The International Ski Federation (FIS) was founded in Chamonix, France, in 1924.
FIS was established during the first Winter Olympic period, when national skiing organizations wanted a common international governing body. Its original name was Fédération Internationale de Ski, and it initially governed competitive skiing disciplines.
The federation later expanded its responsibilities to snowboarding and other snow sports. In 2022, it adopted the English name International Ski and Snowboard Federation while retaining the abbreviation FIS.
Chamonix is also significant because it hosted the 1924 International Winter Sports Week, later recognized as the first Winter Olympic Games. FIS should not be confused with the International Olympic Committee, which oversees the Olympic movement rather than administering skiing competitions directly.