North America and Europe dominate the international sports federations, shows new study conducted by the Danish NOC.

The growing recognition of governance failures and corruption within organisations that govern international sports fuelled a sharp debate during the first plenary session at the main conference venue of Play the Game 2015, with many calling for the International Olympic Committee to take more responsibility for improvement.

Watch author of the Sports Governance Observer 2015 report, Arnout Geeraert, speak about what international sports organisations can do to improve their governance standards.

Play the Game needs to find new partners in the battle against corruption in sport and deal with the challenges on a truly global basis to get the necessary momentum. Leading up to the Play the Game conference in October, Christer Ahl discusses which potential partners are the most likely to make a difference: athletes, media or sponsors.

UNESCO’s most important task in sport in the years to come will be to make sure that the intentions of a new international charter on sport and physical activity are realised. Play the Game is invited to be part of that process.

The first results from Play the Game’s new Sports Governance Observer paint a picture of international sports federations often lacking proper tools against corruption, undemocratic procedures or other characteristics of poor governance.

Observers and commentators have been following the repercussions from the spat that started during the SportAccord convention last week. The overall perception seems to be that Vizer, by presenting his critique the way he did, blew a chance to secure his organisation as an important link between Olympic and non-Olympic federations.

Since 2013, representative football teams playing outside FIFA have had the choice between two different umbrella organisations. Now the two organisations, N.F.-Board and ConIFA, are in a dispute in which the older of the two is accusing the newest of hi-jacking their idea.