SportAccord was founded as The General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) in 1967.
SportAccord groups together the International Sports Federations and various associations with the aim of defending worldwide sport, becoming better informed and making themselves known, and cooperating and coordinating their activities.
Its aim is to create a forum which brings together all the sports bodies once a year for an exchange of views on subjects of common interest. Its mission is to maintain the authority and autonomy of its members, promote closer links between its members and all sports organisations, coordinate and protect common interests and collect, verify and disseminate information.