The International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) was created on 27 January 2007 as a continuation of the International Council for Competition Climbing, which was created in 1997.
An international non-governmental and non-profit organisation, the IFSC's main objectives are the direction, regulation, promotion, development, and furtherance of climbing competitions around the world.
The IFSC is a member of IWGA, ARISF, and ASOIF, and has its sports in the Olympic programme. It is also recognised by the International Paralympic Commitee.
The IFSC fosters links, networks, and friendly relations among its members, climbers, and officials, and has committed itself to undertaking the following goals:
- to encourage, promote, develop, and supervise climbing competitions worldwide
- to promote the spirit of the Olympic Movement, respect the Olympic Charter, and to seek programme status in the Olympic Games
- to fight against doping and all other processes and procedures that might undermine sporting equality
- to implement Anti-doping Rules in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code
- to promote good sporting practice
- to generally promote Sport Climbing as a healthy and educational activity for youth
- to establish and maintain rules for international climbing competitions and for the participation in such competitions
- to monitor and enforce the application of such rules by the Continental Councils and member federations
- to organise World Championships, World Cups, and Continental Cups, as well as other competitions which are approved by the IFSC General Assembly, and to decide which international climbing competitions are officially recognised
- to award licenses and contracts to IFSC members and other organisations that seek authority to organise official international climbing competitions and associated activities
- to establish training courses for all IFSC officials in order to guarantee the highest possible standards
- to consider the protection of the environment when organising and promoting its activities
The last two decades have been a period of spectacular growth for both Sport Climbing and the organisation. Sport Climbing has gained credibility not only as competitive sport, but also for its social values. The IFSC is a young and healthy federation founded on modern sporting principles and values, cultivating them along with sport growth and development.
Sport Climbing was officially confirmed as an additional sport in the programme of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 (with one medal) during the IOC Session in Rio de Janeiro, August 2016, and was included as a medal sport in the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018. It's confirmed sport with two medals in Paris 2024 and sport in the Olympic Programme in Los Angeles 2028.
LA28 organisers proposed Para Climbing for the 2028 Paralympic Sport Programme. On 26 June 2024, IPC announced that Para Climbing will be officially in the programme of Paralympic Games 2028.
THE IFSC HAS SPENT ITS FIRST YEARS BUILDING A DYNAMIC BUT SOLID STRUCTURE, BASED ON:
- principles of good governance, universality, equal opportunities, transparency
- spectacular events ruled by the highest standards
- athletes inclusion in the IF decision-making processes at all levels
- anti-doping policies and athletes health and integrity protection
Documents
2024
2024
Paris 2024 assign two Olympic medals to Speed and Boulder & Lead. LA28 proposes Para Climbing for the 2028 Paralympic Sport Programme. On 26 June, IPC announces that Para Climbing will be officially in the programme of Paralympics 2028
2023
2023
42,000 spectator for the IFSC World Championships in Bern
2021
2021
Sport Climbing makes its summer Olympic debut at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Alberto Ginés López of Spain and Janja Garnbret of Slovenia become the first Olympic gold medallists for Sport Climbing
2019
2019
Sport Climbing (Boulder) was included in the programme of the inaugural ANOC World Beach Games in Doha, Qatar
2018
2018
The first Olympic medals for Sport Climbing were awarded during the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires.
2016
2016
Sport Climbing was confirmed as an additional sport in the programme of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 by the IOC Session, alongside Baseball, Softball, Karate and Surfing. Sport Climbing was also added to the programme of the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018
2015
2015
Sport Climbing was officially proposed as a new sport for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, by the Tokyo 2020 Additional Event Programme Panel
2014
2014
Sport Climbing was chosen by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as part of the Sports Lab, showcasing new sports at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China
2013
2013
Thanks to the shortlist for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the IFSC benefited from major exposure worldwide, gaining international support
2011
2011
The IOC Executive Board included Sport Climbing on the shortlist (with seven other sports) as a possible new event for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
The first IFSC Paraclimbing World Championships were organised within the programme of the eleventh Climbing World Championships. Climbers with and without a disability were fully involved in the event from the opening ceremony until the closing ceremony. Thirty-five athletes (30 men and 5 women) from eleven countries competed. The Paraclimbing World Championships now takes place every two years, parallel to the World Championships
2010
2010
On February 12th, 2010, the IOC gave definitive recognition to the IFSC, officially welcoming Sport Climbing as part of the Olympic Family.
The first IFSC Paraclimbing Cup Series was organised, with events in Ekaterinburg, (RUS), Val Daone (ITA) and Chiba (JPN). Thirty-eight athletes (26 men and 12 women) from Belarus, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Russia, and Spain took part at the competitions
2008
2008
The first IFSC Paraclimbing Cup was organised in Moscow, Russia, within the IFSC Bouldering and Speed World Cup event. Athletes with visual impairments and with physical disabilities from Belarus, Italy, Ukraine, and Russia took part in the competitions
2007
2007
On January 27th, 2007, in Frankfurt, Germany 57 Federations founded the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC). The Statutes and By-laws, as well as the regulations of the new International Federation, were unanimously adopted . On April 28th, 2007, the AGFIS General Meeting accepted the IFSC as a new member. A few weeks later, the IWGA also accepted the IFSC, confirming climbing’s place in the 2009 Kaoshiung World Games.
On December 10th, 2007, the IOC granted provisional recognition to the IFSC, welcoming Sport Climbing into the Olympic Movement
2006
2006
In 2006, the UIAA decided to end its governance of Competition Climbing and supported the creation of an independent International Federation to govern this sport.
The first International Paraclimbing Competition took place in Russia, Ekaterinburg, within the European Championships. Athletes with a visual impairment and with a physical disability from Belarus, Italy, Japan, and Russia took part in the competitions
2005
2005
In 2005, Competition Climbing was added to events of the Duisburg World Games and the Asian Indoor Games to great fanfare
2000
2000
The sport continued to grow with more than 45 countries regularly participating in official calendar events. The calendar included the World, Youth, and Continental Championships, the World Cups, the Continental circuits, as well as other high profile International competitions. It also sponsored promotional events for under-age kids (spiderkids) and amateurs. Today, more than 75 countries participate in climbing competitions held all over the world, with the World Championships and Youth Championships being the most popular events
1998
1998
In 1998, Bouldering was officially introduced as a new climbing discipline. A test competition was organized dubbed the "Top Rock Challenge,” and its success leads to the creation of the World Cup in 1999
1997
1997
In 1997, a new structure, the ICC - International Council for Competition Climbing - was created inside the UIAA, in order to guarantee sufficient autonomy to the sport and to provide it with the tools required for growth and development
1992
1992
In 1992, the first Youth World Championship took place in Basel, Switzerland. Large participation at the event demonstrated how popular Sport Climbing had become with the younger generation. It is now an annual event
1991
1991
In 1991, the first World Championship was organized in Frankfurt, Germany, an event that now occurs every two years
1990
1990
In the early 90s, several large events were organized in all the main arenas of Europe, as well as in Japan and the US. During these years, it was decided that International events would be run only on artificial walls, in order to eliminate any environmental impact
1988-1989
1988-1989
At the International level, the French Federation and Paul Brasset lead a movement to convince the UIAA to officially recognize the competitive Sport Climbing circuit, which had grown substantially with the addition of the World Series in 1988 and the first World Cup in Speed and Lead in 1989. As a result, Brasset created a new organization within the UIAA (formed by the CEC and CICE) that was responsible for training officials (judges and forerunners) and creating competition rules
1986
1986
The success was repeated the following year in 1986 when Arco di Trento became host to the second SportRoccia event. The final was won by French superstar Patrick Edlinger and his compatriot Catherine Destivelle. More than 10,000 people attended the finals, including seven European television stations, as well as many media operators.
The same year, the French Federation organized the first indoor event at a gymnasium in Vaulx-en-Velin, a suburb of Lyon. The potential future for Sport Climbing became clear as all climbers began to show interest in this new branch of their sport, even those who appeared reluctant at first
1980
1980
In 1985, in the Olympic town of Bardonecchia, Italy, not far from Torino, Andrea Mellano, a member of the Academic Group of CAI, and Emanuele Cassarà, a well-known Italian sport journalist, gathered a group of the best climbers for an event called "SportRoccia" held at a natural crag in Valle Stretta. It was the first organized Lead competition, launching a new era of modern Sport Climbing. Thousands of spectators were amazed by the victory of German athlete Stefan Glowacz
