Snooker Launches International Federation

08 Oct 2017 | tshego

Share on

A new international federation has been created for snooker as part of the sport’s long-term goal of securing a place on the Olympic programme.

The World Snooker Federation (WSF) will be based in Lausanne and has been launched by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA).

It will form part of an international structure for the sport and has been formally established as a not for profit international federation in Switzerland.

The WSF joins the WPBSA and the World Confederation of Billiards Sports (WCBS), the umbrella organisation of cue sports which is recognised by the International Olympic Committee, among the federations within the sport.

The European Billiards and Snooker Association (EBSA), which counts 44 national federations as members, has already confirmed its affiliation to the WSF. EBSA chairman Maxime Cassis has joined the WSF Board and will take up the position of general secretary. He will join fellow WSF board members Jason Ferguson of the WPBSA and Nigel Mawer, the former chief superintendent of the UK’s Metropolitan Police, who will oversee WSF governance and integrity.

The organsation will also stage a WSF Amateur Championship, which will be a mixed gender event open to National Federations who are members of the WSF, for the first time next year.

“Following a restructure of the professional sport in 2010, the World Professional Snooker Tour has never been stronger,” said WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson.

“We have seen unprecedented growth and we are now a truly global sport. With this growth comes a responsibility for us to ensure sustainable career pathways for elite talent and playing opportunities for all at all levels.

“We must ensure there are no barriers in our sport, no matter of politics, race, gender or disability. Only when we achieve this, can we be considered to be a ‘true sport’.

“There are some incredible people around the world, company directors, players, officials and referees, many of whom serve our sport as volunteers. It is the vision of the WSF to engage with these individuals from within our sport’s international community.”