WFDF Ranks Second Among ARISF Members in International Governance Review

The World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) is pleased to disclose its exceptional performance in the latest governance review commissioned by the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF). WFDF was ranked second highest-scoring IF overall out of the 29 participating federations. The review, which assessed how IFs manage their operations and adhere to modern good governance practices, assigned WFDF a moderated score of 84 out of 100, significantly higher than the average score of 55 achieved by the participating ARISF members.

“Achieving the second-highest score among all ARISF Members is a clear validation of the hard work by our staff, Board, and volunteer network as we continue to implement our Strategic Plan for 2023-2028,” said WFDF President Robert “Nob” Rauch. “Our commitment to good governance is essential for the inclusive growth and sport development of all our disciplines. This result confirms we are on the right track to efficiently and proactively serve our 122 member nations.”

The ARISF Governance Review was commissioned by the ARISF Executive Board and conducted by the specialized sports governance and sustainability consultancy, I Trust Sport. The primary goal of the assessment was to encourage better governance across the recognized sports community and to ensure that IFs are “Olympic ready.” I Trust Sport is a sports governance and compliance agency founded in London in 2013 headed by Rowland Jack which is dedicated to improving international sports governance through collaboration. I Trust Sport works with federations, sponsors, individuals and other bodies in sport on projects to bring about genuine change.

The review utilized a questionnaire based on 25 scored indicators ranked between 0 and 4. These indicators covered key areas of governance, including transparency, integrity, sustainability, education, and gender equality. This methodology is similar in structure to the studies conducted for the larger Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF), but tailored to reflect the smaller nature and limited budget of ARISF members.

In its report, I Trust Sport noted that WFDF has a “strong record related to good governance principles” and consistently performed well across the entire questionnaire. The agency also highlighted the “significant ongoing work” that has taken place since the 2018-19 review, specifically on areas like gender equality and safeguarding. The federation’s strong score reflects proactive steps taken in recent years, including strengthening the approach to Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and changing officer terms to four years with caps.

The review also highlights the progress WFDF has made since the last major governance assessment done by I Trust Sport in 2018-19. In that prior study, WFDF was ranked 3rd out of 54 IFs (that study included both ARISF and AIMS members, although no AIMS member was in the top category). When comparing the scores from the 18 indicators that were retained from the previous study, WFDF’s score rose from 55 to 63 out of a possible 72. This shows clear and sustained development, aligning with the federation’s goal to maintain momentum and equitably impact its global community.

ARISF is a non-governmental, non-profit organization constituted through and recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). ARISF’s 40 members are international sports federations recognized by the IOC whose sport is currently not in either the Summer or Winter Olympics. ARISF was formed in 1983 and is headquartered in the Swiss city of Lausanne. Among its aims are to: act as a spokesperson to defend and coordinate the common interests of its members while maintaining their authority, independence and autonomy, determine the consensus of the member federations on questions of common interest in relation to the Olympic Movement, and ensure the largest possible participation in the activities of the IOC.

The full, anonymized report can be found at:  https://arisf.sport/first-arisf-governance-review-of-international-federation/