The umbrella body confirmed the WAF, granted observer status in October of last year, could become a full member of the organisation at the GAISF General Assembly in Bangkok in April.

The WAF, which had its application for SportAccord - the previous name of the GAISF - turned down last March, could make history as the first governing body to transition from observer status to a full member.

Following a meeting of the GAISF Council, the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) and the International Padel Federation (FIP) were approved for observer status, introduced for members wanting to join the organisation at its General Assembly in Danish city Aarhus in April.

They become the eighth and ninth to be given observer status, which allows International Federations (IFs) to be part of the "GAISF network", take part in activities including the annual IF Forum and to attend General Assembly, although they have no voting rights.

Both the RLIF and the FIP will now go through a "process of assessment and verification" which could eventually lead to them becoming fully-fledged members of the GAISF.

The World Union of Olympic Cities was given associate membership by the GAISF Council during the meeting in Lausanne.

"The Council's decision to recommend WAF for full membership is an important milestone for GAISF as they would become the first IF to complete the journey from observer to member," GAISF President Patrick Baumann said.

"It is concrete evidence that the pathway established through the hard work of our Membership Commission, chaired by Antonio Espinos along with vice-presidents Dr. Raffaele Chiulli and Stephan Fox, can be followed by determined IFs and that it works well for both the Federation and GAISF's entire membership."