International Cheer Union

The International Cheer Union (ICU)[1] is the worldwide sports governing body of cheerleading (also known as "Cheer") and is provisionally recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) [2] as such. ICU was founded in 2004, is also recognized by SportAccord[3] / Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF),[4] and is a member of the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF).[5] Its membership includes 116 national cheer federations on all continents - reaching over 5 million athletes globally.

International Cheer Union (ICU)
Founded2004
TypeSports Federation
Location
  • Memphis, TN USA
Area served
Worldwide
Membership
116 National Federations
Websitehttp://cheerunion.org

World Governing Body of Cheerleading

On 6 December 2016, the International Cheer Union (ICU) was provisionally recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC)[6] as the world governing body for Cheerleading / the Sport of Cheer. Prior to 2016, on 31 May 2013 - following a positive vote by the SportAccord General Assembly in Saint Petersburg, the International Cheer Union (ICU) became SportAccord’s 109th member, and SportAccord’s 93rd International Sports Federation to join the international sports family. In accordance with article 6.a) of the SportAccord statutes, the ICU is recognized as the world governing body of Cheerleading and the authority on all matters related to this sport.

On 29 August 2012, Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG), ICU and SportAccord signed a trilateral agreement[7] finalizing terms and conditions under which FIG supports the principle for the admission of the ICU into SportAccord.[8] The ICU is a partner of FISU (Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire / International University Sports Federation),[9] as well as Special Olympics International[10][11] and is also a signatory and is fully compliant under the code set by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Objectives

The International Cheer Union is a non-profit international governing entity with the objectives to serve as an advocate for those dedicated to the advancement of Cheerleading, provide balanced input and governance based on the levels of development to all participating members and to train and further educate athletes, coaches and officials. The ICU is the world governing body of Cheerleading and the authority on all matters related it and engages in various activities compliant with the ICU statutes in the promotion of Cheerleading.[12]

ICU's statutes[13] are approved by the IOC, SportAccord/GAISF, adopted by the ICU General Assembly, and the ICU is a fully democratic International Sports Federation ("IF").

Governing Council

The Governing Council[14] represents the various geographic areas in which cheerleading exists. The council consists of twelve (12) persons; eight (8) continent/continental regional representatives, one (1) At-Large Continental representative, one (1) USA NGB representative, one (1) At-Large Athlete representative, and one (1) non-voting IASF representative.

Council members are recommended by their reflective entities as authorized by the ICU statues, and elected by the ICU General Assembly.

The ICU General Assembly comprises ICU's 116 National Cheer Federations and National Cheer Provisional Federations. Each National Cheer Federation receives one (1) vote for all General Meeting election and voting processes. The ICU General Assembly last convened Tuesday 24 April 2018 in Orlando, Florida, USA, prior to the 2018 ICU World Cheerleading Championships.

The Officers of the ICU consist of a President, two (2) Vice Presidents, a Secretary General, and such other officers recommended by the Governing Council and elected by the General Assembly.

The Executive Committee consists of the following members:

  • President
  • Immediate Past President
  • Both Vice Presidents
  • Secretary General
  • Treasurer

Organization

Membership in the ICU is available to all National Cheer Federations within accordance of the ICU statutes, and the ICU shall reasonably assist countries, National Cheer Federations, National Olympic Committees, continental and other regions to create opportunities for participation.

Open to all National Cheer Federations, only one (1) National Cheer Federation shall be admitted representing each country. Each Member Federation which is in Good Standing, as defined by the ICU Statutes, will have one (1) vote as a member of the General Assembly.

The ICU is one of the fastest growing International Sports Federations in the world. Founded in 2004, the ICU reached a milestone of 100 member national federations in 2011.[15] Today the ICU currently encompasses 116 member national federations located in Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania.

Education

In over 100 countries, the ICU continues to administer educational and training programs for athletes, coaches and officials to better improve the ongoing growth and development of cheer programs.

The ICU provides coaches training and certifications on safety, rules, technical training and overall program development strategies. The training includes course work, practical application training and required field work.[16]

The officials and judges training[17] implements a greater understanding of cheerleading, as well as to promoting fairness and quality in all contests for the betterment of the world's cheerleading athletes.

Championships

The ICU administers championship cheerleading competitions around the world.[18][19] These events include:

  • Open Championships
  • Regional Championships
  • Continental Championships
  • Junior World Championships
  • World Cheerleading Championships
  • Multi-Sport Games Championships

References
  1. International Cheer Union
  2. https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-executive-board-wraps-up-first-day-of-meetings
  3. "International Cheer Union and Federation Internationale de l'Automobile are new SportAccord Members". SportAccord. May 31, 2013. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-31.
  4. https://gaisf.org/members/international-cheer-union/
  5. https://www.arisf.org/default.aspx
  6. https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-executive-board-wraps-up-first-day-of-meetings
  7. "FIG, ICU and SportAccord sign Trilateral Agreement". The Olympic News. 2012-09-11.
  8. "FIG, ICU and SportAccord sign Trilaterial Agreement". Federation Internationale de Gymnastique. 2012-09-10.
  9. http://www.fisu.net/sports/cheerleading#column_full_5_tiitre
  10. https://www.specialolympics.org/Press/2018/International_Cheer_Union_Signs_Memorandum.aspx
  11. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/international-cheer-union-and-special-olympics-sign-memorandum-of-understanding-in-support-of-cheer-athletes-with-intellectual-disabilities-300638430.html
  12. What Does the ICU Do
  13. ICU Statutes
  14. Governing Council
  15. "International Cheer Union Welcomes 100th Member Nation". inside Cheerleading Magazine. 2011-09-12. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  16. http://cheerunion.org/education/coach/
  17. ICU Judges Courses-Europe
  18. https://www.olympicchannel.com/en/events/cheerleading-world-cheerleading-championships---orlando-usa/
  19. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/international-cheer-union-2018-world-cheerleading-championships-results-300638530.html
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