Idrettsforbund

Idrettsforbund is the Norwegian term for a sports federation, referring to a national or regional governing body that coordinates, oversees, and promotes sport within a country. Typically, an idrettsforbund is a member-based association made up of local clubs and regional organizations that share a common interest in a sport or group of related sports.

Common functions include establishing competition formats and calendars, setting rules and disciplinary procedures, providing coaching education and licensing, organizing national championships and national teams, promoting youth participation and elite sport, ensuring athlete safety and fair play, and coordinating anti-doping and integrity programs. The federation also acts as a liaison between clubs and higher authorities, including government bodies and international federations.

Governance is usually by a general assembly elected by member clubs, with a board or executives supported by staff and various commissions or committees focused on sport-specific issues such as development, rules, refereeing, and venues.

Financing comes from membership fees, government subsidies, sponsorships, and event revenues; most idrettsforbund operate as non-profit organizations with a public-interest mandate.

Relation to other bodies: each sport often has an international federation, and national idrettsforbund work with those IFs to implement rules and compete in international events. They also interact with the national Olympic and Paralympic committee to prepare and support national teams. In Norway, the umbrella system includes a central multi-sport federation along with sport-specific forbund for football, skiing, athletics, and other disciplines.