Place: Corinthia Towers, Prague, Czech Republic
Present: Eriksson, Tomas President
Jonsson, Tomas
Gilardi, Thomas
Jansson, Per
Kauppinen, Risto
Liljelund, John
Orlando, Renato
Vaculik, Martin
Kratz, Stefan Secretary General
Wester, Axel Marketing Director
Excused: Lindström, Peter
§ 1 Opening
of the meeting
Mr. Eriksson greeted the board members a warm welcome to Prague and declared the meeting opened at 09:00. The meeting is held in Prague in connection with the final rounds of the European Cup organized by the Czech Floorball Union (CFbU).
§ 2 Approval
of the agenda
The agenda was approved.
§ 3 Minutes from last meeting
The minutes from the CB meeting 31.08.2002 was scrutinized, approved and put ad acta.
§ 4 Economy
a) Prel. financial report 31.12.2002 (enclosure 1)
Mr. Jonsson presented the preliminary financial report of 31.12.2002, which shows a surplus of +20,166 CHF. The CB noted with satisfaction that the outcome is more then the stipulated, budgeted, surplus of +8.000 CHF. The objective is to have a level of the equity as it was in the year 2000.
The CB decided to approve the report.
b) Information on IFF
Claims 31.12.2002 (enclosure
2)
Mr. Jonsson informed on IFF claims per 31.12.2002. The total claims 31.12.2002 are 49.838 CHF. Hungary follows its plan, and the debts for Hungary are now 3.000 CHF and will be settled by May 25, 2003. The CB noted that Poland is now the only country in debt to IFF for the year 2001. The total debts for Poland to IFF are 6.022,16 CHF. The secretary general reported that he will have a meeting with the Polish association during the EC in Prague. The CB noted with pleasure that all debts, except from Poland, are now settled for the year 2001.
The CB decided to approve the report.
§
4 continuation
c) Handling
of debts (enclosure 3)
Mr. Jonsson has prepared a proposal regarding formalizing the handling of debts.
Participation
and debts in general – proposal from the treasurer
The NFs are according to the Statutes
obligated to pay their dept to IFF. Participation fee and membership fee shall
be paid according to the Financial Regulations and the Statutes article 16.1 d
or 16.2 d. The economical obligations are also clearly stated in the invitation
to Championships. Not to pay the fees and other bills to IFF is against the
Statutes § 16.1 or § 16.2, and might be met with disciplinary measures
according to the Juridical Regulations.
According
to the Statutes § 39.3 sanctions within the power of the Central Board are:
Reprimand,
warnings, disqualification/suspension of teams, players and/or coaches for up
to 6 months, and fines up to 5 000 CHF can be imposed by the CB. All sanctions
imposed by the CB shall be pursuant to the Jurisdiction Regulation in force. If
the CB presumes that a sanction might exceed its power, then the CB shall
require that the Disciplinary Committee start prosecution. Even if a case
resides inside the Central Board power to impose a sanction, the Central Board
remains able to require the Disciplinary Committee to handle the process.
Suspension
is according to the Juridical Regulation §1.3 a.:
Suspensions
consist of prohibition from participation, for a given period of time, in any
official activity within the sphere of IFF. A suspension may be imposed on all
IFF members and NA`s.
Proposal:
NF`s that has a
debt to IFF, and has not made an agreement with IFF how to handle the payment
will get a warning where the consequences of not paying within in a given time
are stated. If the payment or an acceptable plan for the payment does not exist
at the time stated, the warning/ suspension are automatically imposed for a
given time or until the dept is paid. If the debt is not paid off within 6
months the case will be transferred to the Disciplinary Committee for further
prosecution.
The CB decided according to the proposal, and to put the proposal forward to Mr Hermansson and Mr Buri in the Disciplinary Committee to implement the handling of debts into the appropriate regulations and statutes.
d) Office development
The
CB decided to
enlarge the agreement with AIK concerning the Marketing Director, Mr. Wester,
by increasing his employment to be a full time employment, 100%, starting
January 1, 2003. The CB gave the IFF President the task to sign a new enclosure
to the contract for the year 2003 between AIK and IFF.
§ 5 World
Championships
a) WFC
2003 report
Mr. Orlando reported on the organization of the WFC 2003.
The schedule of the B-Division was corrected according to the seeding.
The CB decided to approve the report.
§
5 continuation
b) WFC
2004 negotiations and contract – updated information
Mr. Liljelund reported on the alternatives concerning TV rights and how this would affect the commercial enclosure of the contract.
The contract is expected to be finalized in February and signed in the next CB meeting in April 2003 in Bern, Switzerland.
The need of earlier enrolment was discussed. In general the CB was of the opinion to have the deadline for enrolment at least by the end of December for men and women in the future, and at the end of June for U19 men and women.
There is a need for more time for the IFF as well as the organizer to know under what circumstances the WFC is played. In general more time is needed for the organization of eventual WFC C- Championships.
The CB decided to approve the report, and that the last day to register for the WFC 2004 for men in Switzerland shall be 31.03.2003.
The CB decided that in the future deadlines for registration for U19 shall be in June the year before the WFC, and for men and women in December two years before the WFC.
c) WFC
U19 Men 2003 registration and report
Mr. Kratz reported that 16 teams has registered.
Mr. Vaculik informed of the progress with the organization and that the complete tournament will be played in Prague.
The CB decided to play with 16 teams and divided into an A- and a B-Division.
The system of playing will be worked out by RACC and communicated with CFBU, and informed to the CB and decided by the ExCo in its next meeting.
d) WFC
U19 Women 2004 (enclosure 4)
Mr. Kratz reported that a letter of interest to organize the Women’s U19 WFC 2004 has arrived from Hungary and that Poland also has shown interest to be the organizer of the Championship.
The CB decided that the Final round will be played with 4-6 teams, meaning that qualification matches will be played if more teams enrol. The organizer shall be automatically in as well as one team from outside Europe. Last day to register shall be 30.06.2003.
§ 6 European
Cups
a) EC
January 2003 finals – report
Mr. Orlando and Mr. Vaculik reported on the ongoing EC Final round.
The general impression is that the tournament is very well organized.
The CB decided to approve the report.
b) EC
January 2004 finals – Status on discussions with the German FA
Mr. Orlando reported on the organization of the EC Final round January 2004. At this stage, preliminary, the European Cup will be played in Dessau, Leipzig and Weissenfels, organized by the German FA.
The CB decided to approve the report.
§ 7 Committees
– Reports and Constitution
a)
ExCo (enclosure 5)
Mr. Eriksson reported on the ExCo work.
The ExCo
has on its tasks amongst others to handle political issues, in connection to
our Vision set by the Congress in Helsinki in May 2002.
At the
latest GAISF congress (November 21-24, 2002) and Assembly in the USA I,
together with Mr Orlando, represented IFF. We stressed two things mainly, first
of all the presence at the actual Congress, and secondly, even “more”
important, did some “networking”. We had discussions with the IWGA President
Ron Froelich and Mr Bob de Die (korfball) about possibilities in World Games in
Duisburg Germany in July 14-24, 2005. The conclusion was that it seems as the
“door is closed” and that the disciplines are already decided upon. For the
next issue, 2009, there are many candidate cities, also in Asia (Singapore). In
2004 the IFF has to apply for membership in the IWGA, and before that also
apply for the ordinary membership in GAISF. My conclusion is however, that it
might be good and wait yet another year due to the fact that the next GAISF
Congress is in Spain, Madrid May 12-16, 2003 (in connection with a
manufacturers sports convention). It has been set earlier due to the fact that
GAISF and other International Federations and also the IOC, are supposed to
have, joint, meetings in cooperation. Due to the Madrid meeting a member has to
apply six months in advance for ordinary membership, and this would mean
already December 12, 2002. The standards are at least 30 members, which we now
fulfil. Mr Orlando and I also checked the formalities with the GAISF Director
General, Mr Jean-Claude Schupp. Mr Orlando will check this issue further with
GAISF Council members and IOC delegates Mr Gian Franco Kasper and Mr Denis Oswald
from Switzerland with whom we meet.
In order
to meet with the IFF Vision and fulfil the missions and objectives the ExCo are
already planning a meeting with the IOC in Lausanne (preliminary some days
before the IFF CB meeting in Bern April 12-13, 2003) in order to achieve IOC
recognition. Mr Orlando is responsible for the coordination. The IOC statutes
and laws say 75 members and at least 4 continents in order to play in the
summer Olympics. And we have all seen the discussions on the pentathlon and
softball and baseball that the IOC first proposed to remove from the Olympics
and then in Mexico City decided to keep as it is. This, surely, means that the
summer Olympics is virtually “closed” for the upcoming Olympics in a row? But
the recognition should be feasible as bandy and orienteering already are
recognised by the IOC in Lausanne?
The
second draft of the WADA doping code is now sent to all IF. In Copenhagen in
March 3-5, 2003, there will be a doping conference. RACC Chairman Mr Orlando,
and secretary general Mr Kratz will attend it. The IFF office will answer, RACC
responsible, to the second draft of the WADA doping code and also send
appropriate information on floorball to WADA.
§ 7 a)
continuation
Mr
Orlando and Mr Eriksson and Mr Kratz attended the WUC 2002 in Sweden, Göteborg.
Georgia made their first appearance and made a good impression! Finland won the
final against Sweden, and we congratulate Finland! Eight nations took part, and
the FISU was very pleased with this. We meet with Mr Fritz Holzer, vice
President of FISU, and discussed the WUC and its future. Next edition will be
in 2004 and 2006 and so on. The SUHV has already at this stage shown interest
in supporting the Swiss university associations. In Colorado Springs we also
meet with FISU President Mr George E Killian and Secretary General Mr Roch
Campana and discussed the future of the FISU WUC.
I must
stress that the WUC is a FISU event and in their “chain of command”. The FISU
decided where and when its played, but it has to be in the IFF calendar, and
also (better) coordinated with all floorball associations in the future.
At the
WUC in Göteborg, Sweden, the Disciplinary Committee (Mr Hermansson from
Finland, and Mr Buri from Switzerland) meet and had two good sessions and
started the revision of our juridical regulations. Mr Orlando and Mr Kratz also
worked on a proposal for new updated statutes and the other IFF Regulations.
The CB decided to approve the report and to wait for applying for ordinary membership in GAISF until 2004. Ordinary membership in GAISF is needed for membership in IWGA in order to be able to play in the World Games. Next World Games are organized in Germany in Duisburg in July 2005.
The CB decided to give the ExCo the task to look into the possibility to be able to take part in the World Games 2005 in Germany, and or to coordinate any other event in cooperation with the DUB.
Mr. Orlando reported on the work with the regulations and presented proposals of Competition Regulations – Club Teams, Competition Regulations – National Teams and Organizers Regulations, all to be in charge from 01.07.2003.
The CB decided to approve the report and that the regulations are in force starting July 1, 2003.
Mr. Gilardi reported from the RC meeting 09-10.11.2002 and the ongoing work of the Committee.
Mr. Gilardi informed that the objectives for the RC are to enlarge the number of pairs from more IFF associations, and to build up the communication with all national RC-Chairmen. A new system when appointing referees to Internationals has been implemented, meaning that the referees now are directly appointed by the IFF RC (earlier via respective national association).
Further Mr. Gilardi reported on the referee work and the referee observer education going on during EC.
The CB decided to approve the report.
§ 7 continuation
d) EDC
(enclosure 11)
Mr. Vaculik reported from the EDC meetings 31.08.2002 and 10.01.2003, and the ongoing work of the Committee. Both internal and external (involving Development Board) projects are being planned.
Among the projects a promotion material for youth floorball was exemplified.
Some projects will require a close co-operation also with the Marketing and Information Committee.
The CB decided to approve the report.
e)
MIC
Mr. Wester informed that the draft contract with Interactive Media is not yet finalized.
The IFF- logo was discussed, an issue put forward by Mr Orlando. The CB discussed an eventual need of a new logotype.
The CB decided to approve the report and put forward to the MIC to look into if there is a need for a new logotype.
f) Material
questions
Mr. Liljelund reported from the meeting he, together with Mr. Kratz on 10.01.2003, had with the Czech testing institute ITC regarding their possibility to be certified as a testing institute for floorball equipment.
The CB is of the opinion that it is good if more testing institutes are certified as long as IFF regulations are applicable. In order to be certified two things have to be fulfilled. A testing institute has to follow the IFF material regulations, and to be approved by SP in Sweden for final approval by the IFF CB.
Mr. Liljelund further reported that a meeting with the Development Board will be held on 11.01.2003.
The CB decided to approve the report, and concerning the ITC as certified testing institute wait for the evaluation done by SP and IFF. A decision can be taken in April at the upcoming CB meeting.
§ 8 Member
Associations
The French National Floorball and Unihockey Association (FNFUA) has applied for membership.
The CB decided to grant FNFUA provisional membership as member number 31 of IFF.
§ 9 IFF Calendar
Mr. Kratz reminded that all committees shall inform the office of meetings and other important tasks to be included in the IFF Calendar.
§ 10 External Congresses/meetings
a) GAISF Congress – report (enclosure 14)
Mr. Eriksson reported that the next GAISF Congress will be held 12-16.05.2003 in Madrid, Spain.
The ExCo will coordinate and decide who represents the IFF.
The CB decided to approve the report.
§ 10 continuation
b) FISU
WFC – report (enclosure 15)
Mr. Orlando reported from the 1st World University Championships in floorball that took place in Göteborg, Sweden in November 2002, organized by the FISU and SAIF.
The CB decided to approve the report and congratulated Finland as reigning Champion, and FISU for an excellent championship.
c) WADA
– World Conference on Doping in Sports 03-05.03.2003 Copenhagen
Mr. Eriksson informed of the WADA World Conference on Doping in Sports to be held in Copenhagen 03-05.03.2003.
The CB decided that Mr. Orlando and Mr. Kratz shall participate as IFF delegates.
§ 11
Next CB meeting
The President informed that the IFF President, and vice President Mr Orlando, together with the Secretary general Mr Kratz will, in connection with the CB meeting in Switzerland, meet with the IOC in Lausanne.
The CB decided to approve the report.
§ 12
Closing of the meeting
Mr.
Eriksson thanked the CB for an efficient meeting and declared it closed at
13.00.
Stefan Kratz Tomas Eriksson
Secretary General President