The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme is the global governing/sanctioning body of motorcycle racing. It represents 111 national motorcycle federations that are divided into six regional continental unions. There are six motorcycle-racing disciplines that FIM covers, encompassing 65 world championships and prizes: road racing, motocrosstrials, enduro, rallies and track racing. FIM is also involved in many non-racing activities that promote the sport, its safety, and support relevant public policy. The FIM is also the first international sporting federation to publish an Environmental Code, in 1994. In 2007, a Commission for Women in Motorcycling was created by the FIM in order to promote the use of powered two-wheelers and the motorcycle sport among women.
History
The FIM was born from the Fédération Internationale des Clubs Motocyclistes, which itself was founded in Paris, France, on 21 December 1904. The BritishAuto-Cycle Union was one of the founding members. In 1906, the FICM was dissolved, but reborn in 1912 with the headquarters now located in England. The Six Days Reliability Trial was held the next year, the first international event held by the new incarnation. The name was changed to the Fédération Internationale Motocycliste in 1949, the same year that also saw the first race of the famed Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix. The headquarters were transferred to Geneva, Switzerland in 1959. 1994 saw the headquarters relocated, this time to Mies, Switzerland, and occupy its own building for the first time, shaped like a stylized motorcycle. The name was changed again in 1998 to the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme at the congress in Cape Town, South Africa. The same year, the FIM was given provisional status of recognition by the International Olympic Committee, and gained full status in 2000 at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. 2004 marked the organization's centenary, and celebrations were held at the congress in Paris in October. Since 2006, Vito Ippolito is the first non-European president of the FIM.
