About Us (IFMA)

Olympism, Human Rights, and IFMA’s Mission

The fundamental principles of Olympism include the sustainable development of sport, the education of youth through sport, and recognition of the practice of sport as a basic human right. To that end, IFMA’s mission is that every individual must have the opportunity to practice Muaythai free of discrimination of any kind, whether racial, gender-based, sexual orientation, religious, or political. IFMA will continue its work toward securing this right and freedom for all.

IFMA Commissions and Olympic Governance Standards

IFMA has established various commissions to oversee and develop areas of social responsibility, universality, ethics, youth and education, prevention of competition manipulation, and sport-for-all activities. These commissions liaise with stakeholders of the Olympic Movement to promote adherence to Olympic values, the Code of Ethics, transparency, and good governance.

Growth of Muaythai on the Global Stage

Muaythai, through IFMA, has progressed significantly since its first World Championships in 1993, where just 20 countries participated. In recent World Championships, participation expanded dramatically, with athletes and dignitaries from 101 countries in attendance.

Another major step in the globalisation of Muaythai occurred at the 1995 Southeast Asian Games, when Muaythai was included for the first time as a sport in which both genders could compete while representing their countries across multiple divisions. Since then, Muaythai has been included in the official sports programmes of several continental multi-sport events, including the Asian Beach Games and the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, and served as a demonstration sport at the 1998 Asian Games.

Olympic Recognition and International Milestones

1999 marked a historic year when IFMA and Muaythai gained recognition from the Olympic Council of Asia. After eight World Championships held in Southeast Asia, the 2003 IFMA World Championship in Kazakhstan welcomed 78 participating countries. In 2006, Muaythai became a full member of the global sporting community with its inclusion in GAISF, now known as SportAccord. Through this recognition, IFMA joined other internationally recognised sport federations and gained access to knowledge-sharing networks and global sport resources.

Sport for All and Cultural Exchange Initiatives

In 2008, the IFMA World Championships formed part of the TAFISA World Sport for All Games in Busan, Korea, held under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee. This elevated Muaythai’s international profile, particularly through IFMA’s promotion of the sport as a vehicle for cultural exchange. IFMA places strong emphasis on protecting Muaythai as cultural heritage and promotes its practice for health, fitness, self-defence, and competition. IFMA’s slogan, “Muaythai for Everybody,” reflects its commitment to developing Muaythai as a way of life.

Social Responsibility and Peace Through Sport

IFMA has received recognition from IOC representatives for its work with children from marginalised and disadvantaged communities. In December 2010, IFMA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Peace and Sport Organisation to expand development programmes using sport as a tool for positive change. IFMA also collaborates with UN Women and signed an MoU supporting the End Violence Against Women (EVAW) campaign.

National Federation Development and Anti-Doping Compliance

IFMA members are tasked with securing recognition from their national sport authorities and National Olympic Committees. IFMA supports its members in maintaining WADA compliance and encourages strong governance, integrity, and social responsibility, while fostering cooperation with recognised social institutions.

Youth Programmes and Award-Winning Social Projects

IFMA’s cultural exchange programme, involving children from over 60 countries, received high praise from IOC members across public and private sectors. Notable exchanges included initiatives between Jamaica and Thailand, where participants from the Muaythai Against Drugs programme took part in joint demonstrations. In April 2012, IFMA launched the “Sport Is Your Gang” project in partnership with Peace and Sport. The programme uses Muaythai to support disadvantaged youth and received the Spirit of Sport Award from SportAccord for its impact.

SportAccord Combat Games and World Championships

The 2010 SportAccord Combat Games in Beijing marked another milestone, with IFMA’s Muaythai event receiving recognition for record participation and attendance. The 2011 World Championships in Uzbekistan welcomed 90 countries and were celebrated as a festival of sport, culture, and friendship.

Pathway Toward IOC Recognition

In April 2012, IFMA formally launched the “Muaythai Towards IOC” campaign, submitting its Letter of Intent to apply for IOC recognition. During the same period, IFMA also submitted its application to join the International World Games Association (IWGA). The 2012 World Championships in St Petersburg featured 92 participating countries and served as the official test event for the 2013 World Combat Games.

Inclusion in the World Games and Global Media Impact

In 2013, IFMA and Muaythai were accepted into the IWGA, an IOC-recognised organisation. That year also saw Muaythai achieve the highest viewership among non-Olympic sports at the World Combat Games. Additionally, the television programme The Challenger Muaythai received an international Emmy nomination, reaching more than 400 million viewers worldwide.

Expansion Across Continental Games

2014 marked Muaythai’s inclusion in the official sports programme of the World Games. The World Championships in Malaysia surpassed 100 participating countries, and Muaythai was fully integrated into the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. That same year, IFMA signed an MoU with UN Women supporting the UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls campaign.

University Sport and Record-Breaking Participation

In 2015, FISU granted patronage to the first IFMA Muaythai University World Cup and formally recognised IFMA within the FISU World University Championships. The IFMA Royal World Cup in Bangkok set a new record with 120 participating countries.

Education, Youth Development, and UNESCO Cooperation

2016 featured World Championships across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, alongside the signing of a landmark MoU with UNESCO. The IGLA Education Curriculum was launched to standardise Muaythai teaching and grading worldwide while safeguarding tradition.

IOC Provisional Recognition and ARISF Membership

On December 6, 2016, the IOC Executive Board granted provisional recognition to IFMA. This led to IFMA’s membership in the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF). IFMA continues to promote the five pillars of Muaythai: respect, honour, fair play, excellence, and tradition.

Muaythai as a Full Medal Sport

2017 saw Muaythai debut as a full medal sport at the World Games in Wroclaw, Poland. IFMA also celebrated record youth participation and international recognition, including IWGA Athlete of the Year honours.

Continued Growth Across Continents

In 2018 and 2019, Muaythai expanded further across continental championships, university sport, and youth programmes, while achieving gender equity milestones and organisational unification into the International Federation of Muaythai Associations.

Full IOC Recognition and European Games Debut

IFMA’s application for IOC recognition, first lodged in 2012, culminated in full IOC recognition in 2021 during the Tokyo Games after meeting all governance, universality, and development criteria. In 2023, Muaythai made its debut as an official medal sport at the European Games in Poland, marking another landmark achievement in its Olympic journey.