La IMSA è stata fondata nell'aprile del 2005 durante l'Assemblea Generale della General Association of International Sport Federations.

 La IMSA ha assunto il compito di organizzare le Olimpiadi dei Giochi della Mente (Intellympiads) in analogia con i Giochi Olimpici e di curare l'affiliazione degli stessi al Movimento Olimpico.

 I Giochi è previsto che seguano a breve quelli Olimpici (sia estivi che invernali) e che si svolgano nella stessa città che li ha ospitati, possibilmente sfruttando le stesse strutture e gli stessi volontari.

 La IMSA include 4 Federazioni Mondiali: Bridge - WBF (World Bridge Federation), Scacchi - FIDE (World Chess Federation), Dama - FMJD (World Draughts Federation) e Go - IGF (International Go Federation).

Altro obiettivo primario della IMSA è quello di ottenere l'affiliazione delle Federazioni Nazionali degli Sport della Mente nei rispettivi Comitati Olimpici.

La IMSA si prefigge anche di aiutare gli insegnanti delle discipline associate per la fidelizzazione di un sempre maggior numero di giovani.

La Sede della IMSA si trova a Losanna in Svizzera.

Il primo e attuale Presidente dell'Associazione è il francese Jose Damiani.

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

The goal of IMSA was to gather different mind sports federations to pursue common aims and interests, to organize the World Mind Sport 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 longterm plans include running World Mind Sports Games by analogy with Olympics, which will be held in Olympic host cities shortly after Winter or Summer Games.

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)

And also:

Hein Verbruggen, GAISF President, IOC member

Christine Dominguez, GAISF General Director

The aim of this Association is to engage in a dialogue with the International Olympic Committee for the organization of the World Mind Games – Intellympiads - to be held in the Olympic cities following the Winter or Summer Games at a time to be mutually agreed.

This project would have the advantage of using the infrastructures already put into place for the Olympic Games and re-utilizing the teams of volunteers. 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 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 the GAISF – 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.