A checklist of paperwork and deserved recognition to our people behind this success.

With full IOC recognition literally moments away it is only poignant that we take a close look at the logistics and intricacies behind applying to the IOC for recognition to be the unequivocal internationally recognised federation governing the sport of Muaythai.

To glean some understanding of the sheer enormity of the task of preparing the documents for the application itself we head straight from the IOC website itself. It states that an international sport federation must comply with a stringent set of criteria which (in brief) include eight key themes.

These themes comprise universality, popularity, governance, athlete welfare and development. Before an IF can be considered by the IOC, the sport it governs must be practised and organised in more than 50 countries worldwide. Furthermore, the federation must:

● have an anti-doping policy which is compliant with the World Anti-Doping Agency;
● stage regular world and continental championships;
● be committed to youth development;
● have robust and independent governance structures.

Olympic Charter Rules 26 and 27 govern the recognition of an IF by the IOC. Rules 29 and 30 address the recognition of the IFs’ member national federations by the National Olympic Committees.

There are two sections to this set of criteria...

Section One

Part One – Describes the recognition and responsibility of an IF…

The IOC’s recognition of an international non-governmental organisation that governs one or several sports at the world level, and as an IF governs such sports at the national level.
The statutes, practice and activities of the IFs within the Olympic Movement must be in conformity with the Olympic Charter, including the adoption and implementation of the World Anti-Doping Code as well as the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of Manipulation of Competitions.

Part Two – Describes the mission and role of the IFs within the Olympic Movement.

Section Two

Describes how the NOCs themselves contribute to the partnership.

You have read IFMA articles on the great men and their visionary thinking, their tenacity and selfless drive, and everything they have created and sacrificed to direct and lead us to achieve the poll position we are in now. But what we haven’t written about is the one woman who has worked tirelessly and relentlessly behind the scenes. It was she who put together the pile of books that constituted our application. The documents included the strategic planning and implementation of these plans by our Muaythai family. The culmination of years (decades even) of work by the men and women of our international and national federations. To help us all understand the breadth of the work involved I have compiled a list (adapted from the IOC’s list of criteria) of what the documentation must include/cover.

 

These documents, presented as part of the IFMA’s application to the IOC for full recognition, included 4 sections:

  1. General information that includes the IFMA’s characteristics i.e. key values and general activities of the organisation
  2. The structure of the organisation including an in depth explanation of 14 separate categories
  3. The organisations governance defined in 21 sub categories
  4. An in depth account of the organisations activities

.

These sections were no mean feat to put together. A large array of diverse information had to be gathered, formatted and presented in bound form to cover the four main areas of organisational management and operational procedures.

Section Two: The IFMA Structure
  • FAIR PLAY: examples of measures taken by IFMA to ensure non-discrimination, fair play and solidarity in your Sport/Activity
  • INTEGRITY OF RESULTS: describe steps taken to ensure fairness and objectivity in your competition including the selection, and evaluation process of judges, the training and certification and impact of judging on the results
  • STRATEGIC PLAN
  • DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME: describe the 3 main development programmes run by IFMA (such as administrative or management courses, grassroot programmes, sport development programmes) in a particular region
  • KEY STRATEGIC PRIORITIES: list and summarize key strategic priority
  • TECHNICAL EVOLUTION: describe the means to control the technical evolution
    within your Sport regarding venues, sport equipment (items used by the athletes in the practice of the sport) and competition clothing (items worn by the Athletes and subject to your Organisation Technical specification)
  • SPORT PRESENTATION YOUNG PEOPLE: describe the steps taken to present your sport/activity in an interesting and attractive manner, in particular to young people and how IFMA engage with them
  • YOUNG PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS: describing the main Sport Development Program or Events run by IFMA specifically aimed at young people
  • LAST ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT
  • PREVIOUS ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT
  • DIGITAL MEDIA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: (related to Website, App and Social
    Media) including information on the statistics on the demographics, with a breakdown by market where possible
  • AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENT for the last 5 YEARS
Section Three: IFMA's Governance
  • OFFICIAL REGISTRATION/ESTABLISHMENT: i.e the official registration in the Commercial and/or Trademark Register
  • STATUTES/BY LAWS
  • NOT FOR PROFIT STATUS: i.e the Official Registration Certificate or the Official Letter from the body that has granted this status to the IFMA
  • CONFLICT DECLARATION: note any existing or potential conflicts that the
    Sport/Disciplines(s) or Event(s) or Activity(ies) have or may have with those of an Organisation recognised by the IOC
  • RELATIONSHIP ORGANISATIONS:describe the relationship between the IFMA and each of the other Organisation/s administering the Sport/Activity/Discipline/Event managed by the IFMA at world level and explaining the reasons why IFMA should be recognised by the IOC in each of the one or several Sport(s), Discipline(s) or Event(s) Activity(ies) administered by IFMA
  • SPORT/DISCIPLINE RULES: technical regulations, competition rules, guidelines for organising an event, rules for judges, referees etc.
  • CODE OF ETHICS
  • CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY
  • GENDER EQUALITY POLICY
  • CODE OF CONDUCT/SANCTION SYSTEM FOR TECHNICAL OFFICIALS
  • SUSTAINABILITY POLICY
  • ANTI-DOPING RULES
  • PREVENTION OF MANIPULATION OF COMPETITION RULES
  • INTERNAL DISPUTE-RESOLUTION RULES
  • SANCTION/VIOLATIONS ENTOURAGE RULES
  • OTHER ORGANISATION RULES
  • EDUCATION ANTI-DOPING: describe the educational activities performed by
    The IFMA for Athletes and Officials
  • EDUCATION PREVENTION OF MANIPULATION OF COMPETITION: describe the educational activities performed by the IFMA for Athletes and Officials
  • SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
  • SUSTAINABILITY CRITERIA SELECTION OF HOSTS/VENUES
  • ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: describe community protest or legal disputes in regard to environmental or social issues in the last 5 years
Section Four: IFMA's Activities
  • MEMBERSHIP CERTIFICATIONS: document signed and stamped by the National Federations/Members confirming their status of FULL MEMBER of the IFMA, which should include the confirmation that your NFs/Members recognise your Organisation as the sole worldwide authority for the given Sport/Activity (those documents must be accompanied by a certified English Translation if they are in a language other than English)
  • RECOGNITION CERTIFICATES: document received by your National Federations/Members signed and stamped by the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and/or by the Highest National Sport Authorities (NSAs) (those documents must be accompanied by a certified English Translation if they are in a language other than English)
  • SUPPORT NFs/MEMBERS: describe the IFMA’s Financial Distribution Model and Programmes to support NFs or other type of Members
  • SUPPORT CONTINENTAL BODIES: describe the IFMA’s Financial Distribution Model and Programmes to support Continental Bodies
  • SUPPORT ATHLETES: describe the IFMA’s programme or resources to assist Athletes with their studies, development of life skills and post-athletic career transition
  • IOC TOOLS SUPPORT ATHLETES: describe how the IFMA promotes the platform or other resources made available by the IOC in order to support and protect Athletes (such as but not limited to the IOC Athlete Career Program, the Athlete Learning Gateway, the Olympic Athletes’ Hub)
  • PROTECTION ATHLETES: describe strategies and measures taken by the IMFA to monitor and ensure Athletes’ health, safety and security
  • ATHLETES REPRESENTATION: describe participation of Athletes in the global decision-making process of your Organisation
  • GENDER EQUALITY Initiatives: describe gender equality policies and specific women and sport initiatives
  • SPORT FOR ALL Initiatives: describe specific initiatives promoting physical activity among society and communities
  • PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES INITIATIVE: describe initiatives specifically aimed at People with different abilities
  • SUPPORT ENTOURAGE: describe the initiatives or specific tools developed to assist, inform and monitor Athletes Entourage (Coaches, Agents, Medical Personnel etc.)

Now that we have seen what is needed for the IFMA’s application it is easy to comprehend the vast expertise, diligence and dedication putting together these documents would have taken. I feel that we must take the time to recognise the woman who was in charge of leading the team that completed this task.

Charissa Tynan… the wizard behind the the IOC application documents!

 

We know that the actual implementation of all these facets of an organisation takes time and great leadership and this we can not deny is something the IFMA has had in abundance, from our past leaders to those that are still steering our ship today.

We would like to take the time to recognise and thank these men. HE General Pichitr, HE General Chetta Thanajaro, Yeo Kyu Tae, Dr Sakchye Tapsuwan, Stephen Fox and Kajon Prowsri,  General Vorayudh Meesommon, Mr Chaipak Siriwat, General Mana Rattannakoset and Mr Boonyuen Suvanatdha.

However, it is not just the IFMA leaders that have contributed to the success of the formalisation of our sport potentially becoming fully recognised by the IOC.

Within our own executive we have a number of members that have helped the IFMA to understand how to improve and refine its activities, governance and structure so that it is inline with the IOC and the governing sports authorities around the world. We, the IFMA, would like to take the time to recognise some of the Executive Board members that have helped IFMA to become and continue to be the strong, fair, innovative, and dependable federation that it is.

H.E. Karim Massimov
Former Prime Minister of Kazakhstan & current Head of the National Security Committee - IFMA Vice President
Rafal Slachta
Director of Sport and Tourism in Poland - IFMA Vice President
Pearl Managuelod
Philippines Olympic Committee Member - IFMA Executive Committee Member
Nadir Alluoache
Executive Member of the French Olympic Committee - IFMA Executive Committee Member
Sami Kiblawi
Vice President of the Lebanon Olympic Committee - IFMA Executive Committee Member

We are honoured to have prestigious individuals such as the five mentioned above on our Executive Board. The knowledge and wisdom they bring to the table is invaluable and we humbly thank them from the bottom of our hearts.

Now as we cross our fingers and hold our breath, together we will await the news we have all been waiting for! The 20th of July 2021 will be a day that will be recorded in Muaythai history as together we recognise we will be taking our beloved sport to the next level. With the possibility of developing, supporting and protecting future Olyimpians the next few decades will bring a whole host of new challenges and hard work for the IFMA family. I know that all our members and stakeholders will rise to the challenge and together we will continue to build a better tomorrow for our youth and our sport.

One world. One muaythai. We are family!

By: Sue Glassey, IFMA Vice President