The International Sport for All Federation welcomes the IESF as new Committee Member

The International Sport for All Federation (FISpT) is pleased to announce that the International Esports Federation (IESF), the global governing body for esports, has been accepted as a new Committee Member of FISpT. This new cooperation strengthens FISpT’s worldwide network of international federations committed to promoting inclusive and accessible sport participation at all levels.

As an IOC‑recognized organization, FISpT works with international and national partners to expand Sport for All opportunities in traditional and emerging sports. The admission of IESF confirms FISpT’s commitment to support rapidly growing, youth‑driven activities that combine digital innovation with structured competition and strong community engagement.

The International Esports Federation (IESF), founded in 2008, is the global governing body for esports and unites more than 150 national member federations from all regions of the world. Headquartered in Busan, Republic of Korea, IESF works to have esports recognized as a legitimate sport and to provide a common framework for the governance, development, and regulation of competitive gaming worldwide.

IESF is a recognised actor in the international sports movement and collaborates with a range of partners in and beyond sport to promote integrity, good governance and sustainable growth of esports. The federation organises the annual World Esports Championships and other global events, establishes international standards and rules, and supports its members in building national structures for athletes, clubs and competitions.

Esports consist of organised video game competitions where individuals and teams represent their clubs or countries in a variety of game titles and genres, from team‑based arena games to sports simulations and strategy games. Events are played both online and in‑person in arenas and festival settings, with clear rules, officiating, and competition formats similar to traditional sport tournaments.

The ecosystem around esports includes amateur and professional players, coaches, referees, event organisers, broadcasters and content creators, with a particularly strong appeal among young people and digital‑savvy audiences. Through its programmes in education, integrity, gender equality and youth engagement, IESF supports healthy participation in esports and promotes values such as fair play, respect and responsible gaming that align closely with the Sport for All philosophy.

As a Committee Member of FISpT, IESF will contribute its experience in building structured pathways from grassroots to elite competition in a fast‑growing digital sport, creating new opportunities to integrate esports into schools, universities, community programmes and multi‑sport events. FISpT and IESF will explore joint activities in education, inclusion and youth‑oriented projects that promote physical activity, wellbeing and social connection alongside responsible engagement with esports.