The International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) is the international

governing body A governing body is a group of people that has the authority to exercise governance over an organization or political entity. The most formal is a government, a body whose sole responsibility and authority is to make binding decisions in a taken ...

for the sport of competitive climbing, which consists of the disciplines

lead climbing Lead climbing is a climbing style, predominantly used in rock climbing. In a roped party one climber has to take the lead while the other climbers follow. The ''lead climber'' wears a harness attached to a climbing rope, which in turn is connected ...

speed climbing Speed climbing is a climbing discipline in which speed is the ultimate goal. Speed climbing is done on rocks, walls and poles and is only recommended for highly skilled and experienced climbers. Competition speed climbing, which takes place on ...

, and

bouldering Bouldering is a form of free climbing that is performed on small rock formations or artificial rock walls without the use of ropes or harnesses. While bouldering can be done without any equipment, most climbers use climbing shoes to help se ...

. It was founded in Frankfurt on 27 January 2007 by 48 member federations, and is a continuation of the International Council for Competition Climbing, which had been in existence from 1997 to 2007 and was a part of the

Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme The International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation, commonly known by its French name Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme (UIAA, lit. ''International Union of Alpine Clubs''), was founded in August 1932 in Chamonix, France ...

(UIAA). Due to the

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine On 24 February 2022, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014. The invasion has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths on both sides. It has caused Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II. A ...

, the IFSC suspended the Russian and Belarusian federations, and cancelled all events in Russia in 2022.

Competitions

The major competitions organized by the IFSC are:

World Cup

The IFSC Climbing World Cup is a series of competitions held annually. The athletes compete in three disciplines: lead, bouldering and speed. The number of competitions and venues vary from year to year. The first World Cup was held under the auspices of

UIAA The International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation, commonly known by its French name Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme (UIAA, lit. ''International Union of Alpine Clubs''), was founded in August 1932 in Chamonix, Franc ...

in 1989, World Cups were held under the auspices of IFSC from 2007.

World Championship

The IFSC Climbing World Championship is a competition held biennially. This event determines the male and female world champions in the three disciplines of

sport climbing Sport climbing (or Bolted climbing) is a form of rock climbing that relies on permanent anchors (or bolts), permanently fixed into the rock for climber protection, in which a rope that is attached to the climber is clipped into the anchors t ...

lead, bouldering and speed as well as in para-climbing.

World Youth Championship

The IFSC World Youth Championship is a competition held annually. This event determines the male and female world youth champions in three disciplines: lead, speed, and bouldering. For each discipline, the athletes are grouped in three age groups: Youth B, Youth A and Juniors.

European Championship

The IFSC European Championship is a competition held biennially in years when World Championships are not held. This event determines the male and female European champions in the three disciplines of

lead, bouldering and speed.

European Youth Cup

The IFSC European Youth Cup is a series of competitions held annually. Athletes competes in three disciplines: lead, speed and bouldering and are grouped in three age groups: Youth B, Youth A and Juniors.

Presidents

*2007- : Marco Maria Scolaris

Members

In the following tables are listed the national federations members:

Full members

Continental members

Regional

Observers

References

External links

* * * {{Climbing-nav Climbing organizations

Sport Climbing Sport climbing (or Bolted climbing) is a form of rock climbing that relies on permanent anchors (or bolts), permanently fixed into the rock for climber protection, in which a rope that is attached to the climber is clipped into the anchors t ...

Organisations based in Turin Sport climbing Sport in Turin Sports governing bodies in Italy Sports organizations established in 2007