It was not until 1994 when the Federation was accepted by the international community including the continental and global associations.

See the article for each continental association for the complete lists of all NOCs.

Members are grouped by continent, and there are 5 continental associations of which they can choose to be a member:

Qualifiers were the 10 fastest swimmers in each race and then the fastest five competitors from the continental associations.

Both teams consisted of twelve competitors, selected primarily from annually-held and end-of-season championships within their continental associations.

Competitions that were not endorsed by the appropriate continental association of FIFA were counted as friendlies.

Similarly, national chapters can be members of GOPAC even if their continent has not formed a continental association.

Nations qualify teams for team sports through continental qualifying tournaments, in which each continental association is given a certain number of spots in the Olympic tournament.

There are many national as well as continental associations related to the industrial truck industry.

There are 5 continental associations affiliated with the ICF.