# International Korfball Federation

The International Korfball Federation (IKF) is the governing body of korfball. IKF is responsible for the organisation of korfball's major international tournaments, notably the IKF World Korfball Championship.
The IKF was founded on 11 June 1933 in Antwerp, Belgium as a continuation of the International Korfball Bureau established in 1924 by the Dutch and Belgian Associations. The headquarters is in Utrecht, Netherlands, since December 2020, moving from Zeist.
The IKF is officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1993 and is affiliated to SportAccord, the Association of the IOC Recognized International Sports Federations (ARISF) and the International World Games Association (IWGA).
The IKF aims to spread korfball around the globe and increase the level of play in the affiliated countries. The IKF has 69 member countries. It provides the affiliated countries via five Continental Confederations (Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania) with financial, material and structural support to achieve the goals. It has established a network of contacts in many countries and is constantly expanding this network. IKF actively promotes the game by transferring knowledge internationally by exchange programs and inviting selected korfball players, coaches and administrators to its training courses in order to assist in the creation of a stable local organization and structure in all the affiliated countries.
In response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, on 1 March 2022, the International Korfball Federation announced that the Russian Korfball Federation would not be invited until further notice to any international korfball competition. This implied effectively that no Russian athletes shall take part in any international korfball event. Furthermore, the Russian Korfball Federation shall not be eligible to bid for the hosting of any IKF event until further notice, and no IKF events were planned in Russia.

## History

https://korfball.sport/about-the-ikf-v2/#toggle-id-1
https://korfball.sport/documents/
First international event was held in 1963.

### 1903-1973

Since 1903 to 1973 not held world championship because of shortage teams. In 70 years korfball nations increase from 1 to 5.
1903 - 1963: Only some friendly matches between BEL and NED.
NED,BEL,GBR - First IKF match series in 1963. In 1974 the 10th (last) Triangular Trophy Tournament was held in London.
First European Cup tournament in 1967.
GER in 1964 and ESP in 1973 was added to korfball nations.

### 1973-1990

Teams increased from 5 to 12 european nations and 14 other non euro teams added to korfball.

### 1990-1994

31 nations.

## Results History

* World Games:
* World Championship:
* Euro Clubs:
* Euro Championship:
* Asia - Pacific:
* U23,U21,U19 World and Euro Championship:
* U17 World Cup:
Source:

## Structure

* Asian Korfball Federation
* African Korfball Federation
* Pan American Korfball Federation
* European Korfball Federation
The IKF has 72 members at the moment. They are divided over five continental confederations for Europe, Asia, Americas, Africa and Oceanian.

### First Members

* Netherlands 1933
* Belgium 1933
* England 1946
* Germany 1964
* Luxembourg 1976
* United States 1978
* Australia 1978
* India 1980
* France 1982
* Aruba 1982

### Members by Regions

    As of 24 June 2024
72 Members:
| Number | Region | Countries |
| 1 | Africa | 13 |
| 2 | Asia | 15 |
| 3 | Oceania | 2 |
| 4 | Europe | 30 |
| 5 | Americas | 12 |
| Total | World | 72 |

## Presidents

The IKF has had seven presidents until now. All seven have been from the Netherlands.
| Start | End | Name | Nationality |
| 1933 | 1946 | Nico Broekhuijsen | Netherlands |
| 1946 | 1954 | S.A. Wilson | Netherlands |
| 1954 | 1964 | H.J. Venema | Netherlands |
| 1964 | 1981 | Herman Duns | Netherlands |
| 1981 | 1988 | Jo Roosenschoon | Netherlands |
| 1988 | 2003 | Bob de Die | Netherlands |
| 2003 | 2023 | Jan Fransoo | Netherlands |
| 2023 | | Gabi Kool | Netherlands |

## Council

The Council of the IKF consists of a President, a Secretary General, a Senior Vice-President, three other members of the Executive Committee and up to five Continental Vice-Presidents.
| Council Member | Position | Country |
| Jan Fransoo | President | Netherlands |
| Bjorn Elewaut | Executive Committee Member | Belgium |
| Danielle Ruts | Senior Vice-President | Belgium |
| Gert Dijkstra | Special Delegate for Competitions | Netherlands |
| Anita Derks | Executive Committee Member | Netherlands |
| Joana Faria | Secretary General | Portugal |
| Jorge Alves | Executive Committee Member | Portugal |
| Gabi Kool | Executive Vice-President (coopted) | Netherlands |
| Vacancy | Continental Vice-President, Africa | Africa |
| Ying-Che Huang | Continental Vice-President, Asia | Chinese Taipei |
| Tim Miller | Continental Vice-President, Oceania | Australia |
| Vacant | Continental Vice-President, Europe | Europe |