International Racquetball Federation Joins World Sport for All Following Presentation by CEO Marco Tomasini

The International Racquetball Federation (IRF) has approved its membership in World Sport for All during its World Congress, held on 15 October in Temuco, Chile, on the occasion of the XXIII IRF World Racquetball Championships.

The decision followed a presentation by Marco Tomasini, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of World Sport for All, who addressed the assembly to introduce the organisation to delegates representing national racquetball federations from around the world.

The approval marks an important step in strengthening World Sport for All’s international network and establishes a new institutional relationship with the world governing body for racquetball, recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The Congress convened on Thursday, 15 October, at 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room of Temuco Stadium, bringing together the international racquetball community to address elections, governance, regulations, financial matters and future events.

Within this institutional setting, Marco Tomasini presented World Sport for All to the assembly, creating an opportunity for delegates to learn about the organisation and engage in dialogue.

During the same Congress, elections were held for the IRF’s regional vice presidents. Enzo Casadidio, World Sport for All Vice President for Traditional Sports and Games (TSG), was elected as the new IRF Vice President for Europe.

Casadidio also serves as President of the Federazione Italiana Giochi e Sport Tradizionali (FIGeST), the Italian Federation of Traditional Games and Sports, and as a member of the National Council of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI).

His election brings an experienced sports administrator into the European leadership of international racquetball, adding a new responsibility to his work in national and international sports governance.

The Congress therefore marked two important developments for World Sport for All: the IRF’s decision to join the organisation and the election of its Vice President for Traditional Sports and Games to a senior position within the international federation.

The International Racquetball Federation is the world governing body for racquetball. Its IOC recognition, international memberships and relationships with continental sports organisations place it within an extensive network supporting international competition and sports development. IRF is also member of the IWGA – International World Games Association and of ARISF – Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations.

The IRF’s international network, including relationships maintained through its continental structures, also encompasses:

• Panam Sports – Pan American Sports Organization: brings together the National Olympic Committees of the Americas and is responsible for the Pan American Games, where racquetball is part of the sports programme.

• OCA – Olympic Council of Asia: the continental organisation serving the Olympic movement in Asia and responsible for the Asian Games and other multi-sport events held under its authority.

• Centro Caribe Sports: the regional sports organisation responsible for the Central American and Caribbean Games, which include racquetball. It was previously known as ODECABE, the Spanish acronym for Organización Deportiva Centroamericana y del Caribe, or Central American and Caribbean Sports Organization.

• ODEBO – Organización Deportiva Bolivariana: the Bolivarian Sports Organization, which brings together the National Olympic Committees of its member countries and organises the Bolivarian Games, where racquetball is contested.

• ODESUR – Organización Deportiva Suramericana: the South American Sports Organization, which brings together the region’s National Olympic Committees and is responsible for the South American Games.

• ACODEPA – Asociación de Confederaciones Deportivas Panamericanas: the Association of Pan American Sports Confederations, recognised by Panam Sports. It brings together continental sports organisations recognised by their respective international federations. Racquetball’s relationship with ACODEPA sits within the sport’s Pan American structure.

Marco Tomasini’s participation in the Congress provided the opportunity to introduce the organisation directly to the IRF’s member federations, leading to a formal membership decision by the world assembly.

For World Sport for All, the outcome of the IRF World Congress reinforces its commitment to building relationships across the international sports movement and working with partners to make sport more accessible to all.