- International Go Federation
Infobox Organization
name = International Go Federation
size = 100px
motto =
type = Sports federation
formation =March 18 ,1982
headquarters =Tokyo ,Japan
membership =List of Go organizations
leader_title = President
leader_name =Hiromu Okabe
language = English
website= http://www.intergofed.org|The International Go Federation is an international organization that connects the various national Go federations around the world. It is usually referred to as IGF.Role of the IGF
The Role of the IGF is to promote the sport of Go throughout the World, promote amicable relations among members and improve World Go Organization. It does so by carrying out the following activities:
* Organizing the World Amateur Go Championship and other International Go tournaments;
* Publishing and distributing to members up-to-date information on World Go Activities, through bulletins or on the IGF website;
* Other activities pertaining to the International development of Go.Policies
The IGF is an apolitical and non-Religious organization, and strives to promote fair play amongst all players, including women, children and the elderly.
History
Although the European Go Federation dates back to 1959, Japan has always been a strong supporter of Go around the world. The Japan Go Association organized the first World Go Amateur Championship in Japan, in 1979. Many of the top Go players from around the world and representatives from the major National Go Associations attended the event. Its success led to the founding of the International Go Federation on March 18th 1982, with Shizuo Asada presiding over the original 29 founding members.
On April 7th 2006, the IGF became a member of the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF)
The IGF is a founding member of IMSA (
International Mind Sports Association ).The IGF organizes the yearly World Go Championship, which attracts over 65 countries.
Today, The IGF counts 70 members on all five continents and expects to reach 75 by 2008, representing over 40 million Go players around the world.
Members
There are at present 70 Member Associations and federations under the banner of the IGF, 35 in Europe, 15 in Asia, 15 in the Americas, 3 in Africa and 2 Oceania countries.
IGF Presidents
#
Shizuo Asada , Professional Go Player and founding President of the IGF, 1982 - 1997 ;
#Fumio Watanabe , 1997 - 2001;
#Matsuo Toshimitsu , 2001 - 2004;
#Masao Kato , Professional 9-dan Go player, 2004-2005 (unfortunately was taken ill and died at the End of 2004);
#Norio Kudo , Professional 9-dan go player, 2005-2007
#Hiromu Okabe , Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Nihon Ki-in, President of the Denso Corporation, 2007 - PresentExternal links
* [http://www.intergofed.org/ International Go Federation]
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