The Federation Internationale de Roller Sports (FIRS) met for their Congress assembly during the World Roller Figure Skating Championships in Portimao, Portugal on Saturday, December 4th. The central committee met prior to the assembly on Friday, December 3rd. During the central committee meeting, USA Roller Sports gave a presentation on the rapidly growing sport of roller derby and requested that FIRS recognize derby as another one of the federations’ disciplines. USA Roller Sports (USARS) is pleased to announce that their request was granted and roller derby is now an official discipline of FIRS- one step closer to the Olympic movement!

To compete in official international events, roller derby leagues must be registered with the national governing body (NGB) as recognized by each country’s Olympic committee.

In the mid 1960’s, FIRS was officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the international governing body for all roller skating. IOC recognition is first necessary for inclusion in the Olympic Games movement.

Read more: FIRS RECOGNIZES ROLLER DERBY