World Climbing membership is open to national organisations governing Climbing in their countries and territories, not to individuals. Applicants must:

• Be committed to participation without regard to ethnicity, skin colour, religious beliefs, nationality, gender, political views, and sexual orientation;
• Be organised with a constitution/statutes that are compliant with the principles, values, and objectives of World Climbing, and that are not in conflict with these Statutes or the World Climbing Rules and Regulations;
• Be run according to democratic principles; and
• Recognise World Climbing as the only international organisation that governs Climbing.

Application Process – Art. 8.3 Statutes

World Climbing welcomes applications for membership throughout the year. Once a complete application is received and in order, it shall be submitted to the Executive Board for approval of the Applicant for provisional membership, to be ratified at the next General Assembly.

The rights and duties of a new member shall come into effect upon provisional approval by the Executive Board, with the exception of the right to vote, which may only be exercised after admission of the Applicant by the General Assembly.

Applications shall be submitted with all documents accompanied by an English translation to the World Climbing Office. The documentation required is:

• A statement of the name and legal entity of the Applicant – an act or certificate of incorporation, or document with similar purpose – and a confirmation of its good financial standing;
• The official address and contact details of the Applicant;
• A copy of the current constitution/statutes, and rules and regulations of the Applicant, both in the original language and in English. The Statutes Guide for National Federations was created to assist Applicants in the drafting of their constitution/statutes, and is one of the documents available in this page;
• A list of the main officers of the Applicant;
• A list of the Applicant’s active membership – i.e. number of clubs, athletes, coaches, officials;
• A formal undertaking by the Applicant to observe and abide by the World Climbing Statutes, World Climbing Rules and Regulations, the World Anti-Doping Code as well as the jurisdiction and decisions of the Court of Arbitration for Sport. This formal undertaking may be also included directly in the Applicant’s constitution/statutes;
• A development plan outlining the Applicant’s strategy and objectives for growing Climbing in their country for the following two to four years. The Development Plan Information for National Federations was created to assist Applicants in the drafting of their development plan, and is one of the documents available in this page; and
• The confirmation of payment of a non-refundable administrative application fee as determined by the Executive Board. This fee will serve as a deposit for the membership fee of the first year, and the sum will be deducted from the membership fee for the first year.

Applications, along with the relevant documentation as indicated above, can be submitted to office@worldclimbing.com.

Membership Benefits

• Competition: the ability to participate in international events such as World Climbing Series, World Climbing Championships, Continental Series, and Continental Championships;
• Sport promotion: international events provide opportunities for all members to promote Climbing by bringing the best athletes in the world together;
• Event standards: World Climbing events are organised and produced at the highest standards, serving as a model for events at national level, and providing resources that can be reused by national organisations;
• Hosting: the opportunity to host international events and the administrative, financial, and sport rewards that come with hosting;
• Rules: standard rules for all Climbing competitions that are used worldwide;
• Representation: Member Federations have a voice in decision-making processes which affect Climbing globally, nationally and locally;
• Communication: World Climbing is a forum for international discussion on the development of Climbing and sharing of ideas and expertise. World Climbing shares information about Climbing to its members through its website and email lists.
• Lobbying: World Climbing promotes Climbing in the international sporting community through its membership in international organisations.
• World records: administering world records and the standards by which they are set.
• Inspiration: athletes that compete internationally often become inspired to get more involved with administration at a local or national level and drive organisations and teams to achieve more.
• Expansion: World Climbing facilitates the establishment of Climbing in new countries through developing ties with established neighbouring national organisations, supplying administrative advice, and providing models for competition and development. The establishment of new national organisations provides variety in competitions for existing members closer to home, and enriches the cultural experience of Climbing.

Good governance is a cornerstone of a strong, credible, and sustainable International Federation. To support this objective, World Climbing has placed National Federations governance at the centre of its institutional development strategy.

The National Federation Governance Review is a flagship initiative designed to strengthen governance capacity across the membership through a structured, transparent, and collaborative approach. First introduced to NFs in 2024 and formally launched in 2025, the Review provides members with a clear framework to reflect on their current practices, identify strengths, and highlight areas for further development. It is explicitly conceived as a developmental tool, not a compliance or ranking exercise.

The Review is built on internationally recognised good-governance principles and draws inspiration from the ASOIF Governance Review, adapted to reflect the specific context, size, and diversity of World Climbing’s membership. It assesses governance, participation, and athlete support through a self-assessment methodology, encouraging honest reflection, dialogue, and learning, while enabling World Climbing to better understand Members’ needs and tailor future support accordingly.

Through this initiative, World Climbing aims to:

• Clarify governance expectations for National Federations as Members of World Climbing
• Promote continuous improvement, accountability, and institutional resilience
• Encourage alignment with shared values and international best practice
• Support the sustainable, inclusive development of Climbing and Para Climbing worldwide

The Governance Review forms part of a broader governance ecosystem that includes regulatory guidance, capacity-building activities, direct institutional support, and continental engagement. Together, these measures seek to foster a culture of trust, shared responsibility, and long-term governance excellence across the World Climbing community.