The Executive Board of the International Blind Sports Federation, at its meeting in Madrid (Spain) on 16 July 1998, approved the following Internal Regime Regulations, which were subsequently amended at the General Assemblies held in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) on 13-15 September 2001, Beijing (China) on 9-11 June 2005 and Antalya (Turkey) on 3rd-4th April 2009. PRELIMINARY TITLE - REGISTER OF IBSA MEMBERS Article 1 Once the affiliation request presented by a new member has been accepted by the Executive Board of IBSA, it shall be recorded in the Register of Members of the Federation, to which end the new member shall be under the obligation to complete the corresponding official form which shall contain, as a minimum, the following information: - Address of the Member with Full Rights. - Name of the person designated to hold full representation of the Member with Full Rights and, where appropriate, those of the members comprising its official management and administrative body, indicating the post held by each one of them. - Name of the person who shall represent the Member with Full Rights before the federation. - Bank account details for the purposes of subscription payments and other financial commitments entered into with the federation. The form shall be signed by the person or persons who, in accordance with the corresponding Statutes, hold/s full powers for such representation, and shall be accompanied, where appropriate, by attestation of the agreements adopted by the competent bodies appointing the signatory of the form, the members comprising the management and administrative body, and the representative/s appointed to act before the federation. Article 2 Federation Members with Full Rights shall be under the obligation to communicate to the General Secretary, for due entry in the Register, any proposal of change concerning the representation of the member with full rights before the federation and, generally, whatever modifications may occur that affect the information recorded in the Register, attaching where appropriate, the pertinent attestations of agreements adopted in this respect in order for these to become effective before the federation. The General Secretary may, on his own initiative or at the request of the President of the Federation or the Continental Chairperson, enter in the Register the pertinent corrections when he receives news of modifications affecting the information contained therein, and shall be under the obligation to communicate such changes affecting the Register to the representative of the federation member with full rights, for confirmation of same. Article 3 Any conflicts arising in relation to the representation of the member with full rights before the federation and, generally, to the information that must appear in the Register, shall be resolved definitively by the Executive Board or, in case of urgency, by the Management Committee, which may request whatever public or private documents it deems necessary. Article 4 The Representative who is duly recorded in the Register shall exercise the rights to attend and vote at meetings of the General Assembly, and to issue the proposals, motions and refutations envisaged in Article VII, Points 1 and 3 and Article XI, Points 4 and 9 of the Statutes, as well as all other rights concerning electoral matters afforded to Members with Full Rights in the Statutes and included in these Regulations. TITLE I - GENERAL ASSEMBLY Article 5 The following Procedural Rules shall be followed during the General Assembly sessions: 1 Opening of the General Assembly. On the date and time specified in the official notification to convene the Assembly, the President of the Federation will declare the meeting duly opened. The representative of the host Continental Delegation shall then be given the floor, as well as any other guest(s) the President may deem appropriate. 2 The Secretary General shall read the roll-call and shall communicate to the General Assembly the existence or non-existence of a quorum to declare the meeting quorate. 3 Having ascertained that the simple majority requirement provided for in the IBSA Statutes has been fulfilled, the President will officially declare the General Assembly validly constituted. 4 The first item of the session shall be the adoption of the Agenda for the meeting, as distributed by the Executive Board together with the notification of the Assembly. The Agenda must, of necessity, include the following points: - Approval of the accounts for the preceding four-year period as approved by the Executive Board, and the Auditors’ Report where appropriate. - Approval of the sports administration effected throughout the preceding four-year period by the Executive Board and Management Committee. - Approval of the general budget lines for the forthcoming period. - Approval of the sports plan for the forthcoming four-year period. - Any and all further questions which the President or the Executive Board may consider require consideration. 5 Once the Agenda is adopted, the Minutes of the previous General Assembly will be submitted to the members of the Assembly for approval, even though that session was convened as extraordinary. The amendments approved by the majority of the members present shall be included in the text proposed by the Secretary General and submitted together with the notification letter of the meeting. 6 New members: the Secretary General will read to the General Assembly the organisations proposed to become new IBSA members, these having fulfilled the statutory requirements and having been approved by the Executive Board. The members of the General Assembly will then ratify the adopted agreements. 7 Expulsion of members: the Secretary General shall read the agreements reached by the Executive Board in relation to the expulsion of members from the General Assembly in accordance with the federation’s disciplinary procedure. The members of the General Assembly will then ratify the adopted agreements. 8 Intervention of Executive Board members in the following points: - Approval of the accounts for the preceding four-year period as approved by the Executive Board, and the Auditors’ Report where appropriate. - Approval of the sports administration effected throughout the preceding four-year period by the Executive Board and Management Committee. - Approval of the general budget lines for the forthcoming period. - Approval of the sports plan for the forthcoming four-year period. 9 Debate and voting on motions and resolutions: once the preceding issues and others included in the Agenda have been discussed, motions and resolutions will be put to the vote in the General Assembly for their approval. 10 Election of the Executive Board: the Secretary General will read the names of the nominations received and the nominees shall then be given the floor. The order to be followed for the interventions and elections shall be: President, Vice-President, Secretary General, Treasurer, Sports Director, Medical Director, ratification of the elected Continental Chairpersons, and Members-at-Large. After the elections have been held in accordance with the requirements of the Internal Regulations Regime, the Secretary General will read the results. 11 Investiture of the Executive Board: once all the statutory requirements have been fulfilled, the General Assembly will invest the nominees and declare the new Executive Board constituted. TITLE II - CONCERNING THE EXECUTIVE BOARD Chapter One - Composition and Election Article 6 The Executive Board is the organ of government, management and representation of the federation. The Executive Board comprises the President, Vice-President, General Secretary, Treasurer, Medical Committee Director, Sports Technical Committee Director, five members who represent each one of the Continental Delegations and four Members at Large. Members are elected by a simple majority from among the nominations received and shall perform the functions established by this organ. Article 7 The members of the Executive Board shall be elected by the Ordinary General Assembly for a four-year period from among the persons proposed by the Members with Full Rights, in accordance with the procedure established in these Internal Regime Regulations. Individuals of legal age, with full capacity to act and who fulfil the conditions established in these Regulations, and who have not been disqualified from exercising duties in federation posts of responsibility for reasons of sanctions imposed, shall be eligible. For the purposes of the stipulations regarding electoral matters, and with respect to appointment to those posts requiring blindness as a prerequisite, this shall be understood to be the person who possesses this characteristic in accordance with the regulations applicable to his/her nationality. The persons elected may be re-elected for successive four-year periods. Article 8 The following shall constitute reasons for the withdrawal from office of Executive Board Members: a) When their term of office ends, without prejudice to the possibility of such term being extended until such time as the Ordinary General Assembly elects persons to replace them. b) Voluntary resignation, once this has been accepted by the Executive Board. c) Death. d) Retirement, which shall occur on reaching the age of 80, in which case the member shall continue in his post until the end of his term of office, unless he decides to retire voluntarily before this. e) Resolution adopted by absolute majority decision of Executive Board members at the proposal of at least one third of the federation members with full rights. In the case of the President, withdrawal from office shall be agreed by the Extraordinary General Assembly by majority vote of two thirds of the Members present, at the proposal of one third of the members with full rights. f) The unforeseeable appearance of causes indicating ineligibility. In the event of posts falling vacant through any of the circumstances envisaged under letters b), c), d), e) and f), the Executive Board shall appoint a replacement and such appointment shall have the approval of the Member with Full Rights belonging to the same nation, and if this should be the representative of a Continental Delegation, then approval of 10% of the members comprising such Delegation shall also be required. The person substituting the President, in the event of his withdrawal from post for whatsoever reason, shall be elected by the General Assembly, the person holding the post of Vice-President taking over his responsibilities in the interim. In the event of filling vacant positions, the replacement shall hold the term of office for the period remaining to be completed by the person substituted. Article 9 Blind persons fulfilling the general eligibility requirements envisaged in these Internal Regime Regulations and whose nomination is presented by a Member with Full Rights belonging to the same nationality as the candidate, shall be eligible for the post of President. Article 10 Blind persons fulfilling the general eligibility requirements envisaged in these Internal Regime Regulations shall be eligible for the post of Vice-President. For all other posts on the Executive Board, nominations received from blind or partially sighted persons shall generally be given priority. In order to be eligible for these posts, it is an essential requirement that the respective nomination be submitted by the Member with Full Rights who holds the same nationality as the candidate. Article 11 Those persons who fulfil the general eligibility requirements and whose nomination is presented by the Member with Full Rights representing the territory of the respective Continental Delegation of the nationality of the candidate shall be eligible for the posts of representative member and Chairperson of such Continental Delegation. Article 12 Nominations shall be submitted to the General Secretary in writing as from the date of issue of call to meeting of the General Assembly, and at least two months in advance of the date set for holding of same. Nominations shall be signed by the nominees and by the representatives of the Members with Full Rights supporting them, and shall include the curriculum vitae of the nominees and the undertaking on the part of the Members with Full Rights to take responsibility for all expenses incurred by such nominees, in the event of their being elected, in the exercise of their duties. Article 13 The Management Committee shall verify that the nominations received fulfil all formal requirements and shall, where appropriate, decide their acceptance. If any nomination should fail to present all the formal requirements, then such defect shall be rectified in the fixed and unalterable period of 15 days as from the date of communication of such defect issued by the Management Committee to the first signatory of such nomination. The Management Committee shall inform all Members with Full Rights of the nominations that have been approved. Article 14 In the event that only one nomination is received for any of the different categories of posts, the nominee shall automatically be declared elected by general assent. Article 15 In the event that no nomination is received for any of the different categories of posts, the proposal or proposals which, during the course of the Assembly meeting may be put forward by the President and/or by any of the attending Members with Full Rights, shall be put to the vote. If no proposals are put forward, a period of two months shall be established within which new nominations may be submitted to the General Secretary, under the conditions envisaged in these Regulations. The final choice shall always rest with the Executive Board. Article 16 The election of the Executive Board shall be the last item on the agenda of the meeting of the Assembly and the election of the President shall be the first item of this election of the Board. After the election of the President, the electoral order shall be as follows: Vice-president, Secretary General, Treasurer, Sports Director, Medical Director, Continental Chairpersons, and Members-at-Large. For voting purposes, Members with Full Rights shall be called one by one by the Chairman of the meeting to cast their vote in the ballot box or boxes that have been made available for this purpose. When counting of the votes has been performed by the Chairman of the meeting and the Secretary, assisted by two scrutineers appointed by the Assembly, the nominee obtaining the favourable vote of the majority of the Members present shall be declared duly elected. If no nominee obtains such majority vote, a second vote shall be cast in which the two nominees obtaining the greatest number of votes shall participate, after which the nominee with the most number of votes shall be declared duly elected. When the President has been elected, he or she shall occupy Chairmanship of the Assembly meeting in order to perform closure of its deliberations. Article 17 Election to the remaining posts on the Executive Board shall be performed using the same voting procedure and by calling individual Members one by one to cast their vote, in the same way as stipulated in Article 16. The only exception applicable to the foregoing is the election of the Continental Chairpersons, whose election shall conform to the requirements laid out in Article 18. The order to be followed during the voting process will be the following: President, Vice-President, Secretary General, Treasurer, Sports Director, Medical Director, ratification of the elected Continental Chairpersons, and Members-at-Large. Article 18 All elections related to representatives of the Continental Delegations shall be performed among the members belonging to such delegations in separate meetings and in accordance with the rules established in Article 16. Ratification of the nominee elected shall be performed by the General Assembly by simple majority of those Members present. In the absence of ratification, the Continental Chairperson shall be chosen by the Executive Board after receiving new proposals from the Members with Full Rights corresponding to such Delegation. Chapter Two - Functioning of the Executive Board and the Management Committee Article 19 The functioning of the Executive Board shall conform to letters a) and b) of Article XII.3 of the federation’s statutes, and shall be supplemented by the following rules: - Delegation of vote (proxy) shall not be permitted at meetings of the Executive Board. - The President may invite any persons he deems appropriate to attend committee meetings, and these shall have the right to speak but shall have no voting powers. - In situations of emergency, the President may arrange for decisions to be adopted by postal vote, and in such event he shall submit such proposal to the members of the Executive Board and this shall be deemed accepted if, in the established period of time which shall not be less than seven days, a simple majority vote in favour has been received. If no express written opposition is received in respect of the subject under vote this shall be considered to be a favourable vote concerning same and for the purposes of establishing the simple majority required for its adoption. - Notwithstanding the rules established for call to meeting, the committee may meet without prior call when all the Members present agree to its holding. - Without prejudice to the general or special powers that the Executive Board may grant, this body may delegate the exercise of any of its responsibilities to the President or the Management Committee. Excluded from such possible delegation of powers are the reports placed before the General Assembly and the functions outlined under headings a) and b) of Article XII.3 of the Statutes. - The Executive Board may function in Plenary Session or in committees called by the President who shall, in turn, decide which Members shall be called to the session undertaking the study, debate or preparation of matters that are the responsibility of the committee. Article 20 The function of the Management Committee shall conform to the stipulations of Article XIII.3 of the statutes of the federation, which shall be complemented by the following rules: - The President may invite any persons he deems appropriate to attend committee meetings, and these shall have the right to speak but shall have no voting powers. - In situations of emergency, the President may arrange for decisions to be adopted by postal vote, and in such event he shall submit such proposal to the members of the Management Committee and this shall be deemed accepted if, in the established period of time which shall not be less than seven days, a majority of votes in favour has been received. If no express written opposition is received in respect of the subject under vote, this shall be considered to be a favourable vote concerning same and for the purposes of establishing the simple majority required for its adoption. - Notwithstanding the rules established for call to meeting, the committee may meet without prior call when all the Members present agree to its holding. - Without prejudice to the general or special powers that the Executive Board may grant, this body may delegate the exercise of any of its responsibilities to the President. Excluded from such possible delegation of powers are the functions outlined under headings a) and e) of Article XIII.3 of the Statutes, and those which may be expressly delegated by the Executive Board, unless such decision adopted also permits such delegation of powers. Chapter Three - Concerning the President, Vice-President, General Secretary and Treasurer Article 21 The President is the legal representative of the federation and assumes the functions of first executive and administration manager of the federation. The specific functions of the President are as follows: a) To preside over meetings of the Assembly, to lead its debates and voting sessions and to resolve whatsoever matters are placed before such meetings in relation to the interpretation and application of the rules governing its functioning. b) To issue call to meeting and preside over the sessions of the Executive Board and the Management Committee, to lead their debates and voting sessions and to resolve whatsoever matters are placed before such meetings in relation to the interpretation and application of the rules governing their functioning. c) To prepare the tasks to be undertaken by the General Assembly, the Executive Board and the Management Committee and arrange for the execution of all decisions adopted by these, without prejudice to the particular powers of attorney that such organs of government may grant. d) To decide, when appropriate, whatsoever matters are in the interests of the fulfilment of the aims of the federation, in due execution of the guidelines fixed by the Assembly and the Executive Board. e) To ensure the efficient running of the work undertaken by the different organs and committees of the federation, to resolve questions concerning procedure that may arise, and any possible conflicts arising within the internal bodies of the federation which may affect its different organs or its members with full rights. f) To be the supreme representative of the federation before all the organisations and bodies of which the federation is a member, exercising those rights and powers it possesses as a member, as well as the right to appear at any official acts, competitions, committees or bodies, etc. in which the federation may participate or have a presence. g) To represent the federation before any individuals or bodies corporate, whether of a public or private nature, in relationships of an institutional or legal kind, whether of a public or private nature, as well as in legal action or outside of this. h) To execute agreements and contracts of whatsoever kind with individuals or bodies corporate and, in particular, agreements for co-operation, sponsorship and whatsoever other agreements of a similar kind with individuals or bodies corporate, whether of a public or private nature, exercising the powers necessary for ensuring their fulfilment and, in particular, to dedicate the resulting funds to the specific purposes for which they have been granted. i) To accept donations, inheritances and legacies, with or without encumbrances, to request and accept subsidies from whatsoever individuals or bodies corporate, exercising the powers necessary for ensuring that the assets received are devoted to the purposes established by the grantors. j) To have custody over, preserve and administer the assets of the federation and to exercise the rights deriving from these. k) To decide the execution of any acts or agreements of administration, purchase, acquisition, disposal, transfer and lien, in the same terms established for the Executive Board in Article XII.3 e) of the Statutes, with the quantitative limits per operation which may be established, where appropriate, by the Executive Board. l) To take receipt of the income of the federation, to authorise federation expenses and to issue payment orders, without prejudice to the powers which, regarding the funds entrusted for management, may be the responsibility of other officers. m) To employ, dismiss and manage personnel, whether of a professional or any other kind, in the employ of the federation, deciding their salaries and fees and, generally, to manage and direct the different services and departments of the federation. o) To grant general or special powers of attorney to any individual or body corporate. p) All other functions that may be established in the Statutes or in these Internal Regime Regulations and those which, as appropriate, may be expressly invested in him by the General Assembly, the Executive Board or the Management Committee. Article 22 The Vice-President shall substitute the President in the event of his absence, incapacity or removal from office, and shall also exercise those functions expressly delegated to him by the President. In event of replacement of the President for reasons of removal from office, the Vice-President shall assume the functions of President until such time as the General Assembly elects, at its first meeting, the person to replace him. Article 23 The General Secretary shall exercise the following functions: a) to draw up the Minutes of the meetings of the General Assembly, the Executive Board and the Management Committee and to send out a copy to all the member countries. b) to issue, with the approval of the President, the attestations of the decisions adopted by the Assembly, the Executive Board and the Management Committee. c) to take responsibility for the custody and keeping of the official Minutes book and Register of Members of the Federation. d) all other functions which may fall to him by virtue of the Statutes and these Regulations and those which the President may expressly delegate to him. Article 24 The Treasurer shall exercise the following functions: a) To collect and take receipt of the annual subscription fees of the Members with Full Rights. b) To manage and administer under the direction of the President the central fund of IBSA, taking receipt of the income allocated to it, assigning to the Continental Delegations the amounts allocated to finance their activities and carrying out all other payments chargeable against it, requiring authorisation from the President for those payments in excess of the amount which may be established from time to time by the Assembly, the Executive Board or the Management Committee. c) To keep the accounts of the IBSA central fund, and be responsible for safeguarding their supporting documents. d) To assist the Treasurers of the Continental Delegations in the discharge of their duties. e) To draw up the preliminary plan for the Revenue and Expenditure Budget of the Central Fund, the annual and four-yearly accounts and the financial report of the federation. f) To exercise all other functions established in the statutes, the Internal Regime Regulations and those expressly delegated to him by the President. TITLE III - CONCERNING THE CONTINENTAL DELEGATIONS Article 25 In order to best achieve the aims of the federation, five Continental Delegations are established (Africa, America, Asia, Europe and Oceania) which cover, each one of them, the territories of the different continents and to which the Members with Full Rights corresponding to the countries included within their territory are assigned. The Executive Board may, however, at the request of an interested Member with Full Rights, change his assignment to the Continental Delegation which he requests, when there are organisational or other reasons justifying this. Article 26 The Continental Delegations do not have legal personality of their own, and are set up as decentralised IBSA bodies which exercise, through delegation of the Executive Board and its President and under their direction and control, the functions established in these Regulations. Article 27 It is the function of the Continental Delegations to develop the aims and functions of the federation within their respective territories, in accordance with Executive Board guidelines and decisions and in accordance with the leadership and coordination functions undertaken by the President. Article 28 At the head of each Delegation there will be a Chairperson elected by the General Assembly at the proposal of the members comprising the Delegation. The chairpersons shall form part of the Executive Board of IBSA. Article 29 The functions of the Chairperson are as follows: a) To issue call to meetings and preside over the meetings of the Management Committee of the Continental Delegation, to lead its debates and voting procedures and to resolve all procedural matters which may arise within the committee. b) To prepare the work to be undertaken by the Regional Management Committee and to execute all decisions adopted by it, all of this without prejudice to the possible granting of general or special powers to whatsoever person. c) To represent IBSA in the regional sports organisations which the Executive Board may decide to join, as well as in those acts and bodies or associations with local or regional scope or significance which IBSA is invited to attend and for which the President of IBSA has expressly delegated him to act as representative. d) All other functions that are expressly conferred upon him. Article 30 The Regional Management Committee is the official governing and administrative organ of the Delegation and is composed of the Chairperson, the Regional Treasurer, the Regional Secretary, the Technical Adviser and the Ophthalmologist. The Regional Management Committee shall have, amongst others, the following powers: a) To establish and approve the programmes and lines of action of the Delegation and to adopt the most appropriate decisions for the execution of the functions assigned to the Delegation. b) To approve the annual budget project of the Delegation, the projects for extraordinary budgets and the management report and accounts of the Delegation. c) To approve the project regarding the personnel and organisational chart of the Delegation, which must be submitted for approval by the Management Committee of the federation. d) To manage and administer the assets and resources assigned to the Delegation, and authorise payments up to the limit established in the federation budget. e) To agree the creation of commissions or committees to study, prepare and advise the Regional Management Committee on matters falling within the scope of its responsibility. f) All other functions which may be expressly conferred on it by these Regulations or which may be delegated to it by the management bodies of the federation. Article 31 The functioning of the Regional Management Committee shall conform to the rules laid down in the Statutes and in these Regulations and which order the functioning of the Management Committee of the federation, with those modifications deriving from the stipulations of this Title. Article 32 In the event of absence, illness or removal from office of the Continental Chairperson, up until such time, in this last instance, as a new Chairperson is appointed by the Executive Board in accordance with the procedure established in these Regulations, his functions shall be assumed by the member of the Regional Management Committee established for this purpose by the Management Committee of the federation. Article 33 The Regional Treasurer shall be appointed by the Executive Board, at the proposal of the Continental Chairperson, after due study of the proposals put forward by the federation members with full rights who are assigned to the corresponding Delegation and in agreement with the Treasurer. The functions of the Regional Treasurer shall be as follows: a) To manage and administer the funds assigned to the Continental Delegation, taking receipt of the corresponding revenue, depositing them in the corresponding bank account and performing the usual banking operations, including the making of payments which have duly been authorised by the Regional Management Committee or, where appropriate, by the President of the federation. b) To keep the accounts related to the funds assigned to the Continental Delegation, and be responsible for safeguarding their supporting documents. c) To draw up the preliminary plan for the Revenue and Expenditure Budget, the annual accounts and the financial report of the Delegation. d) To exercise all other functions established in the Statutes, the Internal Regime Regulations and those expressly delegated to him by the Regional Management Committee. Article 34 The Regional Secretary shall be appointed by the Executive Board, at the proposal of the Continental Chairperson, after due study of the proposals put forward by the federation members with full rights assigned to the corresponding Delegation and in agreement with the Secretary General. The functions of the Regional Secretary shall be as follows: a) To draw up the Minutes of the Regional Management Committee meetings and to keep and control the corresponding minutes book. b) To issue, with the approval of the Chairperson, the attestations of all decisions adopted. c) All other functions which may be conferred upon him. Article 35 The Technical Adviser shall be appointed by the Executive Board, at the proposal of the Continental Chairperson, after due study of the proposals put forward by the federation members with full rights assigned to the corresponding Delegation and in agreement with the Sports Director. Article 36  The Ophthalmologist shall be appointed by the Executive Board, at the proposal of the Continental Chairperson, after due study of the proposals put forward by the federation members with full rights assigned to the corresponding Delegation and in agreement with the Medical Director. Article 37 The term of office of members of the Regional Management Committee shall commence with their election and shall terminate at the moment when the Executive Board is renewed at the ordinary assembly of the federation. The Continental Chairperson and members of the Regional Management Committee shall leave their posts for those other reasons established for Executive Board members in these Regulations and the Executive Board may, where appropriate, proceed to appoint a replacement for the period remaining to run in such term of office. TITLE IV - TECHNICAL BODIES Chapter One - The Sports Technical Committee Article 38 The Sports Technical Committee is the body that furnishes the Executive Board with technical and sports advice, its functions being as follows: 1. To draw up the technical regulations governing sports for the blind on a world-wide scale, which shall be approved by the Executive Board. 2. To determine the qualifications and suitability required of specialists, trainers, judges and referees in the field of sports for the blind and the system concerning recognition of diplomas issued by legally-recognised training centres, establishing a uniform system of suitability applicable to all its members. 3. To express opinions and inform of Sports Projects and Programmes, creating, where necessary, ad-hoc sub-committees for the development of matters concerning sport, youth and women. 4. To issue reports concerning all competitions attended by a representation of blind sportsmen. 5. To draw up the international sporting calendar for competitions in which blind sportsmen are to participate, which shall be approved by the Executive Board or its Management Committee. 6. To draw up the international calendar for courses, seminars, activities and sports development programmes which lead to the diffusion of sport, which shall be approved by the Executive Board or the Management Committee. 7. To propose the criteria applicable for participation and classification in Regional, World Championships and Paralympic Games in which blind sportsmen participate. 8. To propose and organise courses for Instructors, Trainers, Judges and Referees of sports for blind and partially sighted persons, which allow them to obtain an internationally-recognised license. 9. To carry and keep updated the book of records, best results and, generally, all statistics concerning participation of blind athletes in international competitions. 10. To advise, when requested, upon matters concerning the purchase of sports equipment and the design of sports facilities. 11. To study the standardisation of sports materials and submit proposals concerning this to the Executive Board. 12. To prepare didactic material for the teaching of sports to blind persons. 13. To collaborate and advise in the organisation of Championships, whenever requested to do so by the Executive Board. 14. To make recommendations to the Executive Board concerning the possible inclusion of new types of sport. 15. Whatsoever other functions the Executive Board may entrust to it. Article 39 The Sports Technical Committee shall comprise the Sports Director, who presides over it, the Chairman of each Sports Subcommittee, a representative of the Medical Committee, two representatives of the athletes and one member responsible for entering records in the register. Article 40 The Chairman of each Sports Subcommittee shall be appointed by the Executive Board at the proposal of the Sports Director, after due examination of the nominations submitted by the different Members with Full Rights. The representatives of the athletes and the member responsible for registering records shall, equally, be appointed by the Executive Board, at the proposal of the Sports Director, after due examination of the proposals put forward by Members with Full Rights. The medical representative shall be appointed by the Executive Board, at the proposal of the Medical Committee, after due examination of the proposals put forward by Members with Full Rights. Members with Full Rights who present the nominations which are finally appointed shall take responsibility for all expenses which may be incurred in the execution of their functions and which are not covered by the IBSA central fund budget or by any other funds provided by another person or institution. Article 41 The Sports Director is responsible for calling meetings of the Sports Technical Committee, for presiding over its meetings and for leading the debates, resolving all procedural matters that may arise thereat. The Sports Director is also the official representative of the Sports Technical Committee and ensures that all decisions adopted are executed. Article 42 The Sports Technical Committee shall appoint a Deputy Sports Director to substitute the Sports Director in the event of his absence, illness or removal from office, until such time as, in this last instance, a replacement is appointed by the Executive Board. In the event that the Chairman of the Sports Technical Committee and/or his deputy is unable to attend a meeting of IBSA at which representation is permitted, a meeting of IPC or any other, or an act to which he has been invited, then the Sports Technical Committee may appoint one of its members to represent it at such events. The Sports Technical Committee shall be able to appoint any person useful for its good running. The number of persons shall not exceed three (3). They shall be part of the Sports Technical Committee and shall have the right to speak and the right to vote. Article 43 The Sports Technical Committee shall appoint a person to be responsible for drawing up the minutes of the Sports Technical Committee meetings. Article 44 The Executive Board, at the proposal of the Sports Technical Committee, may agree the creation of specialised Technical Subcommittees for the different sports, which shall collaborate with the Sports Technical Committee in the exercise of its functions and provide advice on questions related to their specific sport. Technical Subcommittees shall comprise a Chairman and a minimum of four members, who shall represent the different continents in which the sport is practised, wherever this is possible. Members shall be appointed by the Sports Technical Committee, at the proposal of the Sports Director, after due examination of the nominations submitted by the Members with Full Rights. The results of such elections shall be confirmed by the Executive Board, at the proposal of the Sports Director. Members with Full Rights who present the nominations for membership that are finally elected shall take responsibility for all expenses incurred in the execution of their functions and which are not covered by the IBSA central fund budget or by funds received from any other person or institution. Article 45 The Technical Subcommittees shall appoint the persons who are to occupy the posts of Vice-Chairman, such appointment to be made from among their Members, and a person to be responsible for drawing up the minutes who shall, respectively, undertake the functions envisaged in Articles 42 and 43 of these Regulations. Article 46 The term of office of ordinary Members of the Sports Technical Committee and the Subcommittees shall commence at the moment of their election and shall terminate when the Executive Board is renewed at the Ordinary meeting of the General Assembly. Their term of office may terminate for the following reasons: a) Death. b) Voluntary resignation which has been accepted by the Sports Technical Committee. c) Decision adopted by the Executive Board, at the proposal of the Sports Director. d) Disqualification from exercising official posts in the federation as the result of sanction. It is the duty of the Executive Board, at the proposal of the Sports Director or the Medical Committee where appropriate, to proceed to the appointment of a replacement who shall fulfil the duties of his office for the period of time remaining to run in the term of office vacated. Article 47 The Sports Technical Committee and Sports Subcommittees shall abide by the following rules: 1. The Sports Technical Committee and Sports Subcommittees shall meet as many times as they are called by their Chairman, either on his own initiative or at the request of two thirds of their Members and, at least, once a year. In the case of Sports Subcommittees, when the World Championships and Paralympic Games are held, the annual meeting shall coincide with the holding of these events and all IBSA Members shall be invited to attend. At such meeting the Subcommittee must: a) Report on the development of sport during the time that has elapsed between this and the last annual meeting. b) Discuss the rules and Regulations and propose possible reforms for future study and debate by the Sports Technical Committee. c) Discuss the sporting calendar for the next two years, for which the Sports Technical Committee shall put forward whatever proposals it considers appropriate. 2. Call to meeting shall be sent in writing to all its members two months prior to the date envisaged for such meeting, except when for reasons of urgency less prior notice is preferable, indicating the agenda to be discussed. However, the meeting shall be deemed legally convened when all members present agree to the holding of such meeting in order to discuss the agenda which they may decide upon. 3. Attendance at meetings is compulsory, and attendance by proxy shall not be accepted. 4. The Sports Technical Committee and Sports Subcommittees may hold meeting and adopt legally valid decisions when at least one third of their members attend such meeting. 5. All decisions shall be approved by simple majority of the votes of the members present at the meetings. The Chairman shall have a casting vote which shall resolve any tie which may arise. 6. The committee and subcommittees may meet in plenary session or in commissions in order to study and prepare the matters which are the responsibility of the plenary session or Management Commission for the transaction and resolution of those matters for which they are responsible. It shall be the duty of the Chairman to agree the creation of such commissions and to appoint, from among the members of the committee or subcommittee, those persons who shall form part of same. 7. The Chairman may invite those persons he deems appropriate to attend, with right to speak but without voting powers, the meetings of the Sports Technical Committee or Subcommittees. 8. Members of the Sports Technical Committee may attend meetings of the Technical Subcommittee with the right to speak but without voting powers. 9. Minutes shall be drawn up for all meetings held by the Sports Technical Committee and Subcommittees and shall contain details of all matters discussed and all decisions adopted. The minutes shall be drawn up by the person responsible for this and shall be sent to all Members of the body within a period of no more than 4 weeks as from the date of holding of each meeting. The minutes shall be deemed approved if, within the period of 6 weeks from being sent out, no person attending such meeting has raised any objection to their contents. When the minutes of Sports Subcommittee meetings have been approved, they shall be sent to the Sports Director after due signature by the Chairman and the person responsible for drawing them up. When the minutes of Sports Technical Committee meetings have been approved, they shall be sent to the General Secretary and to the President after due signature by the Chairman and the person responsible for drawing them up. 10. The Chairman may, when reasons of urgency so advise, agree to the adoption of decisions by postal vote and shall, in such circumstances, apply the rulings envisaged in Article 21 of these Regulations. Chapter Two - The Medical Committee Article 48 The functions of the Medical Committee shall be as follows: - To analyse, in close collaboration with the Sports Director, the risks involved in practising each type of sport, advising on those which are most accessible to blind persons. - To establish the ophthalmologic classification of the sportsmen. - To draw up plans for keeping a medical check on the sportsmen, in co-ordination with the national federations. - To investigate and make improvements, in collaboration with the Sports Director, on safety measures applied to sport. - To organise and promote seminars, conventions, courses and meetings concerning medical care in sports activities for blind and partially sighted persons. - To draw up and publish manuals and brochures on medical care in the field of sport, duly approved by the Executive Board of IBSA. - To perform drug tests at all official championships that are organised, besides performing follow-up of proceedings initiated by the corresponding national federations in the event of tests proving positive. - To keep a database containing details of the permanent classifications of the sportsmen. The continental ophthalmologists will transmit to the Medical Director the results of the classifications of the regional championships. - All other functions that are entrusted to it by the Executive Board. Article 49 The Medical Committee shall comprise the Medical Director, two specialists in testing for drugs, two specialists in the field of medical care in sports activities and five ophthalmologists representing each one of the continental delegations, appointed by the Executive Board, at the proposal of the Medical Director, after due examination of the nominations submitted by the different Members with Full Rights. Members with Full Rights submitting the nomination of members who are finally appointed shall take responsibility for any expenses they may incur in the exercise of their functions and which are not covered by the IBSA central fund budget or by funds provided by any other person or institution. Optometrists will be allowed to perform classifications under the control of the ophthalmologists of the Medical Committee. Article 50 Articles 41, 42, 43, 46 and 47 of these Regulations shall, together with the pertinent adaptations, apply to the Medical Committee. TITLE V - FINANCIAL REGIME Article 51 The resources of the federation are derived from the ordinary subscription fees paid by its members, from donations, from inheritances or legacies that have been duly accepted, from contributions, aid and subsidies given by public or private individuals or bodies; from the income derived, whether directly or indirectly, from the organisation and holding of sporting events and from all other activities which may be performed in a parallel manner in relation to the activities developed by the federation in due fulfilment of its aims and purposes, and from the income or profits obtained from its patrimony. Article 52 The money and other financial assets that comprise the patrimony of IBSA shall be deposited in bank accounts, and in the case of all other assets forming part of such patrimony the most suitable measures for their preservation, administration and profitability shall be adopted. The power to agree the opening of current accounts in the name of IBSA is the responsibility of the Executive Board, the Management Committee and the President. The opening of bank accounts by any other body or authority of IBSA shall require the prior consent of the President who shall, equally, be responsible for authorising the regime for the functioning and availability of the account and who shall be sent detailed information concerning its movements with the regularity and frequency which shall be determined. Article 53 For the purposes of handling the ordinary financial management of the federation, the central fund of IBSA is constituted and provided with the income received from Member subscription fee payments, capitation fees received for participation in championships approved by IBSA and other ordinary sources of income or those deriving from the ordinary activity of the federation. All expenses incurred by the central bodies of the federation and which are determined by the General Assembly or the Executive Board are chargeable against the aforesaid central fund, as are those monies assigned to the Continental Delegations. Article 54 The financial management of the IBSA central fund shall conform to the regime established for the Annual Budget, in such a way that only those funds with which it has been endowed may be applied under the headings expressly indicated in the Annual Budget and in the amount authorised therein. Article 55 The budget for the central fund shall be drawn up by the Treasurer of the federation, assisted by the President, and shall take into account the preliminary budget plans which have been drawn up respectively by the Continental Delegations. The Budget shall be approved by the Executive Board before 31 December of each year. Article 56 All amounts allocated in the Budget of the Central Fund shall be of a limiting nature, both regarding amount and purpose. The President may, however, authorise transfers, increases or other modifications of the credit entries allocated in the Budget. If there should be any expense which cannot be settled with the funds that have been duly allocated in the Central Fund Budget, then an Extraordinary Budget shall be submitted for approval by the Executive Board. Article 57 The President has the exclusive power to accept subsidies from whatsoever public or private bodies, as well as donations, inheritances or legacies, with or without lien, from whatsoever individuals or bodies corporate, and also to decide the use to which such funds are to be put which shall, in all cases, respect the wishes of the grantor. Any request for subsidies, offer of donation or appointment as beneficiary of inheritances or legacies, must be presented to the President for his acceptance. The management of these funds shall be the responsibility of the body designated by the President to receive them, and such managing body shall give a detailed report concerning the management of the funds and shall provide the President with whatever information and documents he may request. Article 58 The President assumes the direction and control of the financial management of the federation. By virtue of the foregoing, the functions of the President are as follows: a) To authorise expenses and issue orders for payments chargeable against the IBSA Central Fund for all amounts in excess of those established for the scope of authority of the Treasurer. b) To authorise expenses and issue orders for payments related to the Regional Delegations, whether financed by the Central Fund or by other funds, when the amount exceeds that established in the Annual Budget or in the allocation agreement. c) To authorise expenses and assume those obligations whose effects extend beyond the period of one fiscal year. d) To authorise expenses and issue orders for payments chargeable against funds that do not form part of the Central Fund or whose management and disposal is of a reserved nature either by decision adopted by the Executive Board or because this is the wish of the grantor or donor of same. e) To assume the ordinary control of financial management, for which purpose he shall have the highest possible powers to claim whatever information he may require concerning the performance of the different bodies of the federation, besides powers to inspect and subject to audit, either personally or through the medium of the persons he may appoint, the performance and financial documents of such bodies. At all events, and within the three months following the close of the fiscal year, the Treasurer and other bodies responsible for the management of any fund of which IBSA is title holder shall send to the President the annual accounts and a financial report, duly audited by an independent expert if the President has so required. Article 59 The Executive Board shall approve the accounts of the IBSA Central Fund, which shall be contained in the Operating Statement relating to the management of the Fund and in the Balance Sheet of the Fund as at 31 December. TITLE VI - CONCERNING CHAMPIONSHIPS Article 60 Official IBSA Championships are: World Championships, Continental Championships or Games and the International Cups or Tournaments included in the sporting calendar of IBSA with this official status. The holding of Official IBSA Championships shall conform to the sporting calendar that is established by the Executive Board, at the proposal of the Sports Technical Committee, and shall be organised by the Member with Full Rights who has expressly been granted this right by the competent bodies of the federation in accordance with the rules and procedures established in these Regulations. Article 61 Official Championships are the exclusive property of IBSA, which holds all the rights deriving from their organisation and holding and, in particular, those relating to their exploitation, diffusion and reproduction by any means whatsoever. The entry registration of organisations, athletes and all other participants shall imply express acceptance of IBSA ownership and the exclusive transfer to this body, together with the power to transfer to third parties, of whatsoever filming or photographic rights, commercialisation and exploitation in general that may belong to them in connection with their participation in the championships, events and acts comprising these. Article 62 The organisation and holding of Official Championships and other events approved by IBSA shall necessarily conform to the following minimum rules, without prejudice to the additional conditions which may be established in the corresponding organisation contract or approval agreement: a) All the different types of sports included in the corresponding championships shall conform to the International Rules recognised by IBSA, and to all the modifications or amendments made thereto. The Organising Committee shall be responsible for assuring the presence of the judges, referees and official persons required by the applicable international rules and that these possess the necessary professional qualifications and category and that they are familiar with IBSA rules. IBSA reserves the right to appoint the official referees it deems to be suitable. b) The Regulations governing Official Championships and the rules concerning participation and registration in same shall be those which from time to time shall be approved by the Executive Board at the proposal of the Sports Technical Committee. c) The classification rules established by IBSA shall be applied in all championships. d) The Organising Committee shall be responsible before IBSA for ensuring the total adaptation of sports facilities, tracks and courts to the current International Rules or Standards for recognised sports, with all the additions and modifications put forward by IBSA. These rules include all necessary equipment and instruments, time-keeping devices and whatever marking mechanisms are required, besides specifying that the tracks, courts and sports facilities must be easily accessible and in a good state of repair. IBSA shall appoint one or more Technical Delegates to ensure the correct application of the applicable Rules or Standards, whose suggestions and instructions shall be binding upon the Organising Committee. All travel, board and lodging expenses incurred by the Technical Delegates of IBSA shall be paid by the Organising Committee. e) IBSA shall be the only authority empowered to resolve any claims and complaints put forward by the athletes, participants and members in classification, participation, sports and medical matters. IBSA may appoint a specific Appeal Jury for each championship. Article 63 Adjudication of the organisation of Official Championships shall be the responsibility of the Management Committee at the proposal of the Sports Technical Committee and subject to the reports of the Sports Subcommittee/s interested and of the Management Committee of the Continental Delegation if the championships have an equal or lower sphere of action than its territory. Bids for the organisation of the different official championships shall be submitted, in accordance with the Official Sanction Form, to the General Secretary within the period established for each case. Once the selection among the different candidates has been performed, the various obligations of the organising association and the rights granted by IBSA for such organisation shall be stated in a contract which shall be signed by the President of IBSA, or the Executive Board member delegated by him, together with the representative of the organising Member with Full Rights. Article 64 The organisation of non-official championships shall require the interested Member with Full Rights to communicate this to the General Secretary, and shall be authorised by the Management Committee at the proposal of the Sports Technical Committee and subject to the report of the Sports Subcommittee and of the Continental Delegation, depending on the territory in which the holding of such championships is proposed. The request shall be accompanied by documents explaining the characteristics of the competition, both from a sports and organisational viewpoint, and including details of the means at the disposal of the organising committee for its holding. The authorisation decision shall include the financial, technical and sports conditions to which, where appropriate, such competition must adhere. TITLE VII - SPORT DISCIPLINE Article 65 Members with full rights, federation officers and all athletes, trainers, escorts and all other participants in official championships approved by IBSA, are subject to the sports discipline of the federation. Article 66 The exercise of disciplinary authority in the area of sport shall be the responsibility of: a) The judges or referees, during the course of sports meetings or events, subject to the rules established in the stipulations laid down for each kind of sport. b) The bodies of the federation as regards members with full rights, the sportsmen, trainers, escorts and all other participants in official championships and all others that are approved by IBSA. Article 67 The following are disciplinary infringements: a) The breach of sanctions imposed. b) All actions intended to predetermine, by means of monetary payment, intimidation or simple agreements, the outcome of an event or competition. c) The promotion, encouragement to consume, or consumption of substances or pharmacological groups that are prohibited by the federation or the use of any other methods whose purpose is to artificially increase the physical abilities of the sportsmen or to modify the outcome of the competitions. d) The refusal to submit to the controls required by federation bodies and other competent persons or any act or omission which may prevent or disrupt the correct performance of such controls. e) All aggressive and unsportsmanlike behaviour, attitudes and gestures on the part of athletes or players in their dealings with the referees, other players or the public. f) Non-fulfilment of the decisions adopted by the General Assembly, the Executive Board or the President, or the stipulations of these Internal Regime Regulations and all other rules and regulations of the federation. g) The organisation of sport championships and competitions without the mandatory authorisation or contrary to the conditions laid down in the contract or in the approval agreement. h) Acts of public notoriety which are a threat to sporting decorum and dignity. i) Failure to pay the membership fees approved by the General Assembly. j) All other kinds of behaviour which are contrary to the sports rules covering each kind of sport, to any general sports rules established by the federation, and to the federation’s statutes, regulations and agreements as adopted by its different organs in their respective area of competence. Article 68 The committing of an infraction shall determine, according to its degree of seriousness, public significance, recurrence or detriment to the interests of sport for the blind, the imposition of the following sanctions: a) Official warning. b) Public caution. c) Disqualification from holding posts in the federation. d) Suspension from the right to participate in official competitions organised by IBSA or in any other events organised by such body. e) Fines. f) Suspension or expulsion from the federation. g) Dismissal. h) All other sanctions envisaged in the sports rules governing each type of sport. Article 69 Disciplinary authority over the infringement of game or competition rules while these are in progress shall be exercised by the judges and referees of each competition, and the persons subject to disciplinary action may appeal such decisions before the Appeal Committee of the competition, should this exist, or, where appropriate, before the corresponding Sports Subcommittee. The imposition of all other sanctions shall be the responsibility of the Management Committee subject to the opening of proceedings by the President or the officer delegated by him in which the interested party shall be given a hearing in a period of no less than 15 days. The imposition of the sanction of dismissal or suspension or expulsion from the federation shall be the responsibility of the Executive Board. TITLE VIII - SPORTS ARBITRATION Article 70 Members with Full Rights by the mere fact of belonging to the federation, athletes, trainers, escorts and all other participants in official competitions and other events, by the mere fact of having registered their names for the respective competition or event, and the federation officers by the mere fact of having accepted such posts: a) Expressly waive the right to bring before the judges and Courts of whatsoever kind, jurisdiction or nationality any lawsuit or dispute whatsoever which may cause them to confront one another or the federation or its bodies, agents or employees and which derive from the application of the rules contained in the Statutes, in these regulations or in any others which order the functioning of the federation, the organising and holding of championships and events, and the participation in these or in any others of a sports nature. b) Agree that the resolution of such disputes shall be expressly submitted to equity arbitration in accordance with the Spanish legislation relating to arbitration, for which purpose it is established that the arbitration board shall comprise three arbitrators. c) Expressly undertake to comply with the arbitration decision. Transitory Provision The composition and functioning of the different bodies of the federation shall be brought in line with the stipulations envisaged in these Regulations within the maximum period of three months, and the bodies authorised to appoint their members must adopt the appropriate decisions in these respects. Additional Provision The Management Committee and the President of the federation may, within the scope of their respective competencies, adopt whatever rules may be necessary for the appropriate development of these Internal Regime Regulations. Final Provision These Regulations shall take effect after completion of a period of two months from the date of their approval, and as from that moment whatever rules either oppose or contradict the stipulations contained therein shall be annulled. 38 IBSA Internal Regulations English (by-laws)