CONSTITUTION

AFRICAN SPORTS CONFEDERATION OF DISABLED

(AFRICAN PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE)

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ARTICLE I NAME AND LANGUAGE

1.1 The name of the organization shall be: -

In English: - AFRICAN SPORTS CONFEDERATION OF DISABLED ((ASCOD))

AFRICAN PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE ((APC))

In Arabic:- الكونفدرالية الإفريقية لرياضات المعاقين

In French: - La confederation Africaine Des Sports Pour Handicape (CASH)

(Comite Paralympique Africaine)

1.2 ASCOD operatesunder international law and is subject to the law of the country of itsheadquarters. It is an independent non governmental organization

1.3 The officiallanguages of ASCOD are English, French and Arabic. In the case of a disputeover the wording of the constitution, the English version prevails.

ARTICLE II EMBLEM AND FLAG

Is the one on the letter head

ARTICLE III OBJECTS AND PRINCIPLES

The objects and principles of ASCOD shall be:-

III.I To co-ordinate and promote the sports for persons with disabilities in Africa.

The disabilities will include locomotion disabilities (wheelchair & ambulant) sensory disabilities (deaf, blind & visually impaired), intelculltual disabilities and cerebral palsy.

The disabled shall include physically disabled, mentally disabled, visually impaired and the deaf.

III.2 To co-ordinate and sanction the Sports Competitions, schedule of (for)

To Change African and regional competitions for athletes with disabilities guaranteeing adherence to the sports technical requirements.

III.3 To seek the integration of sports for athletes with disabilities into the sports movements for able bodied athletes, whilst safeguarding and preserving the identity of sports for disabled athletes.

III.4 To liaise with respect to these objectives and principles of

International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the International Federations for different disability groups which are: -

International Stock Mandievelle Wheelchair Sports Federation (ISMWSF) International Sports Organization Of Disabled (ISOD)

Cerebral Palsy International Sports Recreational Association (CPISRA)

International Sports Federation For intellectual disability (INAS-FID)

Comite International Pour Lees Sort (CISS)

International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA)

And all International Sports Federations and Committees, Supreme Council of

Sports in Africa (SCSA), African National Olympic Committees Organization

(ANOCA), Union Confederations Des Sports African (UCSA).

III.5 To promote sports for athletes with disabilities without discrimination for political, religious, economic, sex or racial reasons.

III.6 To seek expansion of the opportunities for persons with disabilities to participate in sports and of their access to training programs designed to improve their proficiency.

III.7 To assist the development and organization of newly National Member

Federations, and to contribute and help in the creation, organization and the promotion of federations in the African countries in which sports for disabled have not yet started.

III.8 To promote and support training of technical, medical and administrative managers, referees and officials.

III.9 To promote sports for disabled persons within educational institutions

III.10 To have the exclusive right to commercialize the events subject to its sanction especially through the commercialization of the advertising and marketing rights, the sole television signal rights and other rights in the field of electronics, as well as all the rights to printing and publication, all such rights are subjects to the overall sanction & approval of IPC according to IPC rules.

III.11 To adopt articles, regulations and official rules for the practice of sport for disable persons in accordance with the IPC and international sports federation rules.

III.12 To contribute to the development of and strengthening of friendly relations and understanding between persons with disabilities in Africa.

III.13 To do all necessary and convenient steps to achieve any of these objects and principles including the development of byelaws, regulations & rules.

III.14 To organize African & multi disability African Games and Championships at national and zonal levels ASCOD being the only African organization with the right to do that.

ARTICLE IV MEMBERSHIP

IV.I Their will be two categories of membership :-

a- Full member b- Associate member

IV.I.I Full members

IV.2.1.1 All the African countries who are members in IPC are members in ASCOD and ASCOD follows the criteria for membership applied in IPC.

IV.2. Associate Members

IV.2.1 Are those countries who can not meet the Criteria of full membership as described in IV.1 and if there is no organization registered and certified by the governing body for sports in the country, or a newly applied members which were only certified by the executive committee.

IV.2.2 Associate members shall have neither voting nor nominating, right to participate in meeting and sports activities and competitions organized or sanctioned by ASCOD.

IV.2.3 All categories of membership may be approved by the general assembly on the recommendation of executive committee.

ARTICLE V RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OFMEMBERS

V.1 Full members of ASCOD shall have the right, subject to this constitution and the byelaws and decisions of ASCOD: -

A- Enter their athletes in all competitions sanctioned by ASCOD.

B- Vote at meetings of the General Assembly at which they are present.

C- Nominate persons for ASCOD executive committee or any other committees.

D- Participate in all activities of ASCOD.

V.2 All members of ASCOD shall pay the annual membership fees or any levies to ASCOD provided that no administration fund from IPC paid to ASCOD, during the first ninety- (90) days of applicable fiscal years.

V.3 A member shall only be permitted to exercise its entry, voting, nominating and participation rights if the annual membership fee and any outstanding levies have been paid and received in accordance with Article V.2.

ARTICLE VI ADMISSION , SUSPENSION &EXPULSION OF MEMBERS

VI.1 Every admission or expulsion shall be decided by the General Assembly on recommendation of the Executive Committee .

VI.2 A suspension may be determined by the Executive Committee, which may lift the suspension when reasons for the suspension no longer apply.

VI.3 A member may be suspended for: -

VI.3.1 Violation of the principles or terms of this constitution.

VI.3.2 Non-payment of the annual membership fee or any other financial dues, obligations or debts.

VI.4 A member under suspension loses all rights and privileges of membership. In particular a suspended member shall not be entitled to attend or vote at the General Assembly or enter athletes in competitions sanctioned by ASCOD .

VI.5 If a period of suspension is still continuing when the General Assembly meets, the Executive Committee shall submit the suspension for the approval of the General Assembly. No decisions of the General Assembly will affect the validity of the suspension prior to its decision .

VI.6 If a member is suspended for more that 2 years, the membership will be terminated. Any subsequent application for re-admission will be treated as a new application . Provided that a clear decision is given by the Executive Committee and confirmed by the General Assembly .

ARTICLE VII STRUCTURE

ASCOD shall consist of :-

VII.1 The General Assembly

VII.1.1 The General Assembly shall meet at least once every two- (2) years.

The date and place are decided upon during the previous general assembly .

If the meeting of the general assembly cannot be held at the set date and place or the general assembly did not decide , then the executive committee can have the authority to choose the country and the date of the meeting of the general assembly . If this fails too , then it is up to the president and one vice president to take the decision and authority to decide upon the date and place .

VII.1.2 The executive committee or when at least one third (1/3) of the entitled votes i.e. full members may invoke either an extraordinary general assembly. This assembly is to be called to meet within four months after receiving the request . Decisions of the extraordinary general assembly to be valid have to be voted upon by at least two thirds of the participating members of ASCOD in this particular general assembly .

VII.1.3 Full members who shall each have one (1) vote shall exercise voting rights at the general assembly. Decisions in ordinary general assembly pass by simple majority from member present unless otherwise specified .

VII.1.4 The General Assembly shall: -

(1) Act as the supreme governing body of ASCOD and decide any matter relevant to ASCOD.

(2) Determine the policy for, and set fundamental directions for the developments of sports for athletes with disabilities.

(3) To discuss and approve the report of the President.

(4) To discuss and approve the report of the Treasurer.

(5) Consider and approve the report of the Secretary General.

(6) Consider and approve the budget of ASCOD, presented by Treasurer.

(7) Adopt the report of the audit committee on the financial statements for the two financial years preceding the General Assembly.

(8) To nominate honorary members who will be personalities having rendered great services to the African disabled sports movements or retiring executive members.

(9) To approve and admit full members, suspend or exclude members.

(10) Consider motions from full member,s .The following rules shall apply to

such motions: -

(i) They shall be submitted in writing not less than three (3) months before

the General Assembly

(ii) The Executive Committee shall first consider all motions for the

General Assembly.

(iii) The motion, amendments, where the Executive Committee has, its recommendation or observations shall be dispatched to members with the Agenda of the General Assembly not less than two (2) months before the

Assembly is due to meet.

(iv) Motions shall be decided by a simple majority of voting delegates present at the voting.

(v) Not with standing the foregoing, an emergency motion may be considered by the General Assembly. The President , or the person occupying the chair at the relevant time , shall rule whether a motion is an emergency motion , which is not to include a motion to amend this constitution .

(vi) If this ruling is challenged, the matter shall be put to a vote. There shall be permitted , in the discretion of the President or person occupying the chair , one speaker for and one speaker against the motion that the ruling be upheld . The matter may proceed if at least two thirds (2/3) of the delegates vote in favor .

(12) Adopt a biennial action plan.

(13) Consider the sports calendar proposed by the Executive Committee.

(14) Consider and approve the annual affiliation fee.

(15) Approve or decide any change in the country of location of ASCOD headquarters.

(16) Consider and approve the rules of procedure for the election of the office bearers.

(17) In the General Assembly following the Paralympics, elect the President, three Vice Presidents, Secretary General, treasurer, and seven Zone Chairmen.

(18) To solve unforeseen cases and rules in the constitution.

(19) To appoint an audit committee that will conduct an annual audit

(20) Agree the venue and date of the next General Assembly.

VII.2 The ExecutiveCommittee

VII.2.1 The Executive Committee shall consist of the following members elected by the General Assembly who are the office bearers: -

- President

- Three (3) Vice President

- Secretary General

- Treasurer

- Seven (7) zone chairpersons

- Athlete representative

VII.2.2 The members of the executive committee shall hold office for a period of four (4) years. Re-election for further periods should be allowed

VII.2.3 The executive committee shall hold at least two- (2) meeting per year in accordance with the procedures laid dawn in the byelaws. Notice of meetings shall be issued at least two (2) months before the meeting by secretary general who shall establish the Agenda in consultation with the President or one Vice President . Detailed Agenda papers shall be dispatched by the secretary general to committee members at least one (1) month prior to the meeting.

VII.2.4 Any member of the Executive Committee is absent without excuse for

two successive meeting is automatically dropped from the membership without

substitute till the following general assembly.

VII.2.5 Members of executive committee are allowed to nominate themselves directly for re-election in any further periods, but candidates who have never been in the executive committee before should be nominated from their national federations.

VII.2.6 The Executive committee shall have the following functions: -

(a) To initiate studies and implement the policy as fixed by the General Assembly.

(b) Consider and make recommendations on all proposals and amendments, other than emergency motions, submitted to the General Assembly.

(c) Establish its own rules of procedures and byelaws.

(d) Determine and dispatch to the members the Agenda for the General Assembly, not later than two (2) months prior to the meeting.

(e) Submit biennial reports to the General Assembly, taking into account the resolutions and determinations of the General Assembly.

(f) Approve procedures for sanctioning international multi-disability events within Africa.

(g) Approve the calendar for all sanctioned sports events for submission to the General Assembly

(h) Prepare the final budget for submission to the General Assembly.

(i) Endeavor to resolve disputes between members.

(j) Monitor all sanctioned events to ensure that they comply with the established rules and contracts.

(k) Conduct the affairs of ASCOD between meetings of the General Assembly, including filling casual vacancies in the office bearers and members of the Standing Committees.

(L) Be responsible, for relations with the Supreme Council for sport in Africa and Union de Confederations Sportives Africaine as well as other bodies deemed necessary to further the objects and principles of ASCOD.

(m) Elect members to represent ASCOD in IPC and all international sports federations or organizations of disabled & these members have to report back to ASCOD for their meeting attendance and their missions.

(n) Fix or approve the number and conditions of employment of the staff of the secretariat, approve the appointment of such staff, and have the right to dismiss any member of the secretariat.

VII.4 The President

- Chairs all meeting or general assembly, executive committee & and any other meetings he is president at.

- Represent ASCOD in all international organizations .

VII.5 Secretary General

(a) He is chief executive officer

(b) Responsible for coordinating protocol matters

(c) Responsible for the overall monitoring, supervision and management of

the secretariat

(d) Ensure that minutes, records and ASCOD of the organization are,

completed, distributed and maintained

(e) Oversee all administrative functions of the organization

(f) The Secretary General shall carry out such other duties as the

President, executive & council determine.

(g) The secretary general shall keep due minutes and records of the deliberations and decisions of the general assembly, the executive committee, the standing committees and any ad hoc Committees. The books of account shall be entrusted to the secretariat for the archives. The Secretary General.

Shall carry out such other duties as the President and the Executive Committee determines.

(h) Facilitate internal communications, relations & liaison with member organization.

VII.6 Treasurer

- Develop the organization,s budget and financial plan for approval.

- Ensure that proper financial management systems are in place.

- Ensure that proper financial records and reports are produced and made available to the executive committee & council.

- Manage the general finances of ASCOD including solidarity & development funding.

- To open an account in one of Banks at the headquarter & he signs the checks with President.

ARTICLE VIII ELECTION & VOTING AT GENERAL ASSEMBLY

VIII.1 A general assembly shall have a quorum when at least one quarter (1/4) of the full members entitled to vote are present, if not then the meeting will postponed for one day & to be held with these members nations

present.

VIII.2 The delegates are required to have a written mandate from their federation conforming that they are permitted to speak and vote on behalf of the federation.

VIII.3 Delegates must be citizens of the country they represent.

VIII.4 All resolutions including the admission of members shall be determined by a simple majority of votes of delegates present and voting, except in the case of expulsions and constitutional amendments where two-thirds (2/3) majority of such votes shall be required.

VIII.5 Elections shall be conducted by secret ballot. Other voting shall be secret ballot, also if requested by one member, voting is by simple majority of the members present and entitled to vote.

VIII.6 Voting by proxy shall not be permitted.

VIII.7 Voting procedures are laid down in the By-Laws.

VIII.8 The procedures for voting and elections shall be prescribed in the byelaws.

VIII.9 For the purpose of calculating whether an appropriate majority has been obtained in any vote, an abstention or absence shall not be treated as a vote.

ARTICLE IX FINANCES

IX.1 The assets of the ASCOD shall consist of the following: -

IX.1.1 Annual membership fees of members decided upon by the general

assembly.

IX.1.2 Such contributions, legal grants and other income as may be received

for use by or in connection with ASCOD.

IX.2 The fiscal year of ASCOD is from January 1 to 31 December.

IX.3 The audit committee shall conduct an annual audit of the books and

account of ASCOD and report thereon to the executive committee within three

months after the end of fiscal.

IX.4 Annual dues are payable during the first 90 days of the fiscal year

they apply to. If not paid the executive committee can decide sanctions.

N.B. This constitution revised and approved by General Assembly committee meeting held in Cairo Egypt on 2nd of December 2001.

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