The UIAA or Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme, (English: International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation) is the organization that represents several million mountaineers and climbers, world-wide, on international issues. Formed in 1932 in Chamonix, France, it now has over 88 members associations from some 76 countries, all of national importance. It is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the International Federation representing mountaineering and climbing. The association plays an important role in regulating safety standards for equipment used in climbing.
The UIAA is also concerned with ice-climbing, rock-climbing and bouldering competitions that usually take part indoors on man-made climbing routes.
The UIAA headquarters is located in Bern, Switzerland.
Read more about Union Internationale Des Associations D'Alpinisme: Grading System, Safety in Mountaineering and Climbing Equipment
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