The collaboration will be AAU and ISF working together to introduce new events to the United States each year starting in 2024

ORLANDO, FL (January 25, 2023) – Amateur Athletic Association (AAU) AND International School Sports Federation (ISF) are proud to announce a new partnership to establish an annual global program of youth sporting events.

The two entities are exploring a partnership where the ISF and AAU will jointly organize events for athletes under the age of 15 from around the world. The goal is to start hosting events sometime in 2024 in Orlando, Florida, USA.

ISF, based in Belgium, is a non-profit international sports organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the organization of school world championships for young people aged 6 to 18. The mission of the organization is to promote mutual understanding among young people. volunteering, empowerment, peace, non-discrimination, healthy lifestyle, social inclusion and gender equality. The ISF currently consists of 132 member countries from five (5) continents, including countries from Africa, Europe, Oceania, America and Asia.

“The ISF and the AAU will combine our extensive knowledge of youth sports to organize unique events for international athletes that will support the Olympic spirit,” said JB (Jo) Mirza, AAU President. “Orlando, home to the AAU, is an enticing venue for such events. As the most visited destination in the United States, athletes and their families have plenty of activities and activities to do.”

The AAU and ISF are committed to meeting the initial goal of 5,000 to 10,000 athletes in the program’s inaugural year. Organizations will work to create an unparalleled event that promotes fitness, offers competitive opportunities and provides athletes, parents and volunteers with a cultural experience to foster new camaraderie with people from many countries.

“The collaboration between AAU and ISF is a unique opportunity to share knowledge and combine efforts to globally promote youth sport and strengthen Olympic values,” said Laurent Petrynka, ISF President.

About ISF:

Founded in 1972, the International School Sports Federation (ISF) is a non-profit international sports organization that acts as the umbrella organization and governing body for national school sports organizations around the world, organized sporting and educational events for youth ages 6 to 18 .

Recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since 1995, the ISF now has 132 members on five continents, organizing more than 10 events a year and covering more than 30 different sports. ISF’s key vision is a world where sport and education provide opportunities for all students to empower themselves and become active citizens and support healthier communities.

More information: https://www.isfsports.org

About AAU:

The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. As a multi-sport organization, AAU is solely dedicated to the promotion and development of amateur sports programs. Founded in 1888 to set standards and uniformity in sports, the AAU philosophy of “Sports for All, Forever” is now shared by more than 720,000 members and 150,000 volunteers in 45 sports programs. The AAU’s largest sport, volleyball, has approximately 230,000 members annually. AAU’s other sports programs include basketball, track and field, wrestling, swimming, diving, soccer, gymnastics, karate, taekwondo, and hockey.

For more information, visit www.ausports.org.