The Welsh Sports Association (Welsh : Gwasanaeth Chwaraeon Cymru) (WSA) (established 1972) is an independent, umbrella body, supporting and representing the national and international interests of all the national governing bodies (NGBs) of sport and physical recreation in Wales. It has a membership of over 60 NGBs. The WSA acts as an independent consultative body to the Welsh Assembly Government, Sport Wales and to UK Sport. [1] [2] [3]
The Welsh Sports Association is based at the Sport Wales National Centre, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. [4]
Wales Rugby League is the national governing body for rugby league football in Wales.
Canoe Wales is the national governing body for paddlesport in Wales. It covers all branches of the sport from recreational canoeing, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding and rafting to whitewater racing, slalom racing and wildwater racing; flatwater sprint racing and marathon racing; canoe sailing; canoe polo; surf kayaking and canoeing; and extreme racing. The organisation has over 2,700 members including individual paddlers as well as affiliated club members. Full adult members of Canoe Wales are also by default Welsh members of Paddle UK.
The Sport Wales National Centre is a sports facility in Cardiff, Wales, set up to assist the development of elite athletes in Wales. The Centre, owned and operated by Sport Wales, was established by the then Sports Council for Wales in 1971 as the National Sports Centre for Wales. Renamed the Welsh Institute of Sport in 1994, it has been known as the Sport Wales National Centre since April 2010.
Welsh Athletics is the governing body for the sport of athletics in Wales. It was set up as a limited company in 2007, replacing the former Athletic Association of Wales. Welsh Athletics is part of UK Athletics, the national governing body for the sport in the United Kingdom.
The Federation of Disability Sport Wales is the national pan-disability governing body of sports organisations that provides local sporting and physical activity opportunities to disabled people in Wales.
The Federation of Welsh Anglers (FWA) is the umbrella body for the three national governing bodies for sea, coarse and game fishing in Wales – the Welsh Federation of Sea Anglers, the Welsh Federation of Coarse Anglers and the Welsh Salmon and Trout Angling Association. Founded in 2005, the FWA is responsible for the development of angling coaching in Wales.
The Welsh Federation of Coarse Anglers (WFCA) is the national governing body for coarse fishing in Wales. It was established in 1977 and by 2003 had 69 affiliated clubs and over 23,000 members.
The Welsh Salmon and Trout Angling Association (WSTAA) is the governing body for game angling in Wales. It has about one hundred member clubs. Founded as the Welsh Fly Fishing Association in 1952, the WSTAA organises national and international angling competitions, including two major World Fly Fishing Championships and the 2002 Commonwealth championship in Wales—the WSTAA Wales team won gold at the 2009 IFFA River International competition. The WSTAA also highlights issues that affect Welsh anglers including: game fishing conservation; threats to water quality from acid rain; water pollution; barrages; poaching; stocking; and 'Objective One' funding.
The Welsh Archery Association (WAA) is the national governing body for archery in Wales. It was established in 2000 by the merger of the South Wales Archery Society, the North Wales Archery Society and the Welsh Archery Federation, and by 2002 had 51 affiliated clubs and over 800 members. Responsibilities of the WAA include the competition, judging and coaching of archery in Wales. The WAA are also responsible for the selection and management of representative teams competing for Wales at international events.
The Welsh Bowls Federation (WBF) is an umbrella partnership body comprising representatives from the six national governing bodies: the Welsh Bowling Association; the Welsh Indoor Bowls Association; the Welsh Ladies Indoor Bowling Association; the Welsh Short Mat Bowls Association; the Welsh Women’s Bowling Association; ( ). The two service bodies; The Welsh Bowls Coaching Association and Welsh Bowls Umpires Association are also represented. The WBF has 670 affiliated clubs and over 25,000 members.
The Welsh Bowling Association (WBA) is the governing body for men's outdoor bowling clubs in Wales. It comprises 10 affiliated counties and 286 affiliated clubs. The WBA organizes competitions, including the county championship, and selects and manages the national side. Notably, at the 2009 Atlantic Rim Championship in Johannesburg, the Welsh men's team finished third.
The Welsh Crown Green Bowling Association (WCGBA), founded 1927, is the national governing body for crown green bowling in Wales. The WCGBA organise competitions, including the Welsh Club Championship, and select and manage the national side.
The Welsh Indoor Bowls Association (WIBA) is the governing body for the indoor bowling clubs in Wales. It has 24 affiliated clubs. The WBA organise competitions, including the WIBA Club Championship, and select and manage the national side.
The Cambrian Caving Council (CCC) is the national governing body of caving in Wales. It is the national association for caving, representing the interests of caving clubs in Wales, Forest of Dean and the Marches. CCC is a member of, or else is represented at, several organisations including the Natural Resources Wales National Access Forum, and the Welsh Sports Association. The CCC also maintains contact with several other regional and national bodies including various bat groups, Sport Wales, Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, and the other Regional Bodies of the British Caving Association.
Welsh Fencing is the national governing body of fencing in Wales. In 2003 it had 34 affiliated clubs, with 260 adult and 559 junior members. Welsh Fencing organises competitions including the Welsh Open, and is responsible for the selection and management of the Wales representative squad, who compete in the Winton Cup and the Commonwealth Games. At the European and World Championships Welsh fencers represent Great Britain, if selected.
Wales Golf is the national governing body of amateur golf in Wales. It is responsible for administration and enforcement of the handicapping and course rating systems for ladies and men in Wales. Wales Golf organise competitions, including the National Championships in Wales, and select and manage all Welsh amateur golf teams. It also makes, maintains and publishes any necessary rules and regulations.
The Welsh Surfing Federation (WSF) is the national governing body of surfing in Wales, affiliated to the European Surfing Federation. It is responsible for promoting the sport by organising National Championships, participating in events to raise public awareness and for selecting teams to represent Wales at an international level.
Swim Wales (WASA) is the national governing body of diving, swimming and water polo, in Wales. It is responsible for establishing the laws of the sport, for organising certification and education programmes for coaches, officials and teachers, and for recreational swimming, aiming to ensure that everybody in Wales has the opportunity to learn to swim.
The Table Tennis Association of Wales (TTAW) is the national governing body of table tennis in Wales. It is affiliated to the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and the European Table Tennis Union, and was a founding member of both organisations—in 1926 and 1956 respectively.