Partners step up promotion efforts as IPACS celebrates first anniversary of the Sport Governance Handbook

The Sport Governance Benchmark & Guidelines Handbook (the Handbook) is the Partnership’s most recent contribution to its repository of tools aimed at strengthening good governance in sport. Originally launched on 23 October 2025 at the 8^th IPACS Annual General Conference, the Handbook, originally available in English, French and Spanish, has also since been translated into German and Italian, further broadening its accessibility.

The Handbook breaks down the recommendations of the broader IPACS Sport Governance Benchmark & Guidelines into six straightforward procedural stages. Complemented by real world case studies and practical tools such as templates and self-assessment questions, its emphasis is on transforming good governance principles into action.

Propelled by the strategic planning of a small group dedicated to the dissemination of the Handbook within the IPACS Good Governance Task Force, the Handbook has seen growing exposure since its launch and is now a mainstay of international dialogue on good governance in sport.

Promoting the Handbook across the Olympic Movement

Umbrella sports organisations have played a key role in ensuring their broad membership is aware of the Handbook and the value it brings to conversations on good governance.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has taken the lead in raising awareness of the Handbook and its guidance among National Olympic Committees (NOCs). The Handbook is a staple of the IOC’s dialogue with NOCs on good governance, which ranges from newsletter communications to in-person discussions.

The IOC has also fully integrated the Handbook into its series of good governance workshops for members of the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF). IOC representatives explained relevant sections of the Handbook during the 6 May workshop on election procedures and the 29 June workshop on reports and investigations.

Following up on its Sixth Review of International Federation Governance, the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) shared the Handbook with its member federations along with good practice examples. The Handbook is also included among the governance resources available on the ASOIF website. ARISF has taken similar steps, promoting the Handbook among its member federations through a dedicated communication and making it available through the Good Governance section of the ARISF website. ARISF also extensively references the Handbook in its new publication, “Governance Quick Wins”.

Beyond the dissemination undertaken at the highest level of the Olympic Movement by umbrella organisations, individual sports organisations have taken it upon themselves to ensure that the member federations are also aware of the Handbook’s value.

The Aquatics Integrity Unit, an operationally independent unit of World Aquatics responsible for all integrity-related matters, shared the Handbook with World Aquatics’ member federations and the 125 members of its network of National Integrity points of contact. It also published a new section on its website dedicated to resources for member federations, including the Handbook and several other IPACS tools.

For its part, the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) released an updated 2026 version of the WBSC Members Handbook, a tool that aims to support National Federations in the areas of development and compliance. The Governance section of the WBSC Members Handbook includes references to IPACS and links to its resources, including the IPACS Handbook.

The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) issued a call on its website for its National Federations and stakeholders to make use of the Handbook and consider how its recommendations can be applied to their organisations.

In addition to International Federations, NOCs have also taken up the task of sharing the Handbook within their communities. The NOC of Portugal has developed a Portuguese translation of the Handbook which will soon be shared with the Portuguese sports community at a dedicated launch event.

Across boundaries

Beyond the sports sector, the involvement of governments, intergovernmental organisations and academic experts in IPACS has provided opportunities for the Handbook to be shared with government ministers and students alike.

From the side of governmental authorities, the National Authority for Probity Prevention and Fight Against Corruption (INPPLC) of Morocco has committed to supporting an Arabic translation of the Handbook.

Ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the IPACS Support Office and the Commonwealth joined forces to inform Commonwealth sports ministers of the Handbook and the other contributions IPACS has made to good governance and anti-corruption in sport.

The Handbook was also presented at major meetings of the Council of Europe, a co-founder of IPACS, including a meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the 20^th meeting and annual joint plenary of the Governing Board and Consultative Committee of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport.

With regard to academia, IPACS experts have included the Handbook in lectures for the next generation of sports practitioners. Professor Jean-Loup Chappelet, an academic expert involved in the drafting of the Handbook, presented it during classes at the University of Lausanne, Seoul National University and the International Olympic Academy.