OUR STATUTES

PREAMBLE

 

ISCA understands sport as an integral part of cultural life. As people manifest their culture through their specific participation in sport, it is important to promote and to deepen a coherent view of sport and culture.

 

Sport as movement culture is, thus, a field where cultural identity as well as international understanding can be developed.

 

In the context of Sport and Culture, sport is understood not only as competitive activities and health-related exercises, but also as recreation, pastimes, games and leisure activities.

 

Sport/Culture is an essential part of education, and a way of educating people to be responsible citizens in their society.

 

Culture as a way of life includes besides sport and games also traditional customs and festivities, dance, music, song, theatre and other creative and social activities.

Title	§	Article
1. Name	1	The name of the organisation shall be: "International Sport and Culture Association".
2. Objectives	2   2.1   2.2     2.3     2.4	The objectives of the International Sport and Culture Association shall be:   1.     to promote an understanding between people across borders through sports and cultural activities; 2.     to stress the view of sport as a bearer of local, regional or national cultural identity and so placing it in the centre of international exchanges of ideas, views and social and cultural expressions 3.     to encourage the broadest possible participation in sporting and cultural activities among all affiliated members   To further these objectives the Association shall pursue and encourage the following:   a)     creating or stimulating events and experiences - particularly on the sport for all level - for the ordinary members of the organisations adhering to the objectives of the Association; b)    discussing and defining sports and cultural policies internally, multilaterally and with regard to politico-economic institutions; c)     developing international exchanges, i.e. conferences, seminars, training courses, sports tournaments and festivals etc., with the view to strengthening the manifestation of sport in the present and future international cultural picture, and including the dissemination of relevant information. d)    promoting and developing actions with the objective of improving and preserving the health and integrity of each individual.
3. Address of the Association	3	The venue of the Association shall be at the office address of the Association as decided by the Executive Committee.
4. Membership	4.1                 4.2     4.3       4.4           4.5	Membership shall be open to non-govern­mental idealistic organisations and - where is no official NGO in that country  - official govern­ment bodies which:-   a)     are engaged in sports and/or cultural activities; b)    are local, regional, national and international bodies; c)     are open to all without discrimination on the grounds of gender, race, religion or political affiliation;   Membership of the Association may first be approved by the Executive Committee, subject to ratification by the next General Assembly.   Approval and ratification of membership takes place at the beginning of the General Assembly. Immediately upon approval of membership by the General Assembly the new member will have full voting rights.   Associate Membership of the Association may be granted to:   a)       organisations which do not fulfil the requirements for full Membership as set out above, with the exception of 4.1.c. b)       organisations which prefer associate membership to full membership   Associate Members will have no voting rights at the General Assembly.
5. Executive Committee	5.1     5.2                           5.3           5.4     5.5     5.6               5.7     5.8	The Association shall be governed, between General Assemblies, by an Executive Committee which is responsible to the General Assembly.   The Executive Committee shall consist of eight persons elected by the General Assembly:   -          President -          Two Vice-Presidents -          Five other members -          The chairperson of each continental committee will also be part of the Executive Committee   In the case of a continental chairman being elected for the Executive Committee, a substitute delegate can be provided. The Youth Committee will appoint a spokesperson to partake in the meetings of the Executive Committee.   The eight elected Executive Committee members shall be elected for a period of four years by half every two years. Every second year there is a vote for the President, one Vice-President and two members or the other Vice-President and three members. The Executive Committee shall meet at least twice a year, with a minimum of four weeks written notice.   Quorum for an Executive Committee meeting shall be half the committee plus one person.   As a Principle of striving towards a geographical balance:   a)     No country or organisation can have more than two members elected to the Executive Committee.   b)    The President or any of the Vice-Presidents shall not represent the same country, region or organisation.   The Executive Committee may appoint sub-com­mit­tees to assist in the work of the Association.   Any member of the Executive Committee must be a member of an affiliated organisation.
6. Continental Committees and general Sub-committees                                                                   7. General Assembly	6.1                     6.2         6.3   6.4     6.5     6.6     6 .7     6.8     6.9       7.1     7.2     7.3     7.4     7.5       7.6     7.7     7.8   7.9       7.10     7.11   7.12   7.13             7.14   7.15       7.16                 7.17             7.18     7.19             7.20       7.21     7.22	The Executive Committee may set up (or establish) the Continental Committees and the Sub-committees to assist it in the work of the Association   -          Geographical Committees: one Committee per continent, as soon as the number of affiliated organisations is sufficient. -          General Sub-Committees (such as Statutes, Policies and Finances, Public Relations and Marketing, Development…etc)   The members of the Continental Committees are elected by the affiliated organisations members at the General Assembly of the continent for a four- year period as the Executive Committee; each organisation having one vote.   In each continental committee, up to a maximum of five, one chairman is elected by the members of the Committee. All chairmen of the Continental Committees are members of the ISCA´s Executive Committee.   The ISCA´s Executive Committee appoints the members and the chairmen of general Sub-Committees.   All decisions of the Sub-Committees must be communicated to the ISCA´s Executive Committee by the appointed chairmen for approval.   All Sub-Committees and Continental Committees are responsible to the Executive Committee.   Each Continental Committee should meet certainly at least one month the ISCA´s General Assembly.   The Executive Committee can appoint honorary members. The honorary member will be invited to participate in the Executive Committee meetings without voting right.   The General Assembly shall be the highest authority and governing body of the Association.   The General Assembly shall convene each year before the end of June.   Three months notice shall be given of the date and venue of the General Assembly.   At the General Assembly affiliated member Organisations may be repre­sented by up to five delegates, all of whom having speaking rights.   Each affiliated member Organisation will have only one vote at the General Assembly.   Observers or Associate Members may attend the General Assembly for observations only.   Observers or Associate Members may only address the General Assembly at the discretion of the meeting.   The General Assembly shall elect the Executive Committee.   Nominations with acceptance by the nominal person of the position are valid only if they have been received by the President six weeks at least before the General Assembly   The President must forward these nominations to all General Assembly delegates four weeks before the General Assembly.   All elections shall be by secret ballot.   The vote shall be single and non-transferable.   If more than two candidates are nominated for the presidency, and no candidate receives a simple majority (more than 50 % of the vote cast) on the first count, the candidate with the least number of votes will be withdrawn from the ballot paper, and succeeding votes taken until one candidate reaches a simple majority.   If there is only one candidate nominated for a post, a vote shall be taken “for” or “against”. In the event of no valid nominations having been received or no nominee being elected, nominations from the floor will be accepted.   In accordance with 5.3, the General Assembly shall vote in the following sequence for the posts of:   -          the President -          the Vice-Presidents -          The members of the Executive Committee   Substitutions if required will be by co-option:   Provided there is no conflict with Statute No. 5.6 (a) and (b), the person with the next highest vote at the last election for the position in question shall be co-opted to fill the vacant position on the Executive Committee, with the exception of the post of President which will be filled by the Executive Committee from its own ranks.   The General Assembly shall appoint an Auditor. A recommen­dation will be made by the Executive Committee.   The General Assembly shall receive reports from:   -          the President -          the Auditor, presented by the Executive Committee -          and existing General Sub-Committees and Continental Committees   Furthermore, the General Assembly shall decide on future programmes; adopt a budget; determine membership dues; carry on any other business as per the agenda.   Members of the Executive Committee shall have speaking rights at the General Assembly.   Members of the Executive Committee shall not have voting rights at the General Assembly unless they are official delegates of their own organisation.
8. Extraordinary General Assembly	8	An Extraordinary General Assembly shall be called by the President, if one third of the members or a majority of the Executive Committee make a written request to that effect.
9. Role and Duties of the President	9.1       9.2     9.3       9.4     9.5       9.6	The President shall have the authority to speak on behalf of the Association, in as much as he/she is answerable to the Executive Committee and the General Assembly.   The President will preside over all Executive Committee meetings and the General Assembly.   The President will have the overall responsibility for the general running of the Association between Executive Committee meetings.   The President determines the agenda for Executive Committee meetings and for the General Assembly.   In case of parity of votes at either an Executive Committee meeting or a General Assembly, the President shall have the casting vote.   The longest serving Vice-President within his or her election period shall deputise for the President in his absence and shall then carry out all functions normally undertaken by the President.
10. Role and Duties of the Secretary-General	10.1       10.2     10.3	The Executive Committee appoints a Secretary-General who, with reference to the President, is responsible for the running of the administration of the Association   The Secretary-General will attend the meetings of the Executive Committee, but without voting rights.   The Secretary-General will be responsible for keeping financial records.
11. Working Language	11	For practical reasons the working language of the Association will be English.
12. Membership Dues	12	Each member organisation shall pay an Annual Membership Fee, which will be decided upon and apportioned by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Executive Committee.
13. General Financial Affairs	13	The income of the Association shall derive from   -          membership dues; -          contributions from institutions, organisations, persons or companies; -          income-generating projects.
14. Observership or Membership of Other Organisations	14.1     14.2	A two-thirds majority of the Executive Committee is required to permit an observer role or membership of other inter­national organisations.   A positive decision by the Executive Committee on this matter will have to go before the next General Assembly for ratification.
15. Cessation of Membership	15.1         15.2     15.3	The membership of any organisation may be terminated by the Executive Committee if two-thirds of the members present and voting decide that the organisation has ceased to comply with the objectives or statutes of the Association.   Such organisations will have a right of appeal to the next General Assembly.   Notification of terminations and appeals must be forwarded to all members.
16. Modification of the Statutes	16.1     16.2     16.3   16.4       16.5	A statute can only be amended, added or deleted by a General or an Extraordinary General Assembly.   The proposed amendment must be submitted in writing for inclusion on the agenda of the General Assembly.   Such proposals must be received by the President not less than two months before the General Assembly. The President must forward all proposed amendments etc. to the members not less than one month before the General Assembly.   A proposal to amend, add or delete a statute can only be carried by at least 51% of the votes cast.
17. Dissolution	17.1       17.2     17.3	The dissolution of the Association can only be pro­nounced by a General Assem­bly, or by an Extra­ordin­a­ry General Assembly called for this purpose.   A two-thirds majority of the members present and voting is required for dissolution.   The Assembly shall decide on the appropriation of the Association's properties, which can only be assigned to international organisations recognised as having the same aims as the Association.
18. Other Matters	18	Matters which are considered relevant to the Association but not mentioned in these statutes shall be decided on by the Executive Committee.