The World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) is proud to announce that its Congress has approved federations from Azerbaijan, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, and Sierra Leone as the newest National Federations to achieve WFDF membership. The addition of these countries brings WFDF’s membership to 111 National Federations.
“The continued growth of Ultimate and all other Flying Disc sports worldwide is a core component of our mission,” said WFDF President Robert “Nob” Rauch. “We are thrilled to welcome these new members to WFDF, and are proud of the ongoing sport development efforts they represent, particularly on the African continent.”
The Fédération Comorienne de Disque Volant (FCDV), Fédération Ivoirienne de Frisbee (FIF), and Sierra Leone Flying Disc Association (SLFDA) represent the vibrant and growing Flying Disc Community within Africa, growing WFDF membership to 19 National Federations on the continent.
FCDV is located in the Union of Comoros, an archipelago of three islands with around 900,000 inhabitants. Active since 2018, the FCDV sent a team to the WFDF 2023 All Africa Ultimate Championships in Kisumu, Kenya and plans to work toward inclusion of Flying Disc in the next Indian Ocean Island Games, to be held in the Comoros in 2027.
“This is great news. In fact, our main dream is to develop Frisbee in the Comoros by having teams present on each of our three islands,” shared Coralie Bigotto, Secretary General of FCDV. “We are more and more recognized in the Comoros but being recognized as a National Federation and belonging to the international family allows us to support the seriousness of this sport which is still little known in the Comoros. With this affiliation we also hope to be able to participate in several tournaments organized by WFDF, and if possible integrate Ultimate into the Indian Ocean Island Games.”
“Joining the World Flying Disc Federation is not just an opportunity to represent our nation; it’s a commitment to promoting the Spirit of the Game, unity, and inclusion,” FIF President Emmanuel Wago stated. “Together, we will elevate the game and inspire future generations to embrace the joy of Flying Disc sports.”
“Becoming a National Federation recognized by WFDF means a lot to the Flying Disc sport community in Sierra Leone,” said SLFDA President Patrick Fallah. “Every day, the athletes talk about it in our WhatsApp group. You can clearly see the joy and happiness with which they speak about it. The athletes anticipate that being a part of WFDF will be the start of a lot of good things in the community, one of which is the chance to be trained by professionals, and opportunities to showcase their skills and talents and how Spirit of the Game is honed in our way of play. For me, this is like a reward for all the hard work we’ve been doing. Being part of WFDF, will also help make the process of being recognized by the government a swift one.”
The Ultimate Azerbaijan Community (UAPU) represents 250 active players within the country, which borders Europe and Asia, where Ultimate was first introduced in 2007. The federation organizes a yearly national tournament, and has sent a team to regional club championships.
“As the chairman of the Ultimate Azerbaijan community, I am deeply grateful for the recognition and trust we’ve received,” commented UAPU Chairman Samir Gadirov. “This is a historic moment for us, marking the transformation of a small group of expats tossing a disc into a thriving community of hundreds of passionate locals. With six independent clubs and a local league, our growth has been remarkable, and the acknowledgment from WFDF is a testament to the strength and dedication of our community.”