a fully recognised IOC umbrella group. The Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport was founded in 2009 by the Non-IOC recognised members of GAISF, where AIMS established itself as one of the five International Federation umbrella groups in the IOC and GAISF family.
AIMS is a proud member of the Olympic family and as history has marked, they were granted provisional recognition by the IOC in 2015. With the key mission of the IOC to protect and promote the Olympic values of friendship, respect, excellence, determination, inspiration, courage and equality, AIMS has proven united towards honouring these values.
The ethos of AIMS is to strengthen each individual sport, combine expertise, share knowledge along with protection of the members and close cooperation with the IOC, GAISF, SportAccord and WADA. In the last three years, six AIMS members have been given individual recognition by the IOC and where AIMS has held a memorandum of understanding since 2016.
In October 2019, the IOC Executive Board put forward AIMS for full recognition into the IOC session, based on their incorporation and contribution towards the global sporting community.
IOC Sports Director Kit McConnell presented the IOC Executive proposal to the Assembly outlining the work AIMS has done particularly towards being a driving force amongst their members and protecting the athletes adding value and strength towards the global sports community. Mr McConnell delineated the strong partnership the IOC has with AIMS and thanked AIMS for their vision and close cooperation. Mr McConnell continued to address how this close cooperation is aligned with the IOC Agenda 2020 and maximizing synergy with valued Olympic movement stakeholders.
AIMS was given due respect and credit for their powerful endeavours toward non-discrimination and access to sport for every, with emphasis on youth from challenged backgrounds. As the founder of United Through Sports, this flourishing initiative has brought sports, communities, ministries, cities and importantly, humankind from all walks of life together to experience sports in friendship and fun.
It was IOC President Thomas Bach who opened the voting process and saw the General Assembly cast their unanimous vote to give full recognition to AIMS. IOC President Bach congratulated AIMS President Mr Stephan Fox for all the achievements and dedication encouraging him with full support to continue his significant work. The President closed by resonating once again the positive anticipation everyone has towards the upcoming SportAccord 2020 in Beijing and he is looking forward to the United Through Sports social initiatives and sports festival.
AIMS President Stephan Fox thanked the IOC leadership under President Bach and the assembly for their trust and support. Mr Fox gave a special statement of gratitude to the IOC Sports Department for the close cooperation and to the AIMS Council as well as all AIMS members for their united approach towards the vision of benefiting sport and society.
AIMS will continue to contribute in building a better world for the next generations and will continue to stand united in the Olympic Spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play. With this proud recognition with even more tenacity, AIMS will strive to promote and protect the Olympic values for the next generations and advocates access of sport and physical activity as human right.
More than 115 registered club teams and 29 hosts from 5 continents prove that the IFA Fistball World Tour was very successful in its third year.
As we try to improve the World Tour step by step and year by year, we once again offer an adopted version to the Fistball community for 2020.
We learned from the 2020 edition that a modification in some details is reasonable.
The biggest modifications are:
– Reduction to 3 tournament categories: Major – IFA 500 – IFA 250
– Only the best 5 tournament results per team will find their way into the WT ranking. No more downgrading – the category is fix for this season. Restrictions would affect the following year
The adopted quality criteria for the tournament categories in 2020 can also be found in the Tournament registration form below or here: TOURNAMENT CRITERIA 2020.
HOST REGISTRATION (until 12 January):
Hosts can register their tournaments from now on until 12 January 2020 by using the following link: REGISTRATION HOSTING IFA WORLD TOUR TOURNAMENT
Right after this process a full list of tournaments will be published in the Middle/End of January.
CLUB TEAM REGISTRATION (until 26 January):
Club teams can register for this year’s edition of the Fistball World Tour until 26 January 2020 by using the following link: CLUB TEAM REGISTRATION
We are really glad that our World Tour encountered that much worldwide interest within the fistball community.
We are looking forward to a further development in 2020.
We wish you all the best for the upcoming festive season and the year 2020.
It is with greatest sadness that the International Fistball Association (IFA) has learnt that Dr. Hans Christian Kollmann, IFA Honorary Member in Austria, passed away at the age of 79. Our sympathy goes to his family.
From 1986-1995 Hans Kollmann was president of IFA and celebrated its 30th anniversary during the 1990 World Championship in Austria. The worldwide spread of fistball was Hans Kollmann’s constant concern, which is why he worked permanently on the further development of fistball in Austria, Europe and worldwide. As a great networker he brought people and federations together, as the record number of eleven nations participating in the Men’s World Championships in 1990 showed.
Due to his personality, Hans Kollmann opened many doors in the fields of (sports) politics and in many sports organisations. Under his leadership, for example, the partnership with the International World Games Association was expanded and consolidated. It still forms the basis for the integration of fistball in The World Games.
At the World Championships in Windhoek, Namibia in 1995, Hans handed over the presidency to Ernesto Dohnalek from Argentina.
In addition to the technical topics, the social aspect of fistball was also very important to him and he was always a sought-after partner. This was one of the reasons why he was very well known and appreciated in the fistball family.
“Hans Kollmann was a real unique specimen, who has always expressed his opinion directly, even at the risk of being opposed here and there. He always pursued the interests of our sport, which is why he was very much appreciated by the fistball family,” said IFA Honorary President Karl Weiß.
Dear Hans, you leave a big gap in the fistball family. We will always honour your memory.
The IFA expresses its deepest sympathies to Hans Kollmann’s family and friends.
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