CONSTITUTION OF

CONSTITUTION OF AN INTERNATIONAL
NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION
THE INTERNATIONAL TABLE HOCKEY FEDERATION

Art. 1: Name and form

1.1 The International Table Hockey Federation is an international non-government organization uniting the associations of table hockey players. The abbreviation ITHF is used for naming the organization throughout this document.

1.2 The members of the ITHF are the table hockey associations from all over the world.

1.3 Table hockey as taken by the ITHF means the table hockey game produced by the STIGA co. (Sweden).

Art. 2: Aims of the ITHF

2.1 To promote table hockey internationally and to take whatever measures are necessary to this end.

2.2 To represent the interests of its members at the international level with regard to the authorities, other sport associations, the mass media and the public, in so far that itis not left up to the members.

2.3 To promote sporting contact between all table hockey players in the world and to organize World Championships and other world tournaments.

2.4 To monitor and ensure keeping of the existing system-specific rules, to develop a set of standard rules, and to draw up an international sporting calendar.

2.5 To fight doping with all means standing to requirement, to accept the WADA-Code together with their members in form of the framework guidelines of the ITHF and to stand up for the fact that any use of doping substances and thus the use of forbidden, performance-increasing means of any kind in the sport is prevented.

Art. 3: Headquarters and Duration

3.1 The Headquarters of the ITHF is Zapadni 3, 323 00 Plzen, the Czech Republic.

Art. 4: Principles

4.1 The ITHF stands for freedom in sport, its voluntary nature, and the community of sport. Members and table hockey players cannot be forced, either by rules or in any other way, to play a different system of table hockey to their chosen one.

4.2 The ITHF makes no distinction of race or religion and is politically neutral.

Art. 5: Membership

Art. 6: Admission regulations for active members

6.2 The admission of active members ensues by written application to the ITHF-Office, containing a legally binding signature. The By-Laws, Charter or Articles of Incorporation of the association have to be enclosed.

6.3 By joining the ITHF an active member accepts the constitution, rules and other decisions made by the ITHF.

6.4 The newly admitted active members have all rights resulting from the constitution immediately after their admission through the Delegates’ Conference.

Art. 7: Right of appeal of active members

7.1 An appeal against refusal of admission or an imposed sanction can be submitted to the Legal Committee within 60 (sixty) days of the announcement.

Art. 8: Termination of active membership

8.1 The membership of an active member expires with resignation, exclusion or disbanding of the national association.

8.2 The resignation of an active member must be passed by its highest executive body. The protocol must be sent in a registered letter to the ITHF-Office within 3 (three) months, informing him of the decision.

8.3 If an active member violates the interests of the Federation, damages its reputation, either internally or externally, or disregards or violates the constitution and rules, sanctions can be taken against the active member concerned by the ITHF Executive Committee. The Delegates’ Conference takes the final decision on the exclusion.

Art. 9: Honorary members

9.1 On the suggestion of the Executive Committee or on application of an active member, the Delegates’ Conference can appoint genuine persons, who have deserved well of the world-wide table hockey sport, as honorary members.

9.2 Honorary members have no voting rights. Otherwise they are treated equal to active members.

Art. 10: Powers and duties

10.1 The Delegates’ Conference is the highest decision-making authority of the ITHF. It determines all questions and issues of a fundamental nature in world-wide international table hockey sport, where this right is not reserved for the members. The Delegates’ Conference lays down the guidelines for the running of the Federation.

10.2 The Delegates’ Conference is authorized amongst other things to carry out the following:

10.2.4 Passing a resolution on the appointment or dissolving of special committees.

10.2.5 Passing of a resolution on motions put forward by the Executive Committee, the Technical Commission or other committees or their members and the auditors, where applicable.

Art. 11: Structure and voting rights

11.1.2 The members of the Executive Committee (without voting rights; they can vote only if they are also the delegates described at 11.1.1).

11.2.1 Each active member with seven or less World Championship players has one vote. Each active member with eight or more players in the World Championship has two votes. The active member’s rights to vote are not transferable. The count of World Championship players is taken from the last held World Championship. If the Delegates’ Conference is held during the World Championship, then the count of World Championship players is taken from the just running World Championship.

11.3 Proof of voting rights: The right to vote of the delegates should preferably be confirmed in writing by the national association of the active member concerned.

Art. 12: Quorum and passing of resolutions

12.1 A Delegates’ Conference, which has been convened in accordance with the rules, always has a quorum.

12.2 Elections held and resolutions passed by the Delegates’ Conference are affected by simple majority, with the exception of such instances as are listed in the rules.

12.4.1 Minutes must be taken of the resolutions passed at the Delegates’ Conference, and signed by both the Executive Committee member responsible for the minutes and by the person taking the minutes. The minutes must be distributed to all members not later than 60 (sixty) days after the conference.

12.4.2 The minutes are regarded as approved, if within 60 (sixty) days after distribution no written objections have been raised. Objections raised will be discussed at the next meeting. Until then the minutes are considered approved only in the points where no objections were raised.

12.5 In the event of questions and matters arising that have to be cleared up without delay, a written vote per e-post is possible. This carries the same force as a resolution passed by the Delegates’ Conference. This type of voting can also be used in the other bodies of the ITHF. (Votes not received on time will be interpreted as endorsement).

Art. 13: Ordinary and Extraordinary Delegates’ Conference

13.1 Ordinary Delegates’ Conferences are held every 2 (two) years, during the World Table Hockey Championship.

13.2 The Executive Committee or at least one third of the active members can arrange or call for an Extraordinary Delegates’ Conference to be convened, as long as there are appropriate and urgent reasons for this.

Art. 14: The act of convening

14.1 In order for an Ordinary Delegates’ Conference to be convened, all members must be informed in writing (or e-writing) and the agenda made known at least 20 (twenty) days before the date of the conference. The Executive Committee member responsible for this convenes the conference. The exact venue and time of the conference can be announced at a later date.

14.2 An Extraordinary Delegates’ Conference can be convened at as little as 15 (fifteen) days notice.

Art. 15: Motions

15.2 Motions must be submitted with an explanation to the ITHF-Office not later than 30 (thirty) days before the Delegates’ Conference is to be held. The General Secretary distributes a compilation of the motions to all members at least 20 (twenty) days before the conference. Motions submitted after the deadline are subject to priority and will only be placed on the agenda if there is a 2/3 (two-third) majority of those present in favour. These deadlines do not apply to motions proposed by the Executive Committee and the Technical Commission.

15.3 In the event of an Extraordinary Delegates’ Conference being convened, the deadline for putting forward motions is reduced to 14 (fourteen) days before the conference.

Art. 16: Structure

Art. 17: Election and length of office

17.1 The Executive Committee members are elected by the Delegates’ Conference for a period of 2 (two) years and can be repeatedly re-elected.

Art. 18: Quorum and the convening of the Executive Committee

18.1 The Executive Committee sits as required or at the request of 4 (four) of its members.

18.3 The shortest period of time in which a meeting can be convened is 15 (fifteen) days.

18.4 A protocol about the decisions taken by presidency has to be produced, signed by a responsible member of presidency and delivered to all members of presidency not later than 60 (sixty) days after presidency session.

Art. 19: Areas of responsibility and duties

19.1 The following areas of responsibility and duties, among others, are allocated to the Executive Committee:

19.1.4 The preparation for the Delegates’ Conference and drawing-up of the agenda.

19.1.5 The implementation of all the resolutions passed at the Delegates’ Conference.

19.1.7 The provisional admission of new members, subject to a formal determination by the next Delegates’ Conference.

19.1.10 The supervision of activities of the special commissions and Technical Commission, but not the Legal Committee.

19.1.13 The imposing of the temporal limited and unlimited bans if there are violations against the prohibition of doping.

19.2 The Executive Committee draws up a programme of functions and duties for its members.

Art. 20: Legal validity

20.1 The statutory body of the ITHF is the Executive Committee. All its members together act in the name of the Executive Committee.

Art. 21: Structure

21.4 And 2 (two) further members who can’t be members of the Executive Committee.

21.5 The Youth Officer, the Ladies Officer and 2 (two) members of the Technical Commission are elected by the Ordinary Delegates’ Conference for a period of 2 (two) years. They must not belong to the same active member, but they can unrestrictedly be re-elected.

Art. 22: Areas of responsibility and duties

22.1 The Technical Commission is an advisory body of the Executive Committee. The Technical Commission can pass resolutions for inviting entries for competitions, which are organized by the ITHF.

22.2 The following are some of the areas of responsibility and duties the Technical Commission is conferred with.

22.2.2 Technical supervision of the World championship and other tournaments organised by the ITHF.

22.2.3 The passing of resolutions on drafts of general rules and regulations in international table hockey for introduction and passing to the Delegates’ Conference and / or the Executive Committee.

22.2.4 The right to propose venues for the World Table Hockey Championship and other competitions organised by the ITHF introduction and passing to the Executive Committee.

Art. 23: The act of convening, quorum and motions

23.1 The Technical Commission convenes on the Internet, whenever important matters arise.

23.2 The Technical Commission is convened by the Sport-director in accordance with Article 14.

23.3 The Technical Commission has a quorum, if at least 4 (four) members are present. Each member has a personal vote that is not transferable.

23.5 Minutes must be taken down on all resolutions passed by the Technical Commission and distributed to all TC-members, the Executive Committee and the active members not later than 60 (sixty) days after passing the resolution. The Executive Committee has the right to raise a protest against the TC decisions within 60 (sixty) days after the distribution of the minutes. In that case the matter must be treated at the following meeting of the TC.

Art. 24: Structure, length of office and elections

24.1 The Legal Committee consists of a chairman, 2 (two) committee members and 2 (two) substitute members who must not be: either members of another body, or represent other active members already present in the committee.

24.2 The members of the Legal Committee are elected by the ordinary Delegates’ Conference for a period of 2 (two) years and they can unrestrictedly be re-elected.

24.3 The members of the Legal Committee can belong neither to another ITHF body nor to the same active member. They can not also be members of national legal bodies.

Art. 25: Areas of competency

Art. 26: Revenue

The ITHF gets the funds necessary for the fulfilment of its duties by the following means among others:

Art. 27: Liability

27.1 The Federation is liable to fulfil its financial commitments from its assets.

Art. 28: Changes in Constitution

28.1 Changes in the ITHF Constitution can only be passed by resolutions of the Delegates' Conference. A two-third majority of those entitled to vote is necessary.

Art. 29: Forfeiture of the Federation

29.1.3 The forfeiture of the Federation can only be passed by resolution in a specially convened Extraordinary Delegates’ Conference. A three-quarter majority of those delegates entitled to vote is necessary.

29.1.4 The winding-up of the ITHF should be executed, as far as the Delegates’ Conference has not appointed others, by the President of the ITHF. After finishing the winding-up, any remaining assets will be made over to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for non-profit-making sporting purposes.

29.1.5 In the case of amalgamation with other sport association, any remaining assets will be brought into the amalgamated federation.

Art. 30: Rules and regulations

30.1 The Delegates’ Conference is responsible for making, changing and repealing of playing rules of table hockey. Such decisions are passed with a simple majority of those present at the Delegates’ Conference.

30.2 The Executive Committee alone is responsible for making, changing and repealing of regulations needed for guarantee the functioning of the ITHF. The Executive Committee can also give directions and make recommendations with this purpose.

Art. 31: Official languages

31.1 The official language of the ITHF is English. The English translation of the Constitution is used at the international level.

Art. 32: Coming into effect

32.1 This Constitution comes into effect by passing at the Delegates’ Conference.