Athletics Federation of India (AFI)

About Athletics Federation of India (AFI)

• It is the top governing body responsible for overseeing athletics in India.
• It is a non-governmental and non-profitable autonomous body.
• It is affiliated to the World Athletics, the Asian Athletics Association (AAA), and the Indian Olympic Association.
• It was formerly called the Amateur Athletic Federation of India (AAFI).
• The AFI has as many as 32 affiliated state units and institutional units.
• The AFI came into existence in 1946, and the federation organises the National Championships, trains the Indian Athletics National Campers, selects the Indian Athletics Teams for various international competitions, including the Olympics, Asian Games, CWG, World Championships, Asian Championships, and other international meets, conducts the National Championships for various age categories.
• Besides, the AFI conducts international and national championships and various meets to promote the sport, popularise it amongst the masses, and make athletics commercially attractive for the further growth of the athlete and the sport. 

The federation also supervises and assists its state units in their activities, plans and sets up special coaching camps, coaches training, and takes initiatives for development programme and grass root promotion of athletics in India.

Q1: What is the Indian Olympic Association (IOA)?

The IOA is the governing body for the Olympic Movement and the Commonwealth Games in India. IOA oversees the representation of athletes or teams participating in the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and other international multi-sport competitions of the IOC, CGF, OCA, and ANOC. Beyond participation in the Games, the IOA has also established various initiatives with different stakeholders for the development of sports education and Olympic studies. IOA is recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

Source: AFI disaffiliates 16 districts for skipping inter-district Nationals