Pole dancing joins the World Arm Wrestling Federation, the World Dodgeball Association, the International Table Soccer Federation, and a few other lesser-known sports as Observers in the global sports organization. The International Pole Sports Federation (IPSF), which has officially existed since 2009, has been granted observer status by the Global Association of International Sports Federation (GAISF) which officially recognizes activities as a sport. This move will allow the pole sports federation to apply for the Olympics once they are full members. National pole dancing groups can now also apply for official recognition as a sport on the national level. In order to move past Observer status, the International Pole Sports Federation must comply with anti-doping rules, fulfill GAISF compliancy of what constitutes a sport and increase global membership within two years.
