The aim of the EGU is to be the independent representative of the interests of all glider pilots in Europe with respect to regulatory affairs.

World Air Sports Federation

All FAI gliding international championships, competitions and record activities are conducted under the direction of the FAI Gliding Commission (IGC). It is the body within the FAI which is responsible for all international aspects of air sports involving gliders (not including hang gliders and paragliders, which belong to the FAI Hang Gliding and Paragliding Commission) and motor gliders. An exception is the sport of gliding aerobatics, which is handled together with powered aerobatics by the FAI Aerobatics Commission.

Europe Air Sports (EAS) is the voice of sports and recreational aviation in Europe.

An early realization of the attractive possibility for meteorologists to learn more about the structure and behaviour of the atmosphere when using sailplanes, combined with the interest of aerodynamicists, aircraft- and instrument designers, constructors and pilots for improving sailplane performance and characteristics, lead in 1930 to the forming of the first international soaring organization ISTUS (Internationale Studienkommission für den motorlosen Flug).