The International Baton Twirling Federation (IBTF) is a non-profit organization created to foster the advancement and development of baton twirling in countries that desire to join together as members of the common goal of unity. A secondary goal of the IBTF is to provide these member countries with the opportunity to participate in and contribute to the improvement of the sport of baton twirling.
With these two primary goals in mind, we also seek:
To conduct World Championship competitions in each of our governed disciplines
To become the single governing body for the sport of baton twirling internationally
To create accreditation mechanisms for coaches and adjudicators of the disciplines we govern
The Global Association of International Sports Federations is the umbrella organization for all international sports federations as well as organizer of multi-sports games and sport-related international associations.
Why must the sport of Baton Twirling be a member of GAISF?
Baton twirling must be a member of GAISF to achieve recognition as an official sport which validates acceptance in each country’s sport governing body. In many countries, GAISF recognition is a requirement to be eligible for funding, technical assistance, and sport training education methods. This recognition also provides leverage for access to training facilities.
There are other benefits to being recognized by GAISF such as providing validation of our sport to potential sponsors and mass media.
It is critical for the IBTF to gain the required number of federations worldwide in order to apply for GAISF membership. The current requirement is to have national federations in a minimum of 40 countries on at least three continents.
The path to be part of the organization that defines our sport in the future is for the WFNBTA and WBTF and any other baton related organization to unite and act as one to achieve that vision.
