Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile(FIA)

INTRODUCTION

Since its birth in 1904, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, the FIA, has been dedicated to representing the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users throughout the world. It is also the governing body of motor sport worldwide.

This combination of road and track gives the FIA a unique responsibility as an independent word body concerned with a wide range of automotive, motoring and mobility issues.

The FIA is a non-profit making association which brings together 222 national motoring organisations from 130 countries on five continents. Its member clubs represent over 100 million motorists and their families. This is a powerful mandate which the FIA is proud to defend. On issues such as safety, mobility, the environment and consumer law the FIA actively promotes the interests of motorists at the United Nations, within the European Union and other international bodies.

OBJECT OF THE FIA

The object of the FIA shall be to establish a union between its members, chiefly with a view to:

1) Maintaining a world-wide organisation upholding the interests of its membership in all international matters concerning automobile mobility and tourism and motor sport.
Max Mosley,FIA President

2) Promoting freedom of mobility through affordable, safe, and clean motoring, and defending the rights of consumers when travelling by automobile.

3) Promoting the development of motor sport, enacting, interpreting and enforcing common rules applicable to the organization and running of motor sport events.

4) Promoting the development of the facilities and services of the Member Clubs, Associations and Federations of the FIA and the co-ordination of reciprocal services between Member Clubs for the benefit of their individual
members when travelling abroad.

5) Exercising jurisdiction in respect of disputes of a sporting order and any disputes which might arise between its Members, or in relation to any of its Members having contravened the obligations laid down by the Statutes, the International Sporting Code and the Regulations.

6) Preserving and conserving all documents concerning world motoring in order to trace its History.

Alliance Internationale de Tourisme (AIT)

The Alliance Internationale de Tourisme (International Touring Alliance) Geneve, Switzerland is a non-profit, non governmental association representing motoring organizations and clubs around the world.

The history of the AIT developed in three stages, but one common idea of service  to tourism has prevailed throughout the 100 years of its existence. Before emerging as the world wide federation of touring clubs and automobile associations which it is today the AIT started as the first international organization of tourists.  It was founded in Luxembourg in 1898 by seventeen clubs from Europe and America with purpose of catering to those cycling and hiking tourists who ventured to cross their national frontiers in search of adventure abroad.  The organization was then called the Ligue Internationale des Association Touristes, or LIAT for short.

The development of the international touring movement  was brutally affected by the war of 1914-1918. At its end,the LIAT was motivated by the spirit of international cooperation and desire for peace, which in  turn brought an unprecedented expansion of tourism. With the progression of the automobile from a luxury item to popular means of professional and recreational transport, the AIT family was bound to acquire a predominantly motoring character. The idea of reciprocity of services, one of the conservation AIT, bore fruit and flourished, reaching well beyond European boundaries.

The further interruption by the Second World War did not permanently impair the irreversible trend towards the recognition of the right to leisure as one of the basic achievements of our time.  Tourism has become a potent force in the economic and social policy of the industrial states and proved to be an important stimulus in the development of the new countries of Asia and Africa as well. 

The explosion of the motoring population over the last few decades has determined the AIT's emphasis on tourism by automobile, including its campaign and caravanning variety. However, mindful of its origins, the Alliance is keen to maintain close ties with cyclists as well as nautical and pedestrian tourists who continue their pursuits within the framework of open air activities of the AIT.

The steadfast dedication of the AIT to the promotion of tourism and defense of the rights of the individuals tourists led to a firm commitment to environmental and road safety Concerns.

STRUCTURE & ORGANIZATION

The AIT is structured according to a regional systems which grants administrative autonomy to regions constituted with the frame work.

The Regions are:
Region I   Europe, Middle East and AFrica
Region II  Asia and Pacific
Region III  North America
Region IV  Latin America

The General Assembly comprises the whole of the membership of the AIT; adherent members may be heard in a consultative capacity. This body meats once year.

The President of the AIT is elected by the General Assembly for a single term of office of three years.

The Management Committee administers the AIT and is responsible to the General Assembly for its activities.  The Management Committee is comprised of the AIT president and up to 24 individuals members nominated by the Regions (representation pf the Regions is proportional).

The Management Committee appoints from its members a Finance Commission which, in cooperation with the AIT Treasurer, assists in preparing the annual budget and producing audited accounts.

The Director General of the AIT is appointed by the Management Committee and is responsible for the organization and management of the work of the General Secretary.

The AIT General Secretariat has its headquarters in Geneva and ensures the coordination amongst the four Regions.  The General Secretariat has the task of generating and promoting worldwide AIT activities organising international meeting and representing the AIT at international organisations.