International Mind Sports Association (IMSA) was founded on April 19, 2005 during the GAISF (now SportAccord) General Assembly.

The goal of IMSA was to gather different mind sports federations to pursue common aims and interests, to organize the World Mind Sports Games under the aegis of the General Association of International Sport Federations and further realize the inclusion of mind sports in the Olympic movement. In particular, the organization's long-term plans include running World Mind Sports Games on the same lines as the Olympics,
IMSA members include 4 international federations:

• World Bridge Federation (WBF)
• World Chess Federation (FIDE)
• World Draughts Federation (FMJD)
• International Go Federation (IGF)

The signatories to sign the founding declaration were:

• Jose Damiani, President of World Bridge Federation (WBF)
• Georgios Makropoulos, Deputy President of World Chess Federation (FIDE)
• Wouter van Beek, Vice President of World Draughts Federation (FMJD)
• Erik Puyt, Vice President of International Go Federation (IGF)
• Jean-Claude Schupp, Honorary Secretary

The aim of this Association is to engage in a dialogue with the International Olympic Committee for the organization of the World Mind Sports Games . The final objective, beyond the factual, is, of course, to facilitate the admission of the national federations of these mind sports into their respective National Olympic Committees.

The Association intends to work towards the recognition of the quality of teaching of these disciplines lavished on young people and which helps them considerably in their curriculum (career path). The Association will therefore work in liaison with – in addition to the IOC and SportAccord – UNESCO and the UN, as it is convinced of its capacity to improve the level of education in the world and to participate in a more peaceful entente through the practice of these sports