The concept of a sporting gathering for young people from many different parts of the world, with the accent on sportsmanship and social contact rather than on deadly serious competition was under consideration long before the event was successfully started. The festival had its roots in the view, held independently, but, happily, simultaneously, in several different quarters, that there was room in Aberdeen's sporting calendar for just such a venture.

While each AIFF has differed from the others in some respect, a thread of continuity running through them all has been the emphasis laid on striving always to achieve a genuine festival atmosphere.