International Federation of Muaythai Associations


The International Federation of Muaythai Associations, or IFMA, called the International Federation of Muaythai Amateur until 27 July 2019, is the sole recognised sport governing body of amateur and professional Muay Thai and Muay boran consisting of 130 member countries worldwide with 5 continental federations after unification of International Federation of Muaythai Amateur and World Muaythai Council. IFMA is officially recognised by the International Olympic Committee, the Global Association of International Sports Federations, the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations, the Olympic Council of Asia, World Anti-Doping Agency :de:International World Games Association|International World Games Association, and :de:Trim and Fitness International Sport for All Association|Trim and Fitness International Sport for All Association. Muaythai has been included in many official sport programs such as the World Games, World Combat Games, Arafura Games, TAFISA Games, :de:Southeast Asian Games|SEA Games, Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, Asian Beach Games, Demonstration Sport in the Asian Games.

History

The International Federation of Muaythai Associations was officially inaugurated in 1993 as International Federation of Muaythai Amateur. It is the first international amateur muay Thai federation.

History

The International Federation of Muaythai Amateur started as a small federation with several enthusiastic countries more than two decades ago. It was officially inaugurated in 1993. After the passage of the first half of its life and at the dawn of an exciting new century, IFMA has grown to 128 member countries worldwide with 5 continental federations, all existing under a single, unified regulatory body. In 1998, IFMA was formally recognized by the Olympic Council of Asia.
Muaythai through IFMA has come a long way from its first World Championships held in 1993 when a mere twenty-some countries participated. In the most recent World Championships the participation was overwhelming, with contestants and dignitaries attending from over one hundred countries.
The highest milestone for IFMA came in 2006, when it was recognized by SportAccord. Thus IFMA could proudly and officially come to the table with all other world-recognized international sports federations.
Another exciting year for Muaythai was 2008, with the IFMA World Championships a part of The Association for International Sport for All's World Sport for All Games under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee. This raised the profile of Muaythai as an internationally recognized sport, through the activities of IFMA to promote Muaythai as a medium for cultural exchange and to raise awareness about this aspect of Thai tradition.
2010 marked the year when Muaythai was one of the 13 world recognized combat sport to be part of the World Combat Games in Beijing under patronage of the IOC, and the second edition was held in 2013 again under patronage of the IOC in St Petersburg, Russia. Now 15 world recognized Martial Arts including Olympic Fencing have also joined the games.
IFMA's objective is the total unification of all 128 member national federations, working mutually for the sport and the athletes. The enthusiasm and commitment of the members, boxers and officials is one of the greatest assets that IFMA brings to the ancient sport of Muaythai.
2015 SportAccord Convention in Sochi marked a following milestone for IMFA. International University Sports Federation has officially recognised muaythai signing the agreement between FISU and IFMA. IFMA President Dr. Sakchye Tapsuwan and FISU delegate Claude-Louis Gallien signed collaboration convention with the international governing body of muaythai. Dr. Sakchye Tapsuwan expressed his satisfaction that IFMA is now a partner of FISU, while President Gallien stressed the importance of sports and friendship.
At the IFMA Royal World Cup in Bangkok the AIMS conference took place gathering all 23 presidents from its members as well as representatives of IOC, FISU, IWGA, Peace and Sport, TAFISA and many others. as the stadium quickly reached capacity during 93 countries participated in this event.
In December 2015 AIMS received provisional recognition by IOC.
The following year in December 2016 at the annual meeting of the IOC Executive Board muaythai with IFMA as the governing body was granted provisional IOC recognition for a period of three years. IFMA will now be able to receive funding from the IOC and can apply for development programmes.

Timeline

Some of the milestones which IFMA has achieved throughout the years:
In April 2012, IFMA marked the official launch of the Muaythai towards IOC campaign at a special gala event in which IFMA lodged its Letter of Intent to apply for International Olympic Committee recognition to IOC Executive Board Member, Dr CK Wu. At the same time, an application to be included in the 2017 World Games was handed to Mr. Ron Froehlich, at that time President of the International World Games Association. Also, in attendance was SportAccord President Mr. Hein Verbruggen.
At the SportAccord Convention 2016 which took place in Lausanne, Switzerland, the President of the IOC, Dr. Thomas Bach and President of AIMS, Mr. Stephan Fox signed a Memorandum of Understanding which marked the recognition of the Alliance of 23 International Recognised Member of Sport - AIMS by the IOC. IFMA is one of the 23 members of the group representing muaythai.
On December 6, 2016, the IOC Executive Board had provisionally recognised muaythai following an Executive Board meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Governance

Executive committee

President’s Advisory Council

Commissions

Area associations

International Federation of Muaythai Associations has a total of 122 member federations divided into 5 area associations.

Events

International

YearWorld GamesWorld Combat GamesWorld University ChampionshipsWorld Martial Arts MastershipsWorld Championships / CupWorld Youth Championships
1993rowspan=24 rowspan=17 rowspan=25 rowspan=23 Bangkokrowspan=12
1994-----
1995-----
1996-----
1997-----
1998 Bangkok-----
1999 Bangkok-----
2000 Bangkok-----
2001 Bangkok-----
2002 Bangkok-----
2003 Almaty-----
2004-----
2005 Bangkok Bangkok----
2006 Bangkok Bangkok----
2007 Bangkok Bangkok----
2008 Busan Busan----
2009 Bangkok Bangkok----
2010 Beijing Bangkok Bangkok---
2011rowspan=2 Tashkent Tashkent---
2012 Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg----
2013 Saint Petersburg Istanbul---
2014rowspan=7 Langkawi Langkawi---
2015 Bangkok Bangkok----
2016 Cheongju Jönköping Bangkok---
2017 Wrocławrowspan=2 Minsk Bangkok--
2018rowspan=3 Bangkok Cancún Bangkok--
2019 Chungju Bangkok Antalya--
2020 Nur-Sultanrowspan=3 Abu Dhabi TBA--
2021 Birmingham Nur-Sultanrowspan=2 rowspan=2 -
2022 Ekaterinburg---

Continental

YearEuropean ChampionshipsAsian ChampionshipsAfrican ChampionshipsOceanian ChampionshipsPan American Championships
2008 Zgorzelec----
2010 Velletri----
2011 Antalya----
2013 Lisbon----

Professional rankings

Men's divisions

Women's divisions