League of Fans

Founded by Ralph Nader, League of Fans is a sports reform project working to improve sports by increasing awareness of the sports industry's relationship to society, exposing irresponsible business practices, ensuring accountability to fans, and encouraging the industry to contribute to societal well-being.

Email Alerts

Alerts is League of Fans' email announcements list. Alerts provides news, information, the actions of League of Fans and/or Ralph Nader regarding sports issues, and calls-to-action for subscribers. All email updates are either selected or written by League of Fans.

Actions!

League of Fans is motivated by people, just like you, who are upset with what has become of our sports and would like to make a difference. We work with concerned citizens, sports fans, civic groups and communities to increase awareness of the sports industry's relationship to society, influence a broad range of issues in sports at all levels and encourage the cooperative capacities that make the "sports powers-that-be" capable of helping, not just dominating, our society and culture.

News / Resources

We often think of sports as outside the realm of everyday citizen concern. But the many benefits to society that sports can provide are sometimes undermined by a different set of values, often based on the quest for higher and higher profits at the expense of fans, taxpayers, communities, culture and social justice.

Your Role

Get Involved! Your involvement will improve sports for communities and fans, and encourage the sports industry to better contribute to societal well-being.

Olympics and International Sports

Olympics - International Multi-Sport Events

International Olympic Committee (IOC)

United States Olympic Committee (USOC)

Gay Games
Athletic and cultural event which welcomes all people without regard to their sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, political belief, physical ability, athletic/artistic ability, or HIV status.

Goodwill Games
Elite international sports competition promoting the enrichment of humanity and encouragement of children to choose sports as an avenue for positive character development.

Paralympics
Elite sports events for athletes from six different disability groups; Cerebral Palsy (CP-ISRA), Spinal Cord Lesion, Spina Bifida, Polio (ISMWSF), Blindness (IBSA), Les Autres or Amputations (ISOD). The events emphasize the participants' athletic achievements rather than their disability.

Scholar-Athlete Games
To promote understanding, acceptance and friendship among the youth of the world; establish open, non-political, long-standing relationships among tomorrow's world leaders; utilize sport and the cultural arts as a means of communication and learning rather than competition among nations.

Special Olympics
To provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for individuals with mental retardation by giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other athletes and the community.

General Olympic Resources

FindLaw - Amateur Sports
(1) Olympic Games Rules, Regulations, and Resources (2) Laws and General Resources (3) Organizations for Amateur Sports.

"Home Games and After the Glory" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (February 24, 2002 Transcript)
(1) Questions whether the success of the U.S. at the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Games was the result of home field advantage or the Americanized events. (2) Considers how the American medalists adjust to real life.

The International Centre for Olympic Studies

International Society of Olympic Historians (ISOH)
To promote and study the Olympic Movement and the Olympic Games.

"Judging the Olympics" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (February 17, 2002 Transcript)
Explores the problem of politics and dishonesty in Olympic judging.

A New Vision for the IOC: Anita L. DeFrantz
by Richard E. Lapchick

The Olympic Museum

The Olympic Stage: A Focus on Racism Down Under
by Richard E. Lapchick

The Olympic Studies Centre (OSC)

"USOC drug allegations" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (July 23, 2000 Transcript)
Examines USOC drug allegations leading up to the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

"Was the Fix In?" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (February 10, 2002 Transcript)
Focuses on the Olympic ideal of honest competition and the possible fixing of qualifying events by speed skater Apolo Ohno.

International Sports Federations
The International Federations (IFs) are international non-governmental organizations recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as administering one or more sports at world level.

The Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF)

The Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF)

The General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF)
Groups together the International Sports Federations and various associations with the aim of defending world-wide sport.

International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF)

Fédération Internationale de Basketball Association (FIBA)

Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)

Fédération Internationale de Hockey (FIH)

Fédération Internationale de Natation Amateur (FINA)

Fédération Internationale de Ski (FIS)

Fédération Internationale de Softball (ISF)

Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB)

International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA)

International Badminton Federation (IBF)

International Baseball Federation (IBAF)

International Cycling Union (UCI)