International Cheer Union

International Cheer Union (ICU)

Founded	2004
Type	International Organization
Location	Memphis, TN USA
Area served	Worldwide
Membership	103 National Federations
Mission	Serve as the World Governing Body of Cheer
Website	http://cheerunion.org

The International Cheer Union (ICU)^[1] was founded in 2004 and is recognized by SportAccord^[2] as the world governing body of Cheer and the authority on all matters with relation to it. Including participation from its 105 member National Federations reaching 3.5 million athletes globally, the International Cheer Union continues to serve as a voice for those positively developing cheerleading around the world.

World Governing Body of Cheer

Following a positive vote by the SportAccord General Assembly on 31 May 2013 in Saint Petersburg, the International Cheer Union (ICU) became SportAccord’s 109th member, and SportAccord’s 93rd International Sports Federation to join the international sports family. In accordance with article 6.a) of the SportAccord statutes, the ICU is recognized as the world governing body of Cheer and the authority on all matters related to this sport.

On 29 August 2012, Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG), ICU and SportAccord signed a trilateral agreement^[3] finalizing terms and conditions under which FIG supports the principle for the admission of the ICU into SportAccord.^[4] The ICU is also fully applied to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and is compliant under the code set by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Objectives

The International Cheer Union is a non-profit international governing entity with the objectives to serve as an advocate for those dedicated to the advancement of cheerleading, provide balanced input and governance based on the levels of development to all participating members and to train and further educate athletes, coaches and judges. The ICU is operated to act as the world governing body of Cheer and the authority on all matters related to cheerleading and may engage in various activities compliant with the ICU statutes in the promotion for cheerleading.^[5]

ICU's statutes^[6] are approved by SportAccord, adopted by the ICU General Assembly, and the ICU is a fully democratic International Sports Federation.

Governing Council

The Governing Council^[7] represents the various geographic areas in which cheerleading exists. The council consists of twelve (12) persons; eight (8) continent/continental regional representatives, one (1) At-Large Continental representative, one (1) USA NGB representative, one (1) At-Large Athlete representative, and one (1) non-voting IASF representative.

Council members are recommended by their reflective entities as authorized by the ICU statues, and elected by the ICU General Assembly.

The ICU General Assembly comprises ICU's 103 National Cheer Federations and National Cheer Provisional Federations. Each National Cheer Federation receives one (1) vote for all General Meeting election and voting processes. The ICU General Assembly last convened Wednesday 25 April 2012 in Orlando, Florida, USA, prior to the 2012 ICU World Cheerleading Championships.

The Officers of the ICU consist of a President, two (2) Vice Presidents, a Secretary General, and such other officers recommended by the Governing Council and elected by the General Assembly.

The Executive Committee consists of the following members:

• President
• Immediate Past President
• Both Vice Presidents
• Secretary General
• Treasurer

Organization

Membership in the ICU is available to all National Cheer Federations within accordance of the ICU statutes, and the ICU shall reasonably assist countries, National Cheer Federations, National Olympic Committees, continental and other regions to create opportunities for participation.

Open to all National Cheer Federations, only one (1) National Cheer Federation shall be admitted representing each country. Each Member Federation which is in Good Standing, as defined by the ICU Statutes, will have one (1) vote as a member of the General Assembly.

The ICU is one of the fastest growing sports federations in the world. With 87 member national federations in 2010, the ICU soon reached a milestone of 100 member national federations in 2011.^[8] Today the ICU currently encompasses 105 member national federations with nations located in Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania.

Education

The ICU continues to administer educational and training programs for coaches and judges to better improve the ongoing growth and development of cheer programs.

The ICU provides coaches training and certifications on safety, rules, technical training and overall program development strategies. The training includes course work, practical application training and required field work.

The judges training^[9] implements a greater understanding of cheerleading, as well as to promoting fairness and quality in all contests for the betterment of the world's cheerleading athletes.

Championships

Opening Ceremony at the ICU World Cheerleading Championship

The ICU administers championship cheerleading competitions around the world. These events include:

• Open Championships
• Regional Championships
• Continental Championships
• World Cheerleading Championships

Hosting some of these championships in 2013 will be the Cheerleading Association of Singapore (CAS and the Japan Federation for Sport Cheer and Dance (Cheer Japan).^[10] Various championship locations include Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago; Tokyo, Japan; Singapore. The World Cheerleading Championship will be held in Orlando, Florida.^[11]

References