Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) President/CEO Elected to Prestigious International School Sport Federation (ISF) Board

ORLANDO, Fla. (July, 2019) - The International School Sport Federation (ISF) elected Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) President/CEO Dr. Roger J. Goudy as its new Continental President of America during its General Assembly June 28-July1, 2019 in Agadir, Morocco.

The ISF is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to organize world school championships for ages 13-18 years old. The organization's mission is to promote among young people mutual understanding, volunteerism, empowerment, peace, non-discrimination, healthy lifestyles, social inclusion, and gender equality. It includes 119 members from five (5) continents representing countries from Africa, Europe, Oceania, America and Asia. 

"It is a tremendous honor and privilege to be chosen to this position," said Dr. Roger J. Goudy, President/CEO of the AAU. "As a former school superintendent and longtime youth sports administrator, I look forward to sharing my vision for youth sports with this prestigious body and throughout the world." 

During the conference, ISF members were involved in various committee meetings, with the main General Assembly taking place June 30th. Discussions on the progress, current state and future development of the International School Sport Federation took place over the course of three days.

In 2018, Dr. Goudy was re-elected to a second term as President/CEO of the AAU, the largest, non-profit, event organization in the country. Founded in 1888, the AAU's mission of "Sports For All, Forever" continues to serve hundreds of thousands of athletes across 41 sport programs in the United States annually.

As the national chair for the sport of volleyball, Dr. Goudy oversees the AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships, held in conjunction with EPSN Wide World of Sports Complex, Orange County Convention Center and Visit Orlando. It is the largest volleyball event in the world, with the 2019 event bringing 2,805 teams, 45,000 participants and 110,000 spectators and generated an estimated $108 million economic impact to the Central Florida area.

"My vision for youth sports is simple," said Dr. Roger J. Goudy, President/CEO of the AAU. "To raise tomorrow's leaders on today's playing surfaces.  No matter age, background or skill level, there should always be an attainable path for participation in amateur sports for all.'

Active in the AAU for more than 40 years, he was part of the national AAU leadership group which signed a 30-year agreement to bring AAU sports to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex (formerly Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex) in 1996, making the AAU - along with the Atlanta Braves - one of two anchor tenants of Disney's sports complex. 

Currently, Dr. Goudy also serves on the board of Visit Orlando, the official tourism association for Orlando, the most visited destination in the United States drawing 75 million visitors annually to the Central Florida area which hosts offices in more than 64 countries world-wide.

ABOUT THE AAU:
Founded in 1888 to establish standards and uniformity in sports, the AAU philosophy of Sports For All, Forever is now shared by more than 700,000 members and 150,000 volunteers nationwide. The second-largest sport in the AAU, volleyball, has approximately 160,000 members annually with more than 300 licensed AAU indoor and beach volleyball events. The AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships is the marquee annual event for the fastest-growing sport in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). The 2019 event featured approximately 2,805 girls and boys teams and 45,000 participants across 38 divisions of competition. Over the years, this event has featured international teams from Australia, Brazil, Croatia, Canada, China, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Honduras, Israel, Germany, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Slovenia, Spain and Virgin Islands.