International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities

Infobox association
Name =

Logosize =
Foundation = 1965
Location = Cologne
Country = Germany
President = Dr. Stephan J. Holthoff-Pförtner
Members = about 1000
Website = [http://www.iaks.info International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities] The International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS) is a non-profit organization devoted to sports buildings and leisure centres.

The IAKS was founded in Cologne in 1965. It is the only non-profit organization concerned globally with the subject of sports facility development and has therefore been awarded the status of Recognized Organization by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The IAKS has seven sections worldwide. These are Germany, Japan, Latin America/Caribbean, Poland, Russia, Switzerland and Spain (status 2008).

Activities

The IAKS cooperates not only with the IOC, but also with the
International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), the International Council for Sports Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE) and the International Union of Architects (UIA), Sports and Leisure Programme. It also cultivates contacts with international sports federations and National Olympic Committees and has been included by the United Nations in its list of consultative NGOs of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

The task of the IAKS is to create a platform for the design, construction, equipping, modernization, funding and management of sports and leisure facilities as well as to participate in the establishment of standards and guidelines in Germany and Europe. The IAKS also publishes the magazine "sports facilities and swimming pools" (sb), organizes conferences and exhibitions, and sponsors an international architecture prize for exemplary sports and leisure facilities, the IOC/IAKS Award, as well as the IPC/IAKS Distinction.

The members and partners of the IAKS are architects, engineers, enterprises and industrial associations, sports organizations, ministries of sport, education and construction, local government, and universities and other educational establishments.

One particular purpose of the IAKS is to encourage sport on a broad scale by gathering, evaluating, passing on and, if necessary, coordinating the experience, principles and research findings obtained from the design, construction, equipping and operation of sports and leisure facilities of all kinds. In doing so, it takes account of social factors in the widest sense, e.g. architecture, technology, sports science, economics and ecology. It also supports progress in this field with research and consultations.

Congresses

The IAKS has been holding the international IAKS Congress for the design, construction, modernization and management of sports and leisure facilities every two years since 1969. This Congress takes place in conjunction with the International Trade Fair for Amenity Areas, Sports and Pool Facilities (FSB) in Cologne. The IAKS Congress enjoys the patronage of the IOC, IPC, GAISF and Germany's Federal Ministry of the Interior. cite journal|title=20th International IAKS Congress and International Fair FSB|journal=IAKS Congress papers|date=|first=|last=|coauthors=|volume=20|issue=1|pages=|id= |url=http://www.iaks.info|format=|accessdate=2007-11-02 ]

Presidents

* Willi Weyer (1965-1985)
* Günter Heidecke (1985-1990)
* Erich Schumann (1990-1997)
* Stephan J. Holthoff-Pförtner (since 1997)

IOC/IAKS Award

The IOC/IAKS Award is the only international architecture award for sports and leisure facilities already in successful operation.

The Award has been conferred upon exemplary well designed and also functionally outstanding sports facilities every two years since 1987. The winning facilities can be newly erected or extended or modernized existing buildings. The sponsors of the competition are the IOC and the IAKS. cite journal|title=I progetti vincitori dell`11° concorso internazionale 2007 indetto dal CIO/IAKS|journal=Impianti|date=|first=|last=|coauthors=|volume=|issue=2/2007|pages=5-9|id= |url=http://www.assopiscine.it|format=|accessdate=2007-09-28 ]

Together with the IPC, the IAKS also awards the IPC/IAKS Distinction for sports facilities suitable for the disabled. The IPC/IAKS Distinction aims to promote the accessibility of sports facilities and all other buildings so that people with disabilities have the chance to practice or follow sport without restriction and without barriers. cite journal|title=IPC and IAKS Award Promotes Accessibility|journal=The Paralympian|date=|first=|last=|coauthors=|volume=|issue=1/2007|pages=9|id= |url=http://www.paralympic.org|format=|accessdate=2007-03-12 ]

Publications

The IAKS has been publishing the international magazine "sports facilities and swimming pools" since 1967. It appears every two months with changing thematic focuses from the field of sports architecture. In addition, the IAKS has issued planning principles for the construction of different types of sports and leisure facilities.

References

Links

* [http://www.iaks.info/?getlang=en Homepage of IAKS]