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Note: The following letter was sent May 21, 2003, to WMA Council members, Committee members and WMA affiliate nations by WMA Secretary Monty Hacker of South Africa. Except for minor format changes to accommodate Web posting, no changes have been made to the text. For a copy of the original letter, write to Ken Stone. For comments on this letter, see our blog.

WORLD MASTERS ATHLETICS

IN COOPERATION WITH THE IAAF

Unit 1, The terrace in Dunkeld,
26, North Road,
Dunkeld West, Johannesburg,
2196, Rep of South Africa.                                                                                           

e-mail:wma.sec@icon.co.za

21st May 2003
 
To All WMA Council Members, Committee Members and WMA Affiliates

Dear Friends,

I am setting out hereunder the Agenda for the forthcoming WMA General Assembly in Carolina, Puerto Rico on July 10th 2003, together with the text of the proposed recommendations (motions) from both Council and Affiliates for amendments to the WMA Constitution, Bye-Laws and Rules of Competition. This I am doing in accordance with the provisions of Section 4(j) of the WMA Constitution:

Agenda for the WMA General Assembly
10th July 2003

RITZ CARLTON HOTEL, CAROLINA, PUERTO RICO at 09h00

1. Opening of the General Assembly

2. Certification of the proper calling of the General Assembly

3. Election of 2 scrutineers for the minutes

4. Election of 2 persons to count the ballots

5. Submission and approval of reports from the:
- President
- Executive Vice-President
- Vice-President, Stadia
- Vice-President, Non-Stadia
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Women’s Representative

6. Amendments to the WMA Constitution/By-Laws/Rules of Competition

7. Bids presentation for future WMA Championships
2004 Inaugural Indoor Championships
Council ranking

Sindelfingen, GER 7 votes
New York, USA 5 votes
Malmö, SWE 2 votes

Council recommends Sindelfingen GER.

2006 Non-Stadia Championships
Vancouver, CAN

2007 Stadia Championships
Riccione, ITA

8. Closing of the General Assembly.

Council proposals about amendments to the WMA Constitution/Bye-Laws/ Rules of Competition to the WMA General Assembly in
Puerto Rico in 2003

1. Constitution, section 2, Purpose
Amendment of paragraph 2 (a)

The present wording “To organize, regulate and administer athletics for women of not less than thirty-five years of age and men of not less than forty years of age” shall be replaced by:

To organize, regulate and administer athletics for men and women of not less than thirty-five years of age

We have to-day many men who continue their athletics career but WMA does not offer these athletes international competitions until they are 40 years of age. As a result many leave athletics and find other sports. With a new age-group M35 many of these athletes will continue within our sport.

If approved by the WMA General Assembly it must also be approved by the IAAF Congress as it is also an amendment to the IAAF rules.

2. Constitution, section 5, Council
Addition to paragraph 5 (k)

Addition of the following sentences:

The Council may, in exceptional circumstances, and if it deems it expedient to do so, award a World Championships without referral to or approval from the General Assembly. Exceptional circumstances shall include actual or potential prejudice to the event if the award thereof were to await the approval of the next General Assembly.

3. Constitution, section 6, Election of Officers Amendment of paragraph 6 (d)

Deletion of the second sentence:

Nominations of candidates for office may be made by the Council – Bye-Laws section 3

The Council believes that to bring our election procedures into line with Interna-tional Sport Associations’ procedures, all nominations shall come from Affiliates only, i.e. any Affiliate can nominate any candidate, and not from the Council. However, the Council shall notify Affiliates of those Council Members who are willing to stand as candidates for another term in the same or any
other office.

If approved, section 3 in the Bye-Laws, Council Nomination Procedure, will be deleted and the first sentence of paragraph 6 (d) of the Constitution shall be replaced by the following:

“Nomination of candidates for office may only be made by an Affiliate and must be in the hands of the WMA Secretary ninety (90) days before the opening date of the General Assembly. All nominations shall be accompanied by C.V.’s. The Secretary shall inform all Affiliates no later than 180 days before the opening date of the General Assembly of the Council members willing to
stand as candidates for another term”.

4. Constitution, section 9, Standing Committees/Bye-Laws, section 4, Committees
Amendment of Constitution paragraph 9 (c) and Bye-Laws 4 (3)

Removal of the Discipline Committee, whose duties are to be transferred to the Law and Legislation Committee.

The following additional sentence shall be added at the end of present paragraph 9 (e) of the Constitution:

The Law & Legislation Committee shall have jurisdiction over all WMA activities relating to disciplinary matters subject to decision of the WMA Council.

Bye-Law 4(3) is to be deleted in its entirety, subject to the inclusion of sub para-graphs (d) to (o) in 4(5) as provided for below:

In the Bye-Laws paragraph 4 (5) (b) and (c) are to be deleted and substituted by:

(b) There shall be four (4) members of the Committee plus the Chairman.

(c) The four (4) members of the Committee shall be appointed by the President based upon nominations submitted to him by the Chairman.

The provisions of Bye-Law 4(3), sub paragraphs (d) to (o) shall become sub para-graphs (f) to (q) inclusive of Bye-Law 4(5).

5. Rules of Competition, section 1, Championships
Addition to paragraph 1 (1)

The first sentence shall have the following wording:

WMA shall sanction WMA World Championships Stadia, normally in each odd-numbered year, WMA World Championships Non-Stadia, normally in each even-numbered year and WMA World Championships Indoor, normally in each even-numbered year.

With addition of Indoor Championships WMA will offer master athletes a complete programme which will contribute to a better development of masters athletics. In-door Championships are already organized in Europe and in North and America with great success and the Council means that time now has come to add these Championships also to the world programme.

6. Rules of Competition, section 1, Championships
Amendment of paragraph 1 (2)

The last sentence “Furthermore, following upon such inspection visits, it shall be the duty of the members visiting the Bid Cities to compile reports on these inspec- tion visits, reflecting their grading of the Bid Cities and the details of such grading shall be placed before the General Assembly prior to the commencement of the formal bid proceedings thereat” shall be replaced by:

The WMA Delegates visiting the Bid Cities shall compile standard form reports following upon their inspection visits. These reports shall be sent to the Bid Cities for consideration, review and comments. When received from the Bid Cities, the reports together with the comments are to be distributed amongst the Council Members for Council’s evaluation and grading of the Bid Cities. The Bid Cities present their bids to the Council the days before the Championships. The Council revises, if necessary, the grading and forwards the two highest graded Bid Cities to the General Assembly for presentation and decision.

It becomes more and more important that Bid Cities are carefully evaluated with regard to sports facilities, accommodations, financial resources and municipal/ governmental support. As the elected body, the Council must have a much greater role and responsibility in this process like in most International Sports Federations and the proposal aims at giving the Council this responsibility.

7. Rules of Competition, section 1, Championships
Amendment of paragraph 1 (4)

The present suggested Non-Stadia programme shall be changed:
The 50K run (men and women) be removed and replaced by 10K run (men and women) – day to be decided by WMA/LOC.

8. Rules of Competition, section 8, The Competition-Running and Walking Events
Amendment of paragraph 8 (8)

The present wording “In road-races, cross-country races and road-walking races, an athlete may only score as a member of a team in his own age-group” shall be replaced by:

In road races, cross-country races and road-walking races every athlete competes individually in his/her own age-group. For team scoring athletes will only be permitted to drop to a lower age-group to complete the required number for a team, provided that the following requirements are met:

(i) the lower age-group shall be in the same race as that in which the athlete competes individually
(ii) the athlete’s country does not have a sufficient number of athletes in that age-group to make up a full team in that age-group
(iii) every team must submit a start list that shows the names and age-group of all their athletes competing in a particular age-group
(iv) an athlete may only score in one team, and
(v) athletes from an older age-group only may be included in a team not of their age-group

Should it be found that an athlete has entered for the team scoring in a younger age-group wherein the Affiliate has already sufficient athletes within the team’s age-group to make up a full team, the team will be disqualified.

Team scoring is a way to promote the Non-Stadia events and get more participants. The rules must be in line herewith and ensure team scoring on a fair basis. The Council is consequently of the opinion that athletes in older age groups shall not be allowed to be included in scoring where countries have already full teams but only where teams are not full in any particular age-group.

9. Additions/clarifications to Constitution, section 4/Bye Laws, section 3
a. Constitution, paragraph 4 (b)

The word “competitor” shall mean competitors entered regardless of whether they start their events or not.

b. Constitution, paragraph 4 (e)
On the agenda for the General Assembly there shall be one item for approval of the Council officers’ reports and the auditors’ report

c. Constitution, paragraph 4 (j)
The Council officers’ reports shall be included in the information sent out by the Secretary 45 days before the opening date of the General Assembly

d. Bye-Laws, paragraph 3 (1)
Date March 1 be amended to February 1 as the Council meeting might be held in March.

PROPOSALS FROM WMA AFFILIATES TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN CAROLINA 2003

A. Proposals to amend the Constitution/the Bye-Laws/the Rules of Competition

1. Constitution, section 2, Purpose
Amendment of paragraph 2 (a) – see also Council proposal No 1

New Zealand Masters Athletics proposes that the present wording “To organize, regulate and administer athletics for women of not less than thirty-five years of age and men of not less than forty years of age (hereinafter referred to as masters” shall be replaced
by:

To organize, regulate and administer athletics for men and women of not less than thirty-five years of age (hereinafter referred to as masters)

2. Constitution, section 2, Purpose Amendment of paragraph 2 (a)

Fédération Française d’Athlétisme proposes that the present wording “To orga-nize, regulate and administer athletics for women of not less than thirty-five years of age and men of not less than forty years of age (hereinafter referred to as masters) ” shall be replaced by:

To organize, regulate and administer athletics for men and women of not less than forty years of age (hereinafter referred to as masters)

3. Constitution, section 4 (e)
Addition of paragraph 4 (e) vii

USA Track & Field proposes addition of paragraph 4 (e) vii:

Have affiliation with the World Masters Games as a permanent item on the General Assembly agenda

4. Constitution, section 6, Election of Officers
Amendment of paragraph 6 (c)

Fédération Française d’Athlétisme, Federazione Italiana di Atletica Leggera and Singapore Masters Athletics propose that the second sentence:

No officer may hold the same office for more than two consecutive terms of four years each be deleted.

The proposal is motivated by Italy:
It is our sincere opinion that this rule is not in conformity with how modern sports associations should be organised as it does not give the General Assembly full authority to elect the Council, i.e. some candidates are stopped just because they have served on the Council. We feel this is not correct and propose that the rule be deleted.

5. Constitution, section 7, Officers
Addition to paragraph 7 (e)

USA Track & Field proposes addition of 7 (e) vii:

The Secretary shall submit the Council minutes within 30 days subsequent to the last day of the Council meeting to the WMA website

6. Constitution, section 7, Officers
Addition to paragraph 7 (f)

USA Track & Field proposes addition of 7 (f) viii:

The Treasurer shall submit a detailed report to the WMA website every three months, listing all income and expenditure and noting which party incurred the expenditure

7. Bye-Laws, section 2, Council
Addition to paragraph 2 – new paragraph 2 (16)

USA Track & Field proposes addition of paragraph 2 (16):

Any Council Member who receives any recompense in any administration of any National and/or International Masters’ events shall so indicate the amount of recompense on the WMA website and shall not vote on any matter involving an event in which they are receiving any compensation. Removal from the Council shall be automatic for failure to comply with this Bye-Law.

8. Bye-Laws, section 2, Council
Addition to paragraph 2 – new paragraph 2 (17)

USA Track & Field proposes addition of paragraph 2 (17):

All proposed changes to the sanction fee must be submitted to the General Assembly for its determination.

9. Rules of Competition, section 1, Championships
Addition to paragraph 2 – see also Council proposal No 5

Suomen Veteraaniurheilluliitto proposes that the following clauses are added to the bid procedure for WMA World Masters Athletics Championships:

- Evaluation time is from 1st of October to 30th of November (to-day inspection
visits shall take place not less than 60 nor more than 179 days prior to the General Assemby)
- WMA Council puts bids to the evaluation order before 31st of January
- If some of the bid/s is/are withdrawing, the next in the order of bids shall take the place
- If there are only few bids that are not competitive enough the WMA Council has the right to open up for a new bid procedure

10. Rules of Competition, section 1, Championships
Addition to paragraph 1 – new paragraph 1 (11)

Deutscher Leichtathletikverband proposes addition of paragraph 1 (11):

Entry fees for WMA World Championships shall be fixed. These entry fees have to apply to all championships and may not be changed by the local organizer

11. Rules of Competition, section 5, Entries
Amendment of present paragraph 5 (1)

New Zealand Masters Athletics proposes that the present wording “Entries to all WMA World Championships shall be submitted through the national WMA Affiliate. Each such Affiliate shall inform the WMA Secretary of its method of validating entries” shall be replaced by:

Entries to all WMA World Championships shall be submitted either through their national WMA Affiliate or electronically (e-mail) directly to the Organizing Committee. An entry received electronically (e-mail) by the Organizing Committee must be validated by the entrant’s WMA Affiliate. Each such Affiliate and the Host Organizing Committee shall inform the WMA Secretary of its method of validating entries.

12. Rules of Competition, section 7, the Competition-General
Addition of new paragraph 7 (11)

Australian Masters Athletics proposes addition of paragraph 7 (11):

The IAAF rule changes should require WMA endorsement before introduction
into WMA competitions.

13. Rules of Competition, section 8, the Competition – Running and
Walking Events
Amendment of paragraph 8 (8) – see also Council proposal No 6

British Masters Athletic Federation proposes that the present wording “In road- races, cross-country races and road-walking races, an athlete may only score as a member of a team in his own age-group” shall be replaced by:

(i) Team awards are made in five-year age-groups, the first three members of a team to finish complete the team for scoring purposes
(ii) The score shall be the cumulative total of individual times
(iii) Where there are insufficient athletes in an age-group to comprise a team a maximum of two athletes from an older age-group representing that country may be declared for the team
(iv) All competitors must be competing in the same race at the same time
(v) A competing athlete will only receive an individual award if taking part in his/her own age-group race and category
(vi) A nominated team manager may declare amendments to age-group teams by completing the form provided, in duplicate, showing only the person(s) changing to the younger age-group, and returning it to the declaration point thirty minutes before the start of the race. One copy will be returned to the team manager

14. Rules of Competition, section 9, Hurdle Races
Amendment of paragraph 9 (2)

Australian Masters Athletics proposes that present wording “At each hurdle, both feet must be off the ground for at least an
instant” shall be replaced by:

Competitors must hurdle with a continuous motion thus ensuring that both feet must be off the ground for at least an instant.

15. Rules of Competition, appendices
Amendment of present weights

British Masters Athletic Federation proposes the following changes in implement weights for women:
W50-59 Shot 4.0 Kg Javelin 600 Gr Hammer 4.0 Kg
W60-79 Javelin 500 Gr

B. Other proposals

1. IMGA changes World Masters Games to even-numbered years
Canadian Masters Athletic Association proposes:

1. This WMA General Assembly asks the WMA Council to inform IMGA immediately that WMA, if IMGA does not move their event to even-numbered years, will withhold its sanction of the IMGA track & field event, with the consequences for WMA member athletes and WMA or IAAF accredited officials of this being a non-sanctioned event.
2. If IMGA agrees to revert to even-numbered years, there will still be some impact on other WMA regional and national events, therefore the WMA will require IMGA to pay a sanction fee of USD 100.000:- to WMA at least sixty (60) days prior to that event.

NOTE: The requirement for payment of USD 100.000:- is also appropriate as the IMGA obtains a sanction fee of USD 1.000.000:- from which there is no return to the individual sports. World Masters Athletics currently applies a sanction fee of USD 150.000:- to our own WMA Championships Stadia.

RATIONALE
The first major IMGA Games took place in Denmark in 1989 during the same period as the WMA Championships in Eugene. The original fear that this situa- tion would result in smaller numbers in Eugene proved unfounded. Situations have changed dramatically since then and IMGA Games in Brisbane, Portland and Melbourne have attracted large numbers although they have not threatened
attendance at WMA Championships as they have taken place during even-numbered years.

However, when IMGA settled their 2005 location (Edmonton, CAN), the original dates were very much in conflict with the San Sebastian dates for the WMA Championships – dates that were determined in 2001. Furthermore, prior to the initial announcement, no representative of IMGA or the host city Edmonton had approached WMA, IAAF, Athletics Canada or Canadian Masters
Athletic Asso- ciation on the subject.

A less satisfactory compromise has been reached for 2005 and the event still poses potential problems for the future of WMA, particularly as regards atten- dance but also for our own development. The conflict can only result in reduced numbers at both events, whether or not they take place on different continents. Bearing in mind that WMA introduced, nurtured and developed
masters athle- tics, on which huge volunteer base IMGA is now relying, it is essential that both groups avoid this type of conflict in the future.

IMGA has said it will award the 2009 event the nect year. This would preempt both the date and location for the decision bu our own WMA Assembly which will not be taken until 2005. We suggest, therefore, that WMA Affiliates world-wide should now decide what relationship there should be in the future between WMA, with its 28 year history, and the new entrepreneurial group.
The decision of this 2003 WMA Assembly will be able to be conveyed to IMGA in time for them to decide on their own stance.

Canada wishes to see WMA continuing to be the leader in our sport, providing competition of the highest standard to all our members, while engouraging par- ticipating at all levels.

2. WMA Rules of Competition
Australian Masters Athletics proposes:

1. WMA shall not adopt the current IAAF rule regarding one false start

2. WMA shall introduce the weight throw as an individual event at the WMA World Masters Athletics Championships Stadia commencing in 2005

3. Lap counters in track distance events shall be allowed to provide this information to the athlete each lap or as required

4. WMA shall reconsider the events constituting the men and women’s outdoor pentathlon

5. Field event qualifying rounds introduced in Puerto Rico shall be eliminated

6. Team medals for the weight pentathlon, as trialled in Brisbane 2001, are not introduced

7. Only one competition number shall be required in throwing events