International Women's Sports Federation

The Fédération Sportive Féminine Internationale (FSFI) – or, in English, the International Women's Sports Federation – was founded in October 1921 by Alice Milliat because of the unwillingness of existing sports organisations, such as the International Olympic Committee and the International Amateur Athletics Federation, to let women compete in sports, particularly at an international level.

Between 1922 and 1934, it organised the Women's World Games on four occasions (I. 1922, II. 1926, III. 1930 and IV. 1934). Although the FSFI collapsed in about 1936 without having achieved most of its goals, its activities, and the potential threat it posed to the IOC and IAAF, led to the inclusion of women's athletics events in the Olympic Games from 1928 onwards and the organisation of women's athletics championships at international level by the IAAF.

Alice Milliat founded the International Women’s Sports Federation. She was first a part of the Femina-Sport and an important figure in women’s sports. After much hard work in Paris, France, on October 31, 1921, the Fédération Sportive Fèminine Internationale, or the International Women’s Sports Federation was created.

The FSFI was ready to join the Olympic games, however; the International Olympic Committee and the International Amateur Athletic Federation declined their request. The organization was faced with an obstacle, but Milliat had a plan. “At its first meeting, it began making rules and regulations for the international competition, drew up a constitution, and set about making plans for a Women’s Olympic Games.” The Games were held every four years, and during their 15th Anniversary more the 20,000 people came and supported the organization and the women participating in the Games.

The popularity of women’s sports increased and the International Olympic Committee became interested. In 1923, The International Olympic Committee wanted to have the international federations take over and control the women’s activities. The International Amateur Athletic Federation took control of the Women’s Games. In 1928 they decided to have only five events for women to compete in. The FSFI was furious and so were the women. The British women were so against the IAAF decision that they decided to boycott the 1928 Games However, Alice Milliat fought for her organization and the women playing in it.The Third Women’s World Games were held in Prague, Czechoslovakia. The FSFI however, began to have fewer and fewer events in the Olympic Games. The federation got angry and began to fight, however; the FSFI would rather not have no women’s events. The FSFI would later realize that their demands would lead to the end of their organization.

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