The International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) was officially inaugurated in 1993 as the International Federation of Muaythai Amateur, a small federation with several enthusiastic member countries. IFMA has grown to 128 member countries worldwide with 5 continental federations under a single, unified regulatory body. In 1998, IFMA was formally recognized by the Olympic Council of Asia.
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.[1]
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.[8] The 2015 IFMA Royal World Cup displayed the rapid popularity of women competing in muaythai as the stadium quickly reached capacity during female bouts that displayed courage and heart.[8] 93 countries participated in this event.[citation needed]
In December 2015 AIMS received provisional recognition by the 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. This allows IFMA to receive funding from the IOC and apply for development programmes.[citation needed]
Timeline
Some of IFMA's milestones:[9]
2005 – Inclusion in the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) as a fully recognised medal sport.
2008 – Inclusion in the Trim and Fitness International Sport for All Association (TAFISA) Games and as a full member of the TAFISA Sport for All Organization.
2019 – Unification with World Muaythai Council (WMC) and rebranded to International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA).[10][11]
IOC recognition
On December 6, 2016, the IOC Executive Board had provisionally recognised muaythai following an executive board meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland.[citation needed]
Governance
Area associations
International Federation of Muaythai Associations has a total of 122 member federations divided into 5 area associations.[12]
EMF – European Muaythai Federation in Europe
FAMA – Federation of Asian Muaythai Associations in Asia
Africa
OMF – Oceania Muaythai Federation in Oceania
PAMU – Pan-American Muaythai Union in the Americas
Events
International
Continental
Professional rankings
As of 10 April 2020[37]
Men's divisions
Women's divisions
Criticism
The Ukrainian and Finnish national teams boycotted the 2022 IFMA Youth World Championships held in Malaysia due to IFMA reversing their decision of not allowing the Russian and Belarusian national teams to participate in the competition.[38][39]
At the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh, the boxing style commonly practiced in Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand was named Kun Khmer. The decision led to a severe backlash in Thailand.[40] The sport has already been renamed Muay Lao once when the event was hosted in Vientiane in 2009, sparking no reactions from Thailand at that time.[41] In 2023, the IFMA threatened six member-countries from Southeast Asia - Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore - with a two-year ban on any IFMA competitions and activities should they join the competition.[42] Eventually only Thai athletes boycotted the competition.[43]
References
^ a b"What is IFMA?". Ifmamuaythai.org. 2014-06-20. Retrieved 2015-03-09.
^"SportAccord Members". Sportaccord.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-01-25.
^"Olympic Council of Asia : Sports". Ocasia.org. Archived from the original on 2012-08-15. Retrieved 2013-01-11.
^"Muaythai world governing body rebrand acknowledges role of women in the sport". www.insidethegames.biz. 27 July 2019. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
^Iskenderov, Parviz (2019-07-28). "IFMA - International Federation of Muaythai Associations". FIGHTMAG. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
^"IFMA Family". International Federation of Muaythai Associations. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
^ a b"World Amateur Muaythai Championships 2006". Muaythaitv. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
^ a b"The world's biggest Muaythai Championship has begun , the IFMA Championships". Latvian Muaythai Federation. 3 January 2008. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
^ a b"IFMA 2008 World Championships World Sport for All Games The 4th BUSAN TAFISA". Latvian Muaythai Federation. 7 May 2008. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
^ a b"IFMA World Championships 2009 - OFFICIAL RESULT". Latvian Muaythai Federation. 29 November 2009. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
^ a b"IFMA World Championships 2010". International Federation of Muaythai Associations. 9 November 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
^"Countdown to the 2011 Muaythai World Championships". International Federation of Muaythai Associations. 8 August 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
^"IFMA World Championship Finals". International Federation of Muaythai Associations. 29 September 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
^"September 7 – Opening Day of World Championships: A Massive Hit". International Federation of Muaythai Associations. 9 September 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
^"Muaythai Is Safe: Junior Finals September 12 Results". International Federation of Muaythai Associations. 13 September 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
^"IFMA World Muaythai Kids & Junior Championships 2013". International Federation of Muaythai Associations. 14 December 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
^"Malaysia World Championships 2014". International Federation of Muaythai Associations. 12 June 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
^"Kazakhstan Youth and Junior Championships". International Federation of Muaythai Associations. 14 January 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
^"2015 IFMA Royal World Cup". International Federation of Muaythai Associations. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
^"The Torch of Life – IFMA Youth World Cup a great success!". International Federation of Muaythai Associations. 24 August 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
^"IFMA World Championships 2016 Sweden". International Federation of Muaythai Associations. 28 August 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
^"Announcement of the 2016 IFMA Youth World Championships". Federation of Asian Muaythai Associations. 7 March 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
^"IFMA MUAYTHAI WORLD CHAMPS IN MINSK SHOWCASES STRONGEST FIELD OF ATHLETES". Fightmag. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
^"Counting down to the IFMA Youth World Championships 2017". International Federation of Muaythai Associations. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
^"Cancun will Set New Record". International Federation of Muaythai Associations. 2 March 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
^"Bangkok to Host the World Muaythai Championships 2019". International Federation of Muaythai Associations. August 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
^"Turkey to host 2019 Muaythai Youth World Championships". Inside the Games. 8 August 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
^"Abu Dhabi to become first Middle East city to host IFMA World Muay Thai Championship". The National (Abu Dhabi). 23 December 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
^"Malaysia to Host Youth World Muaythai Championships 2020". International Federation of Muaythai Associations. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
^"IFMA Professional Rankings". International Federation of Muaythai Associations. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
^"Ukraine boycotts Muay Thai Youth World Championships due to admission of Russian athletes". 4 August 2022.
^"Suomen joukkue ei osallistu nuorten MM-kilpailuihin". 10 August 2022.
^"Thailand, Cambodia brawl over kickboxing event name at SEA Games". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Agence France-Presse. 24 January 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
^"What is muaythai? Thai boxing sport at South-East Asian Game". Olympics. 12 May 2022. Since then, it has also appeared at the 2007, 2013, 2017, and 2019 Games – being dropped in favour of muay Lao (Laotian boxing) in 2009 and excluded completely in 2011 and 2015.
^"Why S'pore was warned not to send Muay Thai athletes to SEA Games 2023". Mothership. 13 May 2023. In February, the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (Ifma) warned six member-countries from Southeast Asia -- Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore -- not to send their Muay Thai athletes to the 2023 SEA Games to compete in the Kun Khmer competition or risk being banned from Ifma competitions and activities for two years.
^"Thais to skip Kun Khmer event". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2023-05-04.