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

The International Sport for All Federation (FISpT) is pleased to announce that the World Armwrestling Federation (WAF), the global governing body for the sport of armwrestling, 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 WAF confirms FISpT’s commitment to support strength and combat‑type sports that combine strong community roots with a modern, innovative approach to participation and event presentation.

The World Armwrestling Federation (WAF), established in 1977, is the international federation for national and regional armwrestling organisations and serves as the global governing body of the sport. Based in Sofia, Bulgaria, WAF oversees the development of armwrestling on all continents, currently uniting more than 90 member countries and coordinating international competitions and development programmes.

WAF is a recognised member of the international combat sports community, collaborating with organisations such as the World Combat Games and other multisport platforms, and fully adheres to the World Anti‑Doping Code and related international standards. The federation sanctions the annual World Armwrestling Championships and other official events, manages the global competition calendar, and sets the technical and sporting regulations for the discipline.

Armwrestling is a strength sport in which two athletes grip each other’s hand at a special table and attempt to force the opponent’s hand down to the touch‑pad. Bouts are organised in weight categories, age groups and left‑ and right‑arm divisions, with strict rules on starts, fouls and safety to ensure fair and secure competition for all participants.

The sport is practiced by men and women, youth and masters athletes, both at elite level and in recreational settings, and is widely used in clubs, fitness centres and community events as an accessible form of strength and power challenge. Through the development of para‑armwrestling and the promotion of grassroots and school activities, WAF actively supports inclusion, gender equality and lifelong participation in line with the Sport for All values.

As a Committee Member of FISpT, WAF will contribute its experience in delivering a global strength sport with simple equipment needs and strong spectator appeal, creating new opportunities to integrate armwrestling into festivals, urban events, school sport and multi‑sport programmes.

FISpT and WAF will explore joint activities in coach education, youth initiatives, para‑sport and grassroots projects that promote physical activity, fair play and international friendship through armwrestling.