Minutes of the XVIII FIAS Congress

President FIAS David Rudman (hereinafter referred to as Chairman) greets the members of the Congress and asks the members of the Presidium to take their places.

Chairman: I propose to approve the agenda for the Congress, suggested by the FIAS Executive Committee. Does anyone propose changes or additions to it? No suggestions were made. The agenda is approved unanimously.

Chairman: I propose to elect Accounting and Mandate Committees, one representative from each continent. To the Accounting Committee from Europe - Gorodnov P., to the Mandate Committee - Borisov M.; from Asia to the Accounting Committee - Pogodin V., to the Mandate Committee - Pulatov F., from Pan-America to the Accounting Committee - Kogan D., to the Mandate Committee - Franco Abel.

Chairman: Put to vote: For:33; Against: none; Abstention: none. Decided: unanimously.

The Committees started to work.

The Chairman read the report of the Mandate Committee, according to the FIAS Statute representatives of 33 National Sambo Federations from 4 continents received mandates.

Chairman: The approval of the Mandate Committee report put to vote: For:33; Against: none; Abstention: none. Decided: unanimously.

Today FIAS consists of 52 National Sambo Federations, representatives of 33 National Sambo Federations are present, and according to the FIAS Statute - VIII FIAS Congress is valid. I declare it opened.

Question no.1: "Sambo development in the world and tasks for 2008-2009"

"...in particular, international sport federation should mandatory be registered as a non-profit organization (as we did in August 2006). Statute and rules of international sport federation should be composed according to the World Anti-Doping Codex. We did it last year. We need to finish working on anti-doping rules, send them to WADA for approval and then incorporate these rules into our activities. And recognize the exclusive authority of the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne (Switzerland). We also need to present AGFIS the detailed organizational chart, especially paying attention to the women’s representation in elected bodies of international sport federation. I ask National Federations to present your nominations. We need to provide specific guarantees of the stability of competition calendar, provide fair game rules and fair refereeing. All of the above should be formulated and organized as a code of norms and regulations. Special attention should be paid to the "Code of financial rules of international sport federation with detailed description of financial sources and activities of international sport federation". International federation - members of AGFIS should present documents on their activities for the last several years on the following topics: sportsmen coaches anti-doping and medical assistance women sport sport administration marketing and mass communication media representation AGFIS especially emphasizes quantitative and qualitative standards of its members international sport federations. It significally raised the requirement for international sport federation from 30 to 40 required national federations members from at least 3 continents. National federation can be considered only organization representing sport in its own country, that is recognized by National Olympic Committee or/and sport governing body in the country. FIAS asks timely send all necessary statute and regulation documents, as our actions should strictly correspond to the AGFIS Statute. A joint decision of MOC and AGFIS was approved that federation, who has confirmed its status as AGIS member, and conformed to MOC requirements as in 75 members national federations from 4 continents, would be accepted to be members in international sport organizations affiliated with MOC. This is the requirement we have to honor on our way to become a member in Olympic program. In this connection I want to report the Congress that we made a big progress in Sambo development in Asia continent, today we will affiliate 8 new FIAS members from this continent. That's why I will be making a suggestion to introduce a new position of FIAS Vice-President on Sambo Development, because this topic requires special attention and lots of work..."

David Ruman informed the Congress on FIAS relations with FILA. Martinetti continues to develop sambo inside his organization. Despite our meetings in Moscow, Seoul and Beijing.

Noted the need to differentiate authority of national sambo federations as FIAS members and other wrestling national federations. All-Russian Sambo Federation took the initiative to sign the Memorandum of mutual respect and authority differentiation with Russian Wrestling Federation; we need to continue this initiative and spread it to all our national federations members.

He also noted that we need to to be consistent with the forming rules of competition calendar:

"...at the Congress in Sofia we approved Calendar of official FIAS competitions for 2007-2010, and at the present time we continue to support 4 years rule for forming of the calendar, which corresponds with the international practice. But we still have shortcomings: Not all federations indicate the exact dates and places of the competitions. The regulations of the competition and the invitation from the hosting National Federation are overdue. Many important scheduled moments of the competition are not reflected in the Regulations (airports names, best routes and so on). We need to approve the standard form for the Regulations and the Invitation and use it in our events. We can't tolerate rescheduling of the competitions."

Made suggestions:

a. to form Calendar Committee, which should include S.Eliseev, F.Pulatov, D.Skalli (3 continents);

b. make it clear in the Regulations that official FIAS competitions are:

- World Championships - Continent Championships - Stage of the World Cup Tournaments - Tournaments class "A" and "B"

The determining factors of categorizing the tournament are norms of representation. Class "A" tournament is the one that have participating sportsmen from at least 3 continents and 15 countries. Class "B" tournament is the one that have participating sportsmen from at least 2 continents and 10 countries.

c. we need to make necessary changes and additions to the Statute.

Noted the need to observe the financial conditions by the federations - FIAS members:

- $500 a year dues of National Federation to FIAS - $20 for the license for sportsman's participation in the competitions

He also noted that FIAS will demand the compliance with financial obligations of national sambo federations to FIAS from each National Sambo Federation. All our financial activities should be transparent.

Starting from the next year the Treasurer will give report to the Congress.

Noted the need to make higher demands on the organizers of the competitions:

- implementing all the requirements for proper accreditation at the competition. - providing mass media (especially TV) coverage at World Sambo Championships.

"Reminding, that all rights for TV coverage of FIAS events belong to FIAS only. At the present time we are not taking money, but the document of our consent should be signed..."

L. Airapetian (Armenia) took part in the discussions.

Question no.2: "Affiliation of new FIAS members"

Chairman: I propose to accept Slovakia Sambo Federation as FIAS member. Put to vote: For:33; Against: none; Abstention: none. Decided: unanimously.

Chairman: I propose to accept Columbia Sambo Federation as FIAS member. Put to vote: For:33; Against: none; Abstention: none. Decided: unanimously.

Chairman: I propose to accept Singapore Sambo Federation as FIAS member. Put to vote: For:33; Against: none; Abstention: none. Decided: unanimously.

Chairman: I propose to accept Syria Sambo Federation as FIAS member. Put to vote: For:33; Against: none; Abstention: none. Decided: unanimously.

Chairman: I propose to accept Yemen Sambo Federation as FIAS member. Put to vote: For:33; Against: none; Abstention: none. Decided: unanimously.

Chairman: I propose to accept Pakistan Sambo Federation as FIAS member. Put to vote: For:33; Against: none; Abstention: none. Decided: unanimously.

Chairman: Requests for affiliation with FIAS were received from National Sambo Federations of Nepal and Thailand, they are approved by NOC of their countries and are members of Asian Sambo Federation. However their representatives are not present at the Congress.

Jack Kogan (USA): I propose to postpone the affiliation as for the absence of the presidents of this federations.

Muslim Undaganov (Kazakhstan): I think we need to postpone the affiliation as there are no representatives.

Chairman: I propose to put to vote the suggestion to postpone the affiliation as there are no representatives. Put to vote: For:33; Against: none; Abstention: none. Decided: unanimously.

Chairman: I propose to accept Indonesia Sambo Federation as FIAS member. Put to vote: For:33; Against: none; Abstention: none. Decided: unanimously.

Chairman: I propose to accept Lebanon Sambo Federation as FIAS member. Put to vote: For:33; Against: none; Abstention: none. Decided: unanimously.

Chairman: I propose to accept Malaysia Sambo Federation as FIAS member. Put to vote: For:33; Against: none; Abstention: none. Decided: unanimously.

Chairman: I propose to restore India Sambo Federation as FIAS member. Put to vote: For:33; Against: none; Abstention: none. Decided: unanimously.

The Mandate Committee handed to representatives of new National Federations 10 mandates. Thus the number of delegates with mandates increased to 43.

The Chairman put to vote the suggestion to introduce a new position of FIAS First Vice-President on Sambo Development and to elect F.Pulatov. Put to vote: For:43; Against: none; Abstention: none. Decided: unanimously.

Chairman: I propose to discuss the FIAS Calendar (as Question no.4 "Any other business")

FIAS Calendar (as Question no.4 "Any other business")

Roman Stoilov (Bulgaria) complained about the conditions of sportsmen's accommodations at the current competition (Prague), and also at the previous one in Serbia. He suggested to compare it to the conditions existed at the competition in Bulgaria.

Eduard Rudas (Lithuania) proposed Shauliay as place for non-Olympic sports competition in 2013.

Victor Perella (Venezuela) asked members of the Congress not only to criticize, but to suggest constructive solutions to the problems. Invited everyone to take part in Astakhov Cup in Venezuela.

J.Kogan (USA) noted that specific suggestions from National Federations should be sent in a written form to the appropriate Committee.

V.Perchik proposed to introduce a new position of Director of sport events, whose job will be to inspect the places of conducting of competitions and report the FIAS Congress about the conditions there. After that the decision will be made on the place of the competition.

The Chairman proposed to elect posthumous Mr. Pranciskus Eigminas as Honored FIAS General Secretary. Put to vote: For:43; Against: none; Abstention: none. Decided: unanimously.

The Chairman proposed to finish the discussion of the FIAS Competition Calendar for the next 4 years, recommended by FIAS Executive Committee.

Chairman: Two countries proposed to conduct competitions among adults and juniors, France and Italy among adults, Greece and Lithuania among juniors.

Illiadis Merabi: The competitions will be in Saloniki. The conditions are better than before.

Chairman: Let's vote according to the year:
-2008 Put to vote: For:43; Against: none; Abstention: none. Decided: unanimously.
-2009 Put to vote: For:43; Against: none; Abstention: none. Decided: unanimously.
-2010 Put to vote: For:43; Against: none; Abstention: none. Decided: unanimously.

Chairman: I ask everyone to pay attention to the World Cup and tournaments: 4 tournaments class "A", which correspond to our criteria - Harlampiev Tournament, Championship sponsored by President Lukashenko, Championship sponsored by President Nazarbaev, Aslakhanov Tournament. Other 3 tournaments are class "B".

Pavel Gorodnov (Czech Republic): I propose to include Euro Tournament as class "A" - it's very successful sambo competition (Tournaments - Bulgaria 2008, 2009 - Holland or Lithuania, 2010 - Slovenia, 2011 - Germany or Czech Republic).

Chairman: We can only conduct it as continental event, as there are 9 counties from 1 continent participating.

Chairman: About continental events - as decisions of Continental Federations become available, we will put the information on FIAS web site. About the seminars - if anyone wants, you can nominate yourself.

Question no.3: "Changes in FIAS Statute and Regulations"

Said Ahmedzanov (Uzbekistan): I ask to add another paragraph about recognition of November 16 as International Day of Sambo.

Chairman: I ask you to bring this question to the Committee. It will examine it and prepare for the Congress. For the future, beforehand, before the meeting of FIAS Executive Committee and FIAS Congress, all suggestions should be made in writing and passed to the appropriate Committee or FIAS administration.

Chairman: Changes to the Statute are put to vote: For:43; Against: none; Abstention: none. Decided: unanimously.
Moving on to "Any other business"

Question no.4: "Any other business"

1. Conditions of conducted World Championship in Prague.

K.Bruza (France) expressed dissatisfaction of French Sambo Federation with meals - dinners and suppers.

M.Undaganov (Kazakhstan): More attention should be paid to the food: Muslims don't eat pork. You need to respect other traditions. The opening ceremony of the Championship was low-level. I suggest to obtain guarantee from government officials governing sport in that country on conducting the World Championship high-level, also FIAS should help and control all the stages of preparations for the Championship with the help of Technical Committee.

Chairman: Is there any other questions about conditions at World Championship in Prague?

Martin Clark (Great Britain): I agree with M.Undaganov - although it's not always possible to obtain government guarantee. But it is essential to come with inspection.

P.Gorodnov (Czech Republic) answered to the questions and complains about conditions at World Championship in Prague.

J.Cogan (USA): I also have complains to the organizers about the Congress. It took us 4 tomes more, we don't have neither special equipment nor required specialists, there is no interpreters. It is outrage!

Chairman: FIAS Executive Committee discussed it and decided to found a special Committee on conduction competitions. Moving on to the third question.

2. Spain Sambo Federation.

Congress listened to the report of F.Compte about his meeting with the Minister of Sport of Spain. As a result a letter on authority differentiation and responsibilities of Spain Wrestling Federation toward sambo was signed. They should conduct sambo events only according to FIAS rules and participate in official sambo competitions included in FIAS Calendar.

3. Committees' work

4. About "TAFISA. Sport for All Games"

Congress listened to the report made by S.Eliseev (Russia) about FIAS membership in TAFISA and prospects of development of FIAS international connections.

5. About satisfying requirements of MOC, WADA, AGFIS

6. About accreditation and registration at FIAS events

P.Gorodnov (Czech Republic): I think this system should also include information about fees, licenses and victories of the sportsman, this system should include all technological cycle of conducting the competition. Such as - hotels, meals.

7. FIAS awards

8. P.Eigminas tournament

9. FILA

Chairman: If you agree, we will write the respective letter to Martinetti, in your turn every National Sambo Federation should prepare a letter stating its position and send it to us.

Chairman: I declare this session of XVIII FIAS Congress closed. Thank you all for participating.

Attachment1

CHANGES TO FIAS STATUTE

1.
The FIAS is registered in August’2006 in New-York state (USA) as a non-profit sports organization in accordance with laws of USA.

4.1.
FIAS is composed of National Federations, managing Sambo in their respective countries, being the Continental Federations members, recognize the FIAS Statutes, and have satisfied the affiliation requirements.

8.1.
Only high level athletes, recommended by National Federations are permitted to participate in international competitions

9.3.
The decision, concerning sanctions in relation to athletes, officials, federations, violated the Anti-doping rules shall be taken due to the World Anti-doping Code regulations and WADA decisions.

12.1
The FIAS Congress shall take place on the day, preceding the World Championship (Sports and combat sambo among Adults). An Election Congress shall meet every four years. Congress shall be presided by the President or in his absence by the General Secretary. Election meetings shall be presided by the General Secretary.

24.3
All sambo international competitions, World and continental championships, are to be conducted due to FIAS regulations. Regulations may only be changed every four years.