The General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), an IF association recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has established the Martial Arts Commission Working Group of GAISF in which 13 of IOC and GAISF recognised martial arts group together for the benefit and future of all martial art sports.

The first Plenary Session for this year took place at the Sport Accord in Beijing in April. Mr. Hein Verbruggen, President of GAISF and Chairman of the IOC Coordination Committee for the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008, chaired the meeting which was attended by representatives from all 13 IOC and GAISF recognized martial arts. The important item on the agenda was the organisation of the World Martial Art Games, under GAISF, an event with the participation of the top competitors from various martial arts which aims at the better image, promotion, exposure and public attraction of the sports involved. The cultural aspects will highlight this games and will be a revolution amongst these martial arts. It is indisputable that with the expertise of GAISF and IOC member within GAISF we will experience one of the greatest spectacular of martial art events.

IFMA, the world governing body for Amateur Muaythai, is proud to present Muaythai as one of the thirteen martial arts included in this Martial Arts Commission Working Group of GAISF. IFMA will be the host for the next meeting of Martial Arts Commission Working Group of GAISF, which is scheduled to be held on December 5th, in Bangkok this year. This meeting will be organised in conjunction with the Celebrations of His Majesty the King of Thailand’s 80th Birthday and the IFMA World Championships, in which the closing ceremony will be held on the same day. Mr. Hein Verbruggen will once again be the chairman of this meeting and, for the first time, all the recognized martial art leaders will travel to Thailand for this prestigious occasion.