Articles of Association of International Organizations for Sport (AIOS)
I. General Provision
Article 1: Name
The Association of International Organizations for Sport is a non-profit association,
composed of international organizations, whose primary objects are the promotion, development and organization and servicing of sport, physical activity and its values.
The official abbreviation of the association is “AIOS
AIOS is constituted according to articles 60 ff of the Swiss Civil Code and is governed by Swiss law.
Article 2: Foundation and duration
AIOS was founded on October 191h, 2022, by the members listed at the bottom of the Articles.
AIOS has legal personality.
AIOS is formed for an unlimited period of time.
Article 3: Place of registration
The registered office of AIOS is located do Panathlon International, Maison du Sport International, Avenue de Rhodanie 54, in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Article 4: Objects
The objects of AIOS are to:
Coordinate and defend the common interests of its members regarding its primary objects (art. 1 here above);
Ensure cooperation between its members, international sport authorities and international sport federations or organizations;
Represent its members in matters related to the governance of sport at international and continental levels;
Maintain the authority, independence and autonomy of its members; andrensure the respect . of the General Assembly’s decisions;
Decide on nominations of AIOS representatives on international sport organizations, bodies and/or authorities;
Ensure the widest possible participation in programs and projects of the Olympic movement and/or international organizations;
Encourage the convening of its members for the purpose of creating links of friendship, solidarity and collaboration between them;
Help to promote projects, events and initiatives aiming to promote sport and sports’ values for the benefit of human communities;
Actively support the inclusion of international organizations promoting sport and its values in the international sport movement and Olympic movement;
Pursue such other aims and objectives as may, from time to time, be defined by the General Assembly.
Article 5: Official Language
Official languages of AIOS are English and French.
English and/or French only shall be used by AIOS and its members within their relation with AIOS.
In the event of a dispute between English and French texts (including the Articles but not limited to them), the English text shall prevail.
II Membership
Article 6: Membership and application procedure
AIDS is composed of international organizations whose objectives are the promotion, development and organization and servicing of sport, physical activity and its values.
To become a member, such entities must submit a written application to the AIOS Executive Board (see art. 17 ff hereafter). The AIOS Executive Board will then review the application regarding the objects of AIOS, as well as examining the values and objectives of the applicant.
If the Executive Board considers, at its sole discretion, that the Applicant complies with all requirements, it shall issue a positive recommendation to the attention of the General Assembly, which has the power to admit a new member (see art. 13).
An applicant formally becomes a member once the membership subscription is paid.
Article 7: Member's rights and obligations
Members have the right to:
–Â Participate in voting and in elections, by being represented by 1 (one) person;
–Â Be informed of AIOS activities and accounts;
–Â Exercise any other right arising from the Articles, regulations and decisions of AIOS.
Members have the obligation to:
Comply with and respect the Articles and objects of AIOS;Inform AIOS Executive Board of any internal changes that would affect the conditions of admission (modifications of statutes per example);
Pay their membership subscription in due time.
Article 8: Resignation, suspension and exclusion
A member can resign at any time. The resignation take effect immediately upon receipt of a notice of resignation sent by e-mail and post to the Executive Board. It shall be reported to the next General Assembly. The membership subscription paid for the current year shall not be repaid.
A member who has caused serious prejudice to the objects and Articles of AIOS can be suspended until the next General Assembly or even excluded from the Association by registered letter from the Executive Board. The suspended or excluded member can challenge the decision of the Executive Board within 30 (thirty) days by a registered letter sent to the Executive Board, which will then convene a meeting of the General Assembly to decide on appeal on the exclusion. The decision of the General Assembly is final.
Article 9: Notices
A notice or notification to a member shall be deemed to have been properly received provided it was sent by regular mail or by e-mail.
In case of suspension or exclusion of a member or in case of dissolution of AIOS, notification shall be sent by registered mail.
III. Organization
Article 10: Bodies
The bodies of the association are:
(A) The General Assembly;
(B) The Executive Board;
(C) The Auditors.
A. General Assembly
Article 11: Composition
11.1 The General Assembly (general meeting of members) is the supreme governing body of the association.
Its decisions are mandatory for all members, even for those who do not attend.
Article 12: Calling and form of meeting
General Assembly can be called into session by the Executive Board or 1/5 (one-fifth) of the members.
The sessions can be held virtually  (through video-conferencing) if the facilities are available.
The General Assembly must have at least one meeting per year, within 6 (six) months after the accounts’ closing.
The session is called by the Executive Board at least 30 (thirty) days before its date and by regular mail or by e-mail. The convening must contain the agenda’s issues.
Article 13: Powers
The powers of the general Assemble are:
-Approval and modification of the Articles;
– To modify AIOS place of resignation within Switzerland;
-Approval of the minutes of the last meeting;
-Admission of the minutes of the last meeting;
– Admission, suspension and exclusion of a member;
-To decide on appeals from members who have been suspended or excluded;
-Election of the of the President of the association
-To appoint the members of the Executive Board;
-To appoint the Auditors;
-To set the amount of the subscription for members;
-Approval of the budgets, the audits accounts and the activity report;
– To grant discharge to the members of the Executive Board;
– To exercise any other competence specifically attributed by the Articles and regulation of AIOS;
– Dissolution of the association,
Article 14: Delegates
Each member’s delegation is limited to 1 (one) delegate and 1 (one) counsellor, Only the delegate is entitled to vote.
Article 15: Voting, decisions and quorums
Each member is entitled to 1 (one) vote. Decisions can only be passed on the agenda mentioned in the convening of the meeting.
Save any indication to the contrary in the Articles (cf. art. 28 and 30), all decisions shall be made by more than half of the votes validly cast.
In order for the General Assembly to be validly formed, more than half of the members having voting rights must be present. At least 2/3 (two-thirds) of the members are requested in case of decisions regarding the dissolution of the association or amendments to the Articles.
In the absence of a quorum, a second General Assembly shall be held 24 (twenty-four) hours after the first was due to convene, with the same agenda. In that second General Assembly, no quorum is required, unless an item on the agenda proposes the amendment of the Articles, the election of the President, the exclusion of a member or the dissolution of the association.
Article 16 Presidency
The President appoints the secretary of the General Assembly. They shall both sign the minutes of the meeting.
B. The Executive Board
Executive Board is the executive body of AIOS. It is entitled and obliged as defined under the Articles to manage and represent the association.
Executive Board consists of 5 (five) persons at least, belonging each to a different member of the association. It defines its proper organization; its President is the President of the association.
The members of the Executive Board and AIOS President are appointed by the General Assembly for a 1 (one) year period until the next ordinary General Assembly. They may be re-elected.
Article 18: Calling
Meetings are held as often as required, and upon request of each member of the Executive Board. The session is called by the President at least 10 (ten) days before its date and by regular mail or by e-mail
Meetings can be real or virtual (telephone conference, video-conferencing, e-mail, etc).
Offices assumed upon election or appointment are voluntary posts and as such are unpaid.
Article 19: Powers
The Executive Board has the following powers:
Act within the objects of AIOS;
Appoint the persons who will be authorized to sign on behalf of the association and to determine their mode of signature (but at least two persons may duly represent AIOS); Represent and commit AIOS with regard to third parties;
Prepare and convene ordinary and extraordinary General Assemblies, and execute its resolutions;
Appoint any commission it deems necessary;
Prepare and enforce internal rules and regulations;
Review membership applications (see art. 6 here above);
Suspend or exclude a member of the association (see art. 8 here above);
Propose the amount of the membership subscription to the General Assembly; Hold the accounts of the association.
The Executive Board is also competent in all matters that are not reserved to other bodies by the Articles.
Article:20 Decision
Resolutions of the Executive Board are taken by a simple majority of members who vote, and only when a majority of its members are attending.
In case of a tie, the President or the Chair of the meeting has a casting vote.
Article 21: Minutes of the meeting
The proceedings and resolutions of the Executive Board must be recorded in the minutes.
The minutes of the meeting are signed by the President and another member of the
             Executive Board (generally the secretary).
C. Auditors
They are 2 (two) Auditors, appointed by the General Assembly for a 1 (one) year period; re-election is permissible. The General Assembly shall also appoint a qualified external auditor (art. 69b of Swiss Civil Code is applicable).
Article 23: Report
The Auditors provide the General Assembly with a yearly report regarding the annual accounts (from January ls’ to December 31′) of the association.
IV. Finances and accounting year
Article 24: Resources
The association’s resources come from annual membership subscriptions.
Article 25: Membership Subscription
The amount of the annual membership subscription shall be fixed by the Ordinary General Assembly on the proposal of the Executive Board.
It shall be paid at the latest within 30 days of the decision of the General Assembly fixing the membership subscription.
The membership subscription is valid for the whole year, even in case of admission or resignation/suspension/exclusion during the year.
Article 26: Finances
The accounting year of AIOS runs from January 1″ to December 319Y, annually.
Exceptionally, the first year shall begin on the approval day of the Articles, to end of December 31″, 2022.
Article 27: Liability
The assets of the association shall be solely responsible for the commitments of the association, to the exclusion of any liability of its members.
V. MODIFICATION OF THE ARTICLES
Article 28: Competence
The General Assembly solely has the power to modify the Articles of the association.
To be valid, the amendment must be approved by 2/3 (two-thirds) of the votes of the members attending the General Assembly, within respect of art. 15 about quorum.
VI. Final Provisions- Dissolution -Liquidation
Article 29: Dispute resolution and applicable law
In the event of a dispute, controversy, interpretation or claim arising from or related to the Articles, regulations, directives and decisions of AIDS, the members and the association shall use their best endeavours to immediately resolve the matter amicably, i.e. through an agreed mediation process and mediator. This disposition shall be applied before application of art. 29.2 hereunder.
Any dispute, controversy, interpretation or claim arising from or related to the Articles, regulations, directives and decisions of AIOS shall be submitted exclusively to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, to the exclusion of any ordinary court or other tribunal. Where a dispute is so submitted to the CAS, the Code of Sport- related Arbitration shall be applicable, the language of the procedure will be English or French and the decision of the CAS shall be final.
Any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with the above matters and the Articles shall be exclusively governed and construed in accordance with Swiss law.
Article 30: Competence
The General Assembly may decide at any time to dissolve the association.
The decision must be approved by 2/3 (two-thirds) of the votes of the members attending the General Assembly, within respect of art. 15 about quorum.
Art. 31: Liquidation operations
The liquidation shall be carried out by the Executive Board, unless the General Assembly decides otherwise.
The General Assembly retains the right to approve the liquidation accounts and to grantdischarge.
After payment of the debts, the available assets shall be allocated in accordance with the decision of the General Assembly to the achievement of objectives similar to those of the association.
