GeoBusinessIQGeoBusinessIQ

Sports business methodology & sources

The business lens

Every page answers a single question — how does this work as a business? We cover revenue models, cost structures, assets, customer segments, and operating formats. We deliberately exclude match results, athlete biographies, betting, fantasy, and fan content.

Sources

Sport-organization facts cite international governing bodies (e.g. the IOC and recognised federations). General business concepts cite established economic authorities used across GeoBusinessIQ. Every source is verified before use.

Wave 1 operational layers

Wave 1 expands the sports business coverage into nine operational layers: Operations, Facilities, Technology, Investment, Compliance, Startups, Marketplaces, Software, and Workflows. Each layer is conceptual and business-lens — it explains how that domain functions as a business, with every claim tied to a cited source. These pages do not assert per-country or per-city figures; geography is a later honest-subset wave, built only where authoritative data exists.

What we do not claim yet

This foundation does not assert per-country participation rates, market sizes, or facility counts. Those require verified per-geography data and arrive in a later wave as an honest subset — built only where authoritative figures exist. Calculator outputs use the figures you enter, not market data. See the global methodology.

Sources

  • Fédération Internationale de Ski et de Snowboard — Fédération Internationale de Ski et de Snowboard (FIS) (accessed )
    Covers: Global ski and snowboard governance covering alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, ski jumping, Nordic combined, freestyle skiing, snowboarding, and telemark; competition formats, course homologation, and member federation structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for skiing and snowboarding; authoritative reference for how these winter snow sports are structured, governed, and organised internationally.
  • International Olympic Committee — International Olympic Committee (accessed )
    Covers: The Olympic Movement, international sport governance, and recognised international federations.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: Authoritative reference for how organised sport is governed internationally.
  • World Archery Federation — World Archery Federation (accessed )
    Covers: Global archery governance, competition formats, world rankings, Olympic coordination, and member federation structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The recognised international federation for archery; authoritative reference for how archery is governed and structured globally.
  • World Athletics — World Athletics (accessed )
    Covers: Global athletics governance covering track and field, road running, cross country, race walking, and mountain and trail running; competition formats, world rankings, and member federation structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for athletics; authoritative reference for how the sport is structured, governed, and organised internationally.
  • Badminton World Federation — Badminton World Federation (accessed )
    Covers: Global badminton governance, competition formats, member federations, player licensing, and officiating standards.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for badminton; authoritative reference for how badminton is governed, structured, and organised internationally.
  • World Baseball Softball Confederation — WBSC (World Baseball Softball Confederation) (accessed )
    Covers: Global baseball and softball governance, competition formats, ranking systems, umpire education, and member federation structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility investment analysis.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for baseball and softball; authoritative reference for how these sports are structured and governed internationally.
  • FIBA International Basketball Federation — FIBA International Basketball Federation (accessed )
    Covers: Global basketball governance, competition formats, licensing, referee and coach education, and member federation structure.
    Does not cover: Facility investment analysis, court construction costs, or per-country market sizing.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for basketball; authoritative reference for how basketball is governed, structured, and organised internationally.
  • Fédération Internationale de Volleyball — FIVB (Fédération Internationale de Volleyball) (accessed )
    Covers: Global volleyball and beach volleyball governance, competition formats, ranking systems, referee education, and member federation structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for volleyball and beach volleyball; authoritative reference for how these sports are structured and regulated internationally.
  • International Biathlon Union — International Biathlon Union (IBU) (accessed )
    Covers: Global biathlon governance covering individual, sprint, pursuit, mass start, and relay formats; competition rules, shooting range standards, athlete licensing, and member federation structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for biathlon; authoritative reference for how biathlon is structured, governed, and organised internationally.
  • World Boxing — World Boxing (accessed )
    Covers: International boxing governance, competition formats, athlete safety standards, referee and judge education, and member federation structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The IOC-aligned international federation for competitive boxing; authoritative reference for how the sport is governed and organised at international level.
  • International Canoe Federation — International Canoe Federation (ICF) (accessed )
    Covers: Global canoe and kayak governance covering canoe sprint, canoe slalom, kayak cross, paracanoe, canoe marathon, dragon boat, and stand-up paddling; competition formats and member federation structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for canoeing and kayaking; authoritative reference for how these paddle sport disciplines are structured, governed, and organised internationally.
  • International Cricket Council — ICC (International Cricket Council) (accessed )
    Covers: Global cricket governance, competition formats, umpire and match official education, member board structure, and anti-corruption frameworks.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility investment analysis.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for cricket; authoritative reference for how cricket is structured, governed, and organised internationally.
  • Union Cycliste Internationale — Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) (accessed )
    Covers: Global cycling governance covering road, track, mountain bike, BMX, trials, cyclo-cross, and para-cycling; competition licensing, anti-doping, and member federation structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for cycling; authoritative reference for how cycling disciplines are structured, governed, and organised internationally.
  • World Darts Federation — World Darts Federation (WDF) (accessed )
    Covers: Global darts governance, competition formats, world rankings, player ratings, and member federation structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The recognised international governing body for darts; authoritative reference for how darts is governed and structured globally.
  • Fédération Equestre Internationale — Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) (accessed )
    Covers: International equestrian sport governance across dressage, jumping, eventing, vaulting, endurance, and para-equestrian disciplines; competition formats, judge and steward education, and member federation structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for equestrian sport; authoritative reference for how equestrian disciplines are governed and organised internationally.
  • Fédération Internationale d'Escrime — Fédération Internationale d'Escrime (FIE) (accessed )
    Covers: Global fencing governance across foil, épée, and sabre disciplines; competition formats, world rankings, Olympic coordination, and member federation structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The recognised international federation for fencing; authoritative reference for how fencing is governed and structured globally.
  • Fédération Internationale de Hockey — FIH (Fédération Internationale de Hockey) (accessed )
    Covers: Global field hockey governance, competition formats, umpire education, artificial turf standards, and member association structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility investment analysis.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for field hockey; authoritative reference for how field hockey is structured, governed, and organised internationally.
  • Fédération Internationale de Football Association — FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) (accessed )
    Covers: Global football and futsal governance, competition formats, member association structure, licensing, referee and coach education, and development programmes.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility investment analysis.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for football and futsal; authoritative reference for how these sports are structured, governed, and organised internationally.
  • International Golf Federation — International Golf Federation (accessed )
    Covers: Global golf governance at the Olympic level, World Amateur Team Championships, and international federation structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The recognised international federation for golf in the Olympic Movement; authoritative reference for how golf is governed and structured internationally.
  • Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique — Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) (accessed )
    Covers: Global gymnastics governance covering artistic, rhythmic, trampoline, acrobatic, aerobic, and parkour gymnastics; competition formats, apparatus standards, and member federation structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for gymnastics; authoritative reference for how gymnastics disciplines are structured, governed, and organised internationally.
  • International Handball Federation — IHF (International Handball Federation) (accessed )
    Covers: Global handball governance, competition formats, referee education, member federation structure, and development programmes.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility investment analysis.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for handball; authoritative reference for how handball is structured, governed, and organised internationally.
  • International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) — International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) (accessed )
    Covers: Global governance of ice hockey; sets rules, sanctions international competitions, and supports member national associations.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, arena construction costs, franchise financials, or broadcast rights valuations.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for ice hockey; the authoritative reference for competition structure, governance, and international framework.
  • International Judo Federation — International Judo Federation (IJF) (accessed )
    Covers: International judo governance, competition formats, judogi and safety standards, coach and referee education, and member federation structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for judo; authoritative reference for how judo is governed, structured, and organised internationally.
  • World Karate Federation — World Karate Federation (WKF) (accessed )
    Covers: International karate governance, competition formats, kata and kumite disciplines, coach and referee education, and member federation structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for karate; authoritative reference for how karate is governed, structured, and organised internationally.
  • World Association of Kickboxing Organizations — WAKO – World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (accessed )
    Covers: International kickboxing governance across disciplines including full-contact, low-kick, K-1 rules, and forms; competition formats, coach and referee education, and member federation structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for kickboxing; authoritative reference for how kickboxing is governed and organised internationally.
  • World Lacrosse — World Lacrosse (accessed )
    Covers: Global lacrosse governance, competition formats, official and coach education, member nation structure, and development programmes.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility investment analysis.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for lacrosse; authoritative reference for how lacrosse is structured, governed, and organised internationally.
  • World Bowls — World Bowls (accessed )
    Covers: Global lawn bowls governance, competition formats, member federations, coaching and development standards.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The recognised international federation for lawn bowls; authoritative reference for how lawn bowls is governed and structured globally.
  • International Mixed Martial Arts Federation — International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) (accessed )
    Covers: International amateur MMA governance, safety and competition standards, athlete education, and member federation structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The global governing body for amateur mixed martial arts; authoritative reference for how MMA is governed and structured at international level.
  • Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne — Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) (accessed )
    Covers: International modern pentathlon governance, competition formats across fencing, swimming, riding, laser-run (shooting and running), coach and judge education, and member federation structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for modern pentathlon; authoritative reference for how the sport is governed and organised internationally.
  • International Federation of Muaythai Associations — International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) (accessed )
    Covers: International Muay Thai governance, competition formats, athlete safety and education, and member federation structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for Muay Thai; authoritative reference for how Muay Thai is governed and organised internationally.
  • World Netball — World Netball (accessed )
    Covers: Global netball governance, competition formats, umpire education, member association structure, and development programmes.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility investment analysis.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for netball; authoritative reference for how netball is structured, governed, and organised internationally.
  • International Padel Federation (FIP) — International Padel Federation (accessed )
    Covers: Global padel governance, tournament structure, ranking systems, and member federation directory.
    Does not cover: Court construction costs, facility investment returns, or per-country facility counts.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for padel; authoritative reference for how padel is structured and regulated as an organised sport internationally.
  • International Federation of Pickleball — International Federation of Pickleball (accessed )
    Covers: Global pickleball governance, member federations across 63 countries, competition formats, certified instructor programmes, and official rulebook (maintained in coordination with USA Pickleball).
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for pickleball; authoritative reference for how pickleball is governed, structured, and organised internationally.
  • International Racquetball Federation — International Racquetball Federation (IRF) (accessed )
    Covers: Global racquetball governance, competition formats, world championships, continental confederations, and member federation structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The recognised international federation for racquetball; authoritative reference for how racquetball is governed and structured globally.
  • World Rowing — World Rowing (accessed )
    Covers: Global rowing governance covering flat water, coastal, indoor, para, and age-group rowing; competition formats, venue standards, and member federation structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for rowing (formerly FISA); authoritative reference for how rowing is structured, governed, and organised internationally.
  • World Rugby — World Rugby (accessed )
    Covers: Global rugby union governance, competition formats, laws of the game, player welfare, referee education, and member union structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility investment analysis.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for rugby union; authoritative reference for how rugby is structured, governed, and organised internationally.
  • World Sailing — World Sailing (accessed )
    Covers: Global sailing governance covering Olympic sailing classes, offshore racing, para sailing, and youth sailing; equipment class rules, event licensing, rankings, and member federation structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for sailing; authoritative reference for how sailing is structured, governed, and organised internationally.
  • International Federation of Sport Climbing — World Climbing (IFSC) (accessed )
    Covers: Global sport climbing governance covering lead, speed, and bouldering disciplines plus para climbing; competition formats, athlete rankings, and member federation structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for sport climbing (IFSC, operating as World Climbing); authoritative reference for how climbing is structured, governed, and organised internationally.
  • International Shooting Sport Federation — International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) (accessed )
    Covers: Global shooting sport governance across rifle, pistol, and shotgun disciplines; world championships, world cups, Olympic coordination, and member federation structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The recognised international federation for shooting sports; authoritative reference for how competitive shooting is governed and structured globally.
  • World Squash Federation Limited — World Squash Federation (accessed )
    Covers: Global squash governance, competition formats, member federations, court specifications, and officiating standards.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The recognised international federation for squash; authoritative reference for how squash is governed and structured globally.
  • World Aquatics — World Aquatics (accessed )
    Covers: Global aquatic sports governance including swimming, water polo, diving, artistic swimming, open water swimming, and high diving; competition formats and member federation structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility investment analysis.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for aquatic sports; authoritative reference for how water polo and other aquatic disciplines are structured and governed internationally.
  • International Table Tennis Federation — International Table Tennis Federation (accessed )
    Covers: Global table tennis governance, competition formats, equipment regulations, member federations, and development programmes.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for table tennis; authoritative reference for how the sport is governed, structured, and organised internationally.
  • World Taekwondo — World Taekwondo (accessed )
    Covers: International taekwondo governance, competition formats, poomsae and kyorugi disciplines, coach and referee education, and member federation structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for taekwondo; authoritative reference for how taekwondo is governed and organised internationally.
  • International Tennis Federation — International Tennis Federation (accessed )
    Covers: Global tennis governance, rules, player registration, tournaments, and development programmes.
    Does not cover: Match statistics, betting odds, or facility construction costs.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for tennis; authoritative reference for how professional and recreational tennis is structured and regulated internationally.
  • World Triathlon — World Triathlon (accessed )
    Covers: Global triathlon governance covering triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon, winter triathlon, and para-triathlon; competition formats, age-group programmes, and member federation structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for triathlon (formerly ITU); authoritative reference for how triathlon is structured, governed, and organised internationally.
  • United World Wrestling — United World Wrestling (UWW) (accessed )
    Covers: International wrestling governance across freestyle, Greco-Roman, and women's wrestling disciplines; competition formats, coach and referee education, and member federation structure.
    Does not cover: Per-country participation figures, market sizes, or facility counts.
    Why it matters: The world governing body for wrestling; authoritative reference for how wrestling is governed and structured internationally.
Informational only. This is sports-business intelligence for founders and operators — not financial, legal, investment, or tax advice, and not sports news, results, or betting guidance. Business outcomes vary by market, site, and execution. See the methodology, disclaimer, terms, and sources.