From School Athlete to Global Leader: Marko Petrič Joins ISF as Sport Director
Jul. 9, Lausanne, Switerland – The International School Sport Federation (ISF) is proud to welcome Mr. Marko Petrič as its new Sport Director, officially starting his mandate today.
Marko’s appointment marks the arrival of a new leader whose professional career is deeply rooted in school sport and international sport governance alike — a journey that began on the tatami.
Born and raised in Slovenia, Marko started practising judo at a young age. His early dedication to sport quickly translated into achievement, with appearances at national school-level judo championships, and later, a spot on the Slovenian national team. In 2007, he proudly represented his country at the FISU World University Games (then called Universiade) in Bangkok, one of the world’s largest international multisport events for student-athletes, while completing his law degree.
This lifelong bond with student sport has since evolved into a dynamic career in international sport governance. Marko previously served as Sport Director of the International Boxing Association (IBA) and worked with the International Testing Agency (ITA) overseeing predominantly combat sport federations, gaining firsthand experience in managing high-level competitions and ensuring the integrity of sport through rigorous anti-doping practices.
“I am honoured to join ISF, for ISF is the place where future stars are formed and combines two of the most important aspects in life, education and sports." Marko said on his first day, "I live by the core principles established by Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo: Jita Kyoei and Seiryoku Zenyo for 'True education is not only a matter of training the mind, but also of training the body and the spirit.' ”
As Sport Director, Marko will oversee the planning and delivery of ISF competitions across more than 20 sports, working closely with member federations, local organising committees, and international federations to ensure consistency, fairness, and educational value across all ISF events.
His arrival strengthens ISF’s continued emphasis on educational sport, youth empowerment, and clean competition. With a personal background in student sport and professional experience in international federations and anti-doping governance, Marko embodies ISF’s core values of integrity, equity, and global collaboration.
