IVV

Peace – Friendship – Health

Internationaler Volkssportverband (IVV)

Internationaler Volkssportverband / International Federation of Popular Sports (IVV) was founded in 1968, in Lindau by clubs from Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Austria as an alternative to sports competitions.

More about IVV

The International Federation of Popular Sports (IVV) and its members have a global presence.

As of 2023, IVV has about 40 National Members: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Cap Verde, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Indonezia, Ireland, Italy, Japon, Korea, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zeeland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Chinese Taipei, United States.

The IVV has an international structure of Continental Associations that represent their members by geographic region. These are IVV-Europe, IVV-Asia, and IVV-Americas and Oceania.

 

IVV Olympiads

The IVV Olympiad is held every second year in the country of an IVV member. It is a celebration of volkssports and everyone is invited to participate. Olympiad volkssport events include walking, swimming, biking, and sometimes other non-competitive sports. Social and cultural activities promote harmony, mutual understanding, and friendships among those who attend.

Since 1989 were held the following IVV Olympiads

• 1989: Valkenburg – Netherlands
• 1991: Schömberg – Germany
• 1993: RibeauviIle – France
• 1995: Athen/Amaroussi – Greece
• 1997: Vierumäki – Finland
• 1999: Bibione – Italy
• 2001: Seefeld – Austria
• 2003: Genk – Belgium
• 2005: Pilsen + Prague – Czech Republic
• 2007: Otepää – Estonia
• 2009: Yamanaschi – Japan
• 2011: Antalya – Turkey
• 2013: Grödnertal – Southern Tyrol
• 2015: Chengdu – China
• 2017: Koblenz – Germany
• 2019: Aix-en-Provence – France
• 2022: Seoul, South Korea – (Cancelled)
• 2023: San Antonio, Texas  USA
• 2025: Tampere, Finland

Continental events

Each Continental Association may present its own international events in non-Olympiad years: IVV-Europe: Europiade; IVV-Asia: Asianpiad. (As of 2023, IVV-Americas and Oceania has not yet held an event at this level.)

Europiades

• 2012: in the border towns of Irrel, Germany and Echternach, Luxembourg (the first Europiade)
• 2014: in the neighbouring towns of Marostica and Breganze, Italy
• 2016, Kitzbühel, Austria
• 2018: Castelvetrano and Mazara del Vallo, Sicily, Italy
• 2020: Sillian, Austria
• 2022: Kehl, Germany
• 2024: will take place from May 29 – June 01, 2024 in Waidring, Austria.

May 8 – World Walking Day

World Walking Day will be held annually on May 8. Special stamps and certificates will be given to participants at these events.

IVV World Cup

The World Cup awards are given to volkssporters who, from January 1, 2000, have participated in at least 2 IVV events in 3 different continents (6 stamps from 6 different coutries) as well as 2 IVV Olympiads. All kinds of volkssport events are eligible.

Award: World Cup patch, cap with World Cup emblem, certificate.

IVV Europa Cup 1

IVV Europa Cup awards are given to vollksporters who have participated in IVV events in 14 different European national member associations. See details.

Awards: Europe Cup patch, T-shirt with EUROPE CUP emblem, certificate.

IVV Europa Cup 2

IVV Europa Cup awards are given to vollksporters who have participated in IVV events in 16 different European national member associations. See details.

Awards: sleeveless fleece waistcoat with EUROPE CUP emblem, certificate.