The CSIT – International Workers and Amateurs in Sports Confederation (also known as International Labor and Amateur Sports Confederation) (French: CSIT - Confédération Sportive Internationale Travailliste et Amateur, CSIT) is an international multi-sports organization. It was established as the successor to the Socialist Workers' Sport International and, as such, celebrated its centenary in 2013. The core principles of contributing to physical activity and sports have stayed in its action policy; upholding the right of men and women to do sports no matter what their professionalism levels are. The key concept of CSIT's sports policy has always been "Sports for all." The policy stems from the historical ideas of the international worker sport movement.
International Workers and Amateurs in Sports Confederation has been recognized by the IOC since 1986 and a member of GAISF since 1973.[1]
The main activities of CSIT consist of organizing major and small sports events for amateurs, specifically the CSIT World Sports Games and CSIT Single Championship. Sports events are considered festivals of friendship and cultural exchange, with events promoting awareness of tolerance, respect, unity, sustainability, and fair play in a sporting environment.
Within the world of international sport, it maintains its support for everyone to benefit from sporting activities regardless of their qualifications, talent, nationality, age, sex, and social background.
The CSIT works in good co-operation with the IOC (International Olympic Committee), GAISF & SportAccord (United Sports Federations), ICSSPE (International Council of Sport and Physical Education), EFPM (European Fair Play Movement), ISCA (International Sport and Culture Association), WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency), TAFISA (The Association for International Sport for All), FICEP (Fédération Internationale Catholique Education Physique et Sportive), AISTS (International Academy of Sport Science and Technology), IWG (International Working Group on Women and Sport), FICS (The International Federation of Sports Chiropractic), P.I. (Panathlon International) and ENGSO (European Non-Governmental Sports Organisation).[2]
The main fields of the CSIT activities are as follows:
International Amateur Sports Championships (CSIT World Sports Games) The CSIT World Sports Games are the primary activity of the International Amateur Sports Championships. These events are not designed for professional athletes, but for workers and amateur sports enthusiasts from various countries and cultures worldwide. The goal is not only to organize a sports competition but also to foster lifelong friendships, intercultural exchange, and unity in sports by bringing together sports enthusiasts as a global family.
CSIT Single Championships In addition to the World Sports Games, CSIT organizes individual sports championships across the globe in disciplines such as beach volleyball, swimming, chess, tennis, and more. Sports for All Activities
Sports for Elderly People (Seniors 55+) CSIT also aims to organize events for elderly participants, providing them with opportunities to engage in specific sports and physical activities. These events promote the exchange of training programs and knowledge, as well as cultural, tourism, and lifestyle exchanges between countries.
Sports for Disabled People Starting with the 2021 World Sports Games in Cervia, CSIT intends to include sports for disabled athletes, initially for demonstration and promotion. The strategy involves integrating athletes with and without disabilities into teams, thereby promoting inclusion, unity, and tolerance in sports. This pilot project will feature sports such as futsal, basketball, and volleyball.[3]
YOUAca – Preparatory works for Youth Academy of Grassroots Sport. Currently, in sport organization at grassroots level, there are more adults and seniors than young people, who usually don’t have the real opportunity to improve their skills in order to build their path into the sport’s sector. From the other side, since there is a lack of young people sport organizations at the club level, at national level, but also at the European level, the policymakers are getting older and decision making becomes more bureaucratic. In order to improve the situation, the partnership of 4 National sports organizations coordinated by CSIT intends to put into place preparatory works for starting up the Academy of Grassroots Sport for Young Leaders.[4] Currently, the YOUAca project is running on its second edition (YOUAca 2.0.) with 5 nations participating: Italy (AICS), Spain (UCEC), Croatia (Health Life Academy), Finland (TUL), Estonia (Kalev). In its third edition YOUAca is planned to be renamed to YOU.Lead.[5]
Bridges - building integration and solidarity between "old" and "new" citizens (local inhabitants and immigrants from different countries). The main aim is to create inclusive local communities and enhance solidarity. This communication should create and foster a positive perception of migration (instead of existing "immigrants invasion" theory) and intercultural dialogue. The duration of the project is from January 2019 until June 2021 with Austria, Greece, Croatia, Italy and Spain participating.
The achievement of the following aims is the most important task of the CSIT:
to bring together workers and amateur sports organizations of the entire world and to promote the foundation of new organizations,
to co-operate with international organizations with the same goals and values,
to support member organizations with their tasks and activities in all the fields of sport and physical culture, also through agreements with international organizations and authorities,
to promote all activities that aim to improve the practice of sports by human beings of two sexes considering their age and their physical aptitudes in order to protect and improve their health;
to achieve the aims by respecting the amateur status of athletes, the values of amateurism and the educational values of sport,
to encourage to practice sport and physical activity in nature while considering the protection of the environment,
to use sport as a means to promote peace and mutual understanding among people and to contribute to development of the world of social associations at any level,
to sustain cultural advancement and to improve health including psychophysical conditions of the member unions as well as its individual members.
The objectives of the CSIT are conducted in praxis by clearly defined pillars. They are the CSIT World Sports Games, the CSIT Single Championships, the International Tournaments, the International Festivals, the Sport for All-activities, the International Projects and the Health, Recreation and Fitness Activities, as well as EU-funded projects: YOUAca (Youth Academy of Grassroots Sport) and Bridges (intercultural exchange between old and new members of local communities).
CSIT World Sports Games - A New Brand of the CSIT[edit]
The "World Sports Games" are the main highlight and a new Brand of the CSIT. It is a unique major sports event for thousands of workers and amateurs every two years where the incomparable "Spirit of CSIT" can be experienced. This experience started in 2008 in Rimini, Italy, and as of November 2020, already had 6 editions: in Italy, Estonia, Bulgaria, Latvia and Spain. The 7th edition of CSIT World Sports Games was to be held in Cervia, Italy. The games in 2021 were cancelled due to the safety reasons because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CSIT World Sports Games are the successor to the International Workers' Olympiads.
Italy
Estonia
Bulgaria
Latvia
Spain
Austria
Netherlands
Russia
Israel
Brazil
Iran
Finland
France
Mexico
Belgium
Ireland
Switzerland
Slovenia
Tunisia
Portugal
Great Britain
Denmark
Cyprus
Algeria
Benin
Athletics
Swimming
Wrestling
Beach Wrestling
Judo
Karate
Table Tennis
Tennis
Beach Tennis
Chess
Pétanque
Belarus
Cuba
United States
Gymnastics
Parkour
Ukraine
Moldova
Uzbekistan
Canada
Poland
Kosovo
Morocco
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Sweden
