History of the FIM

THE FIM FROM 1904 TO 2009: SHORT HISTORY

2004 was the year of celebration of the Centenary of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (International Motorcycling Federation). It was founded on December 21, 1904, in the rooms of the restaurant Ledoyen in Paris, under the name of Fédération Internationale des Clubs Motocyclistes.

The Motocycle-Club de France organised a race called the International Cup in Dourdan, south-west of Paris, on September 25, 1904 with the participation from Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, and Great Britain. The race was won by France, but disputes arose over the racing conditions. As a result, the sports authorities of the five countries represented joined together and put forward the idea of creating the Fédération Internationale des Clubs Motocyclistes (FICM).

The birth of this Federation was, however, premature. In July 1906, on the occasion of the International Cup in Patzau, Bohemia, the delegates of the participating countries - Austria,  France, Germany and Great Britain - unanimously decided to dissolve the FICM. But, for a question of procedure, the FICM was not dissolved but just remained inactive, the British Federation (ACU) being the only subscriber as from 1907.

Five years later, the Auto-Cycle Union of Great Britain took the initiative of calling a meeting which was held at Olympia in London on 28 November 1912. Delegates from Belgium, Denmark, France, Great Britain,  Italy, the Netherlands and the United States were present. The FICM was re-established in order to control and develop the sporting and touring aspects of motorcycling and to assist motorcycle users in those fields. Two weeks later, a Congress was held in Paris in which - beside the countries already mentioned - Germany, Austria and   Switzerland also took part. These ten countries are considered as the official founder members of the FICM. The Marquis de Mouzilly St-Mars was elected Patron and the Honourable Sir Arthur Stanley MP President. The following year the first international event held under the aegis of the FICM took place: the International Six Days Reliability Trial.

The number of national associations affiliated to the FICM went up from 10 in 1912 to 30 on the eve of the Second World War. In 1936 took place in the Wembley Stadium the first Speedway World Final, first official World Championship and first World Champion title for Australian rider Lionel van Praag.

In 1937, an agreement was drawn up by the FICM and the AIACR (the International Association of Recognised Automobile Clubs, FIA predecessor) defining their relationship and ensuring very close collaboration between both organisations.

After the war, the FICM resumed its activities in 1946. In 1947 in the Netherland, an event called cross-country was held with riders of Great Britain, Belgium and Holland: it was the first Motocross des Nations. In 1949, the FICM became the Fédération Internationale Motocycliste (FIM). That same year was the start of the most prestigious motorcycling competition: the Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix.

In 1951, the FIM was recognised by the Union of International Associations as a non-governmental international organisation. Since 1959, the FIM has been a member of the Federation of Semi-Official and Private International Institutions based in Geneva (FIIG).

Individual Motocross Championships were created during the 50s, first the 500cc then the 250cc, both eventually became World Championships in 1957 and 1962 respectively.

IN 1958, Mr Thomas Wynn Loughborough, FIM Secretary General since its reconstitution in 1912, retired. In January 1959, the headquarters of the FIM were then transferred from England, where the FIM had been located since its re-founding in 1912, to Switzerland, more precisely in Geneva, for reasons of economic and political stability.

In the 60s, it was the turn of Trial to appear, first as a Trophy, then European Championship and finally World Championship in 1975. Enduro started as an Individual European Two Days Championship in 1968, and became a World Championship in 1990. The Individual Ice Racing World Championship was created in 1966, and the Long Track World Championship in 1971.

In 1967, the FIM became a founding member of the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF). In 1984, the FIM became a member of the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE). In 1994, the FIM became a member of the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC).

In January 1998, the FIM was granted, on a provisional basis, the status of Recognised Federation by the IOC. In May 1998, it became a member of the Association of the IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF).

In 1998, it was renamed Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme. New Statutes were adopted at the Congress held in Capetown.

In September 2000 during Olympic Games in Sydney, the FIM was granted the official status of a Recognised Federation by the IOC.

In 2001, the FIM became an Affiliate Member of the World Tourism Organisation (WTO).

The FIM also signed a memorandum of cooperation with the United Nations Environmental Programme in 2006 and 2008.


The Headquarters

11, route Suisse
1295 Mies – Switzerland (since December 1994)
Permanent staff : 30 people


The affiliated Members
101 National Motorcycle Federations (FMN), divided in 6 Continental Unions (Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa, Asia, Oceania)


The Structure

President : Vito Ippolito (Venezuela), elected at the 2006 Congress in Salvador, Brazil. First non-European FIM President.
Six Vice-Presidents
Six Presidents of Continental Unions
Forming the Management Council


Commissions and Panels

Road Racing – Motocross – Trial – Enduro and Cross-Country Rallies – Track Racing – Leisure Motorcycling – Mobility, Transport, Road Safety and Public Affairs – Environment – Women in Motorcycling - Technical Panel – Medical Panel – Judicial Panel.

The Commissions and Panels Presidents take part in the Management Council meetings without voting right. The total of members of the Commissions and Panels represents around 150 delegates.


Meetings

Congress or Biennial Session (alternately, in October), with General Assembly, Management Council, Commissions and Panels.

Conference Meetings (in February in Geneva), with Management Council, Commissions and Panels.

The President, the six Vice-Presidents and the Internal Auditors of the FIM are elected by the General Assembly (four year mandates).


Sport and other activities

Motorcycling sport is run, at FIM World Championships and Prizes level, in five different disciplines. Road Racing, which include Grand Prix, Superbike, Supersport, Sidecar and Endurance; Motocross (with three solo classes and the sidecar), the Motocross of Nations (competition with National teams), Supercross, SuperMoto, Snowcross, and Freestyle; the Trial, with Individual Trial, Indoor Trial, Trial des Nations, competitions for men and for women; Enduro, with the World Championship, Indoor Enduro World Cup and the International Six Days – run since 1913, the oldest competition held under the aegis o the FIM – and the Cross-Country Rallies, and finally Track Racing, with Individual Speedway Grand Prix, the Speedway World Cup (team), Junior Speedway, Long Track and Ice Racing (individual and Team). All this represents a total of almost 50 FIM World Championships and Prizes.

The FIM is also engaged in non-sporting activities – tourism, gatherings and leisure, mobility, transport, road safety and public policy, environment, and the place of women in motorcycling activities - or activities linked with sport, such as technical, medical and judicial aspects
Currently the FIM is elaborating a strategic plan drawing guidelines for its activities in the next years. It also put in place a working group about alternative energies, and is actively involved in resolving sound level problems.


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Tel. : + 41 22 950 9500
Fax : + 41 22 950 9501
Site Internet : www.fim-live.com
E-mail : info(at)fim.ch