History
TAFISA began in the 1960s as the semi regular gathering of international but individual personalities and leaders interested and working in the field of sport for all, under the title Trim and Fitness. At the time, sport for all was a little known concept. In 1991, the organisation TAFISA, Trim And Fitness International Sport for All Association, was officially formed and its statues registered with the law courts of Frankfurt, Germany. In 2005, TAFISA became professional with the opening of its office, also in Frankfurt, Germany. In addition, TAFISA has full-time employees working in the office of the President in Seoul, South Korea. In 2009, TAFISA officially changed its name to the Association For International Sport for All to more accurately describe its activities and its position as the leading international sport for all association. The TAFISA General Assembly is composed of TAFISA members and is the supreme governing body of TAFISA. The General Assembly meets every two years, typically at TAFISA World Congresses, to discuss and decide the future direction of TAFISA, including the election of the Board of Directors every four years. The most recent TAFISA General Assembly took place on 10 June 2022 as part of the 27th TAFISA World Congress in Portoroz, Slovenia.Programs and events
To encourage as many people around the world as possible to become involved in sport for all and physical activity, TAFISA has developed a wide range of programs and events, that range for single day physical activity events to targeted, education programs. TAFISA programs and events include:TAFISA World Games
* TAFISA World Sport for All Games (TAFISA World Games): Held every four years since 1992, the week-long festival aims to safeguard and promote traditional sports and games. The most successful events, held in Busan, South Korea, in 2008 and Siauliai, Lithuania, in 2012, both gathered more than 8 000 participants from the entire world. The 6th TAFISA World Sport for All Games 2016 will be hosted by TAFISA member Indonesian Sport for All Association (FORMI) and take place in Jakarta, Indonesia. In 2016 TAFISA World Sports Games 12,000 athletes from 87 countries in 62 sports participated in the competition. The 7th TAFISA World Sport for All Games 2021 were organised as a hybrid event, in Lisbon, Portugal, and online, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. * TAFISA World Martial Arts Games Richmond, Canada – September 3 to 7 (8th World Martial Arts Games & 1st TAFISA World Martial Arts Games) * Traditional Sports and Games (TSG) In the purest sense, they are the games and movements that are traditional to our cultures, from dances to ball games and water sports. But they are more than that. TSG form a significant part of our history and help make us, and our variety of cultures, what we, and they, are today. TSG tell the story of our past, and span genders, generations and individual differences like little else can. * TAFISA European Games In 2018 the 1st TAFISA European Sport for All Games, were held inTAFISA World Congresses
A number one event held every two years, that gathers world's experts in sport for all and physical activity over 4 to 5 days. The 28th TAFISA World Congress 2023 will be hosted by TAFISA member theTAFISA World Challenge Day
A friendly international competition in sport for all and physical activity where communities of similar sizes from around the world compete against each other to motivate as many people as possible be physically active for only 15 minutes on a single day. The event, held every year on the last Wednesday of May, is a fun day that creates awareness and enthusiasm for fitness and active living in the participating communities. World Challenge Day is open to communities of any size from any country, and since its beginning in 1991, has been growing rapidly every year, with more than 48 million participants from over 40 countries in 2014.TAFISA World Walking Day - 24 Hours Around the Globe
Held on the first Sunday of October every year since 1991, TAFISA World Walking Day is open to citizens of all ages, backgrounds, abilities and genders. In 2020, as the world faced a global pandemic, the event was re-launched under the name World Walking Day – 24 Hours Around the Globe, set as the most inclusive and accessible 24-hour relay around the world. In 2021, participants from 86 countries worldwide passed the baton to connect the world on 3 October.TAFISA certified leadership courses in sport for all
A three- to five-day training that aims to qualify national sport for all leaders around the globe. Since their inception in 2007 and 2011 respectively, more than 30 International and National TAFISA CLCs have been successfully held all across the world.TAFISA Reach Out Program
An initiative that aims to build awareness, cooperation and strategic development of local and national sport for all movements, particularly less developed countries. The program creates synergies between governors and practitioners of sport for all delivery, to enable communities and citizens around the world to benefit from the myriad benefits that sport for all can bring.TAFISA Triple AC Program
The TAFISA "Active Cities, Active Communities, Active Citizens" Program believes in the dramatic role and importance municipalities have in increasing sport for all and physical activity participation. It aims to support them in their work by collecting and disseminating good practices, as well as providing practical tools and advice to build an Active City strategy.References
{{Authority control Multi-sport events International sports organizations International organisations based in Germany