(ISPS, also known as ISPS Handa) is a Japanese non-profit organization known for its sponsorship of golf tournaments worldwide, including the PGA Seniors Championship and LPGA Women's Australian Open. ISPS Handa is a member of the Tokyo Sports Association, a public-interest-incorporated foundation.
ISPS Handa promotes disabled golf and blind golf and provides management and financial support to a number of tournaments in cooperation with the local golf associations worldwide.
There have been several tournaments organized titled âÂÂISPSâ as an abbreviation of International Sports Promotion Society, and âÂÂHANDAâ which is the last name of Chairman Haruhisa Handa, as well as the combined title âÂÂISPS HANDAâÂÂ. ISPS Handa became the title sponsor for the 2013 Golf World Cup, resulting in the official title of the tournament as âÂÂISPS Handa World Cup GolfâÂÂ.
The 6th PGA Handa Cup Philanthropy Senior Tournament (organized by The Professional Golfersâ Association of Japan), had total prize money 5 times higher than the previous year's (2006 The 5th PGA Philanthropy Rebornest Senior Open), becoming the first âÂÂTotal Prize Money 100,000,000 yen Tournamentâ in the history of the PGA Senior Tour. Since its 11th event in 2012, this Tournament has been conducted by ISPS, and the 2014 event was entitled as the âÂÂISPS Handa Cup Philanthropy Senior TournamentâÂÂ.
The ISPS Handa Global Cup (Japan Golf Tour Organization), launched in June 2015, was broadcast overseas as a golf program with a commentator in English for the first time in the golf history of Japan. Besides the TV broadcast, the program was also distributed online through Ustream. The winner received as a prize a Japanese green Haori, instead of the green jacket.
ISPS co-sanctioned the World Sports Values Summit for Peace in Tokyo, which was held on July 18âÂÂ19, 2013. Top athletes and researchers came together from 16 countries around the world to discuss the topic âÂÂSports can contribute to harmonizing the development of humanity and establishing and encouraging a peaceful society.âÂÂ
At the World Sports Values Summit for Peace and Development, held on May 23âÂÂ24, 2014 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, a partnership between ISPS and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) was announced.
In Japan, ISPS supports bowling, hosting national tournaments throughout the year. In Japan, roughly 20% of the population bowls, compared with the 13.8% who play golf. However, the number of bowling alleys has decreased from 3,000 to 1,000. With the support of the ISPS, a number of bowling events have been held, and the professionalism of the sport has improved.