Värdförbund

Värdförbund is a term used in Swedish sports governance to describe the national federation that acts as host for an international event conducted under the auspices of a larger international federation or governing body. The värdförbund is typically selected through a bidding or nomination process and is responsible for organizing the event within its country in accordance with the rules and standards of the international federation.

The host federation handles a range of logistics and operations essential to the event. This includes arranging venues and facilities, scheduling competitions, coordinating accreditation and volunteers, managing transport and security, ensuring compliance with anti-doping and judge/official standards, and coordinating media, broadcasting rights, and marketing. It also oversees safety, insurance, and regulatory compliance, and works with the international federation to ensure the event meets eligibility and governance requirements.

The värdförbund collaborates with participating federations (the guest or sending federations) to ensure smooth participation, including athlete eligibility checks, visa arrangements, and official communications. It often interfaces with national and local authorities for funding, permits, and public services, and may rely on sponsorship and government support. Financially, hosting carries costs as well as potential income from tickets and sponsorship, and hosting agreements typically define responsibilities, timelines, financial obligations, and reporting requirements.

Differences to other terms: a värdförbund is the official host national federation, while the guest federation represents participating countries. In practice, the host often works through an organizing committee or joint structures to execute the event under the international federation’s framework.