International Rafting Federation (IRF)

Since 1997, the INTERNATIONAL RAFTING FEDERATION (IRF) is recognised as the world governing body for Rafting Sport. We are a non-profit, democratic, global affiliation of sporting entities and personalities, responsible for fostering fair, credible and legitimate international rafting competition at all levels. The IRF includes entities such as national rafting federations, associate organisations, athletes, coaches, and commercial partners around the world. The IRF organises the World Rafting Championship (WRC), a top tier competition between the most recognised and celebrated rafting athletes in the world who gather together once a year to represent their respective nations. The IRF also organises or oversees a tremendous variety of continental, regional and local rafting competitions and championships. The IRF is a supporter of the Olympic Movement. Our purpose in sport is to promote Olympic values (called Olympism) in order to place sport at the service of humanity for a better world. IRF competitions closely follow the Olympic model and International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommendations, while remaining true to the traditions and history of our sport. The IRF is committed to strengthening the integrity of our member organisations and protecting clean athletes. The IRF supports the fight against doping and any other forms of cheating in sport, and is fully committed to a strong code of ethics, transparency, good governance and accountability. The IRF is in the forefront of raft safety worldwide. Recognised as the world body which oversees the certification and training of professional river rafting guides, the IRF works closely with national organisations and government bodies by offering the only rafting guide certification program accepted worldwide. Through our various courses and certifications, we can ensure a global standard of guides while continually evolving raft techniques to keep everyone safer on rafting excursions.