Statutes 

Article 1 - Definition

 

1.1.   The Union carries the name "European Sumo Union" here after designated as ESU. The (ESU) is composed of official national federations of each European state .

 

1.2.   The ESU is non-political and does not recognize the differences of race or religion.

 

1.3. All provisions of the ESU Statutes, Rules and other Regulations must be in conformity with the Olympic Charter.

Article 2 - Structure

 

2.1.   The ESU includes all national Federations situated within the geographical border of the European continent recognised by the IOC. They must be ultimately recognized by the IFS.

 

2.2.   Federations of one country, which are located outside of the geographical border of the European continent, may become members of the ESU provided the country is listed in the IOC charter.

 

2.3.   The member Federations of the ESU shall collaborate closely amongst themselves and with the ESU . In order to assure close and constant cooperation within the ESU, the member Federations shall inform each other of major international events such as international tournaments etc. They shall communicate on results of their major Sumo events etc. Copies of all such communications shall be sent to the General Secretariat of the ESU. Member federation must get prior ESU DC written approval of all their events. 

 

Article 3 - Affiliation

 

3.1.   Each country may be represented in the ESU by only one National Federation.

 

3.2.   If two or more Federations within a country claim representation, it will be given to the Federation, which is recognized by its National Olympic Committee or by the highest sporting organization of that country or ultimately by the IFS. Failing this preference, it will be given to the Federation, which is recognized by the Continental Union as the valid national Sumo Organization.

 

3.3.   A National Federation becomes a provisional member of the European Sumo Union as soon as it is provisionally accepted by the Directing Committee.

 

3.4.   It shall become an official member of the ESU at the next Congress, which ratifies its membership. Member Federations of the ESU are not automatically member of the IFS.

 

3.5.   In any case where a country does not fall visibly within the confines of one particular geographical Union or may be considered as being at the limit of the confines of that geographical Union, the country concerned may choose from amongst the Unions which are in closest proximity to itself the Union to which it wishes to affiliate. Any country having so chosen to affiliate to one Union must thereafter stay with that Union unless it obtains specific permission from the Congress of the IFS to change.

 Article 4 - Aims

Among others, the ESU has the following aims:

a)       To promote cordial and friendly relations between its members and to supervise pro-ama Sumo activity throughout Europe.

 

b)       To protect the interests of pro-ama Sumo throughout Europe and to coordinate all Sumo activities on European level.

 

c)       To organize or coordinate, in collaboration with the member Federations, the European Championships (at regular Intervals but yearly if possible) as well as other international events. The date and location of the European Sumo Championships will be solely selected chosen and decided upon by the ESU DC .

 

d)       The right to organize international matches will only be given to countries that are able to guarantee entry into their territory of all participants of member Federations wishing to participate.

 

e)       To organize and develop pro-ama Sumo throughout Europe and to develop and spread the techniques and spirit of the sport of Sumo.

 

f)        To represent the European Sumo sport against any third party.

 

 

Article 5 - Eligibility Code

 

5.1.   To be eligible for participation in the European Sumo Championships, International Sumo Competitions and Sumo Competitions held under the control or recognition of the ESU, a Sumo athlete must conform to the criteria set out in the rules concerning Eligibility Code, Nationality of Competitors, and Propaganda and Advertising to the Rules of the ESU or IFS. (Statutes, organization and Sporting Code, Contest Rules).

 

5.2.   All competitors in the European Sumo Championships, International Sumo Competitions and Sumo Competitions held under the control or recognition of the ESU shall:

 

5.2.1.        Respect the spirit of fair-play and non-violence, and behave accordingly on and off the competition venue,

 

5.2.2.        Refrain from using substances and procedures prohibited by the Rules of the IOC or of the IFS;

 

5.2.3.        Respect and comply with all aspects with the IOC and IFS Medical Codes;

 

5.2.4.        Observe to ISF sporting code as well as Japanese-style Sumo rituals.

 

5.3.   The identification of the manufacturer shall not appear more than once per item of clothing and equipment. Mawashi: Manufacturers identification, which is greater than 12 cm, shall be deemed to be marked conspicuously.

 

5.3.1.       Equipment: any manufacturer identification that is greater than 10% of the surface area of the equipment that is exposed during competition shall be deemed to be marked conspicuously. However, there shall be no manufacturer identification greater than 60 cm.

 

5.3.2      A competitor who participates in officially recognized ESU competitions is prohibited from bearing advertising on his body and/or Mawashi, other than those laid down by the decision by the ESU-DC.

5.4      The ESU recognizes and shall comply with the Medical Code of the IFS and the International Olympic Committee. ESU members and their athletes participate in ESU events at their own risk. Neither ESU nor the organizing member federation cannot be held responsible for any accidents that may occur before, during or after the European Championships or any other ESU events.

 Article 6 - Official Languages

 

6.1.   The official languages of the ESU are English, French and Russian. All official documents of the ESU must be published in English. Congresses, meetings and sessions must be held in English. All correspondence must be written in English.

Article 7 - Governing Bodies

 

7.1.   The Governing Bodies of the ESU are in order:

 

a)       The Congress.

b)       The Directing Committee. (DC)

c)       The Office of the President.

d)       The Office of the General Secretary.                  

Article 8 - The Congress

 

8.1.     The Congress is the sovereign authority of the ESU.

 

 

8.2.     The Congress will be held every year in the place designated by the preceding Congress and shall be convened at the same time and in the same city as the European Sumo Championships. It shall always be taken into account that wherever possible there shall be an equitable rotation amongst the different member Federations. The date and location of the ordinary congress shall be solely and only decided upon by the European Sumo Union.

 

 

8.3.     The Congress elects the Directing Committee and approves or disapproves their actions since the preceding Congress, approves the statutes, the regulations, and makes such modifications as necessary, decides as final authority on all questions relative to the aims of the ESU, approves or rejects the reports of the members of the Directing Committee, makes all decisions on Proposals submitted by member Federations or Continental Unions and deliberates on all other relevant questions.

 

8.4.     The Congress may consider only items, which are included on the agenda.

 

8.5.     At least two months before the congress the general secretary shall invite the member federations to submit to him, at least 6 weeks before the date fixed for the Congress, items which they wish to have included on the agenda. At least 1 month before the date fixed for the congress, the General Secretary will send to the continental unions and to the member federations the invitation signed by the President or by the General Secretary as well as the agenda elaborated by the Directing Committee together with the reports of the President, the General Secretary, the General Treasurer and the technical Directors.

 

8.6.     The agenda must include the following: approval of the minutes of the preceding congress, reports of the president and general secretary, election of the account auditing committee, report of the General Treasurer, report of the account Auditing committee and of the Technical Directors, approbation of the members of the directing committee and election of new members to vacant positions on the Directing Committee.

 

8.7.     Each member national federation participating in the European Sumo Championships may be represented at the congress by two delegates who shall have the right to speak, but only one shall have the right to vote.

 

8.8.     Any member national federation whose language is not one of the official languages being used may also have their own interpreter in attendance.

 

8.9.     Each representative must be in possession of credentials signed by the President of his national federation unless the representative is himself the President.

 

8.10. Observers may be invited to the congress on the recommendations of the unions or the Directing Committee but with the right to speak only on the invitation and with the authorization of the President of the congress.

 

8.11. The Congress shall be presided over by the President of the ESU or in his absence by the Vice President or General Secretary.

 

 

8.13. With the exception of the President no member of the Directing Committee shall not, as such, have the right to vote. The president votes only in case of a tie.

 

8.14. The Congress shall decide by majority vote. Voting shall be done generally by the raising of hands or by a roll call. For elections or questions of particular importance or delicacy or whenever three delegates shall demand, voting shall be by secret ballot.

 

8.15. Voting for elections shall be by successive elimination of candidates polling the least number of votes until only one candidate remains or until one candidate shall obtain more than 50% of the votes cast.

 

8.16. In the case of an equal vote a deciding vote shall be cast by the President or in his absence by his deputy.

Article 9 - Extraordinary Congress                                                                

 

9.1.     If at least one fifth of the member National Federations of ESU, so request, or if the Directing Committee consider it necessary, an Extraordinary Congress may be convened by the President and General Secretary in a town chosen by the Directing Committee.

 

9.2.     In the case where such a Congress is requested by at least half of the National Federation members of ESU, the Congress must be held in the three months following the date on which the request sent by registered air letter and containing the reasons for the meeting is received by the General Secretariat of the ESU.

 

9.3.     The agenda for the meeting must indicate the reasons for the Congress.

 

9.4.     The discussions and decisions of an Extraordinary Congress shall have equal validity with and comply with the same conditions as those of an ordinary Congress.

Article 10 - Directing Committee

 

10.1. The Directing Committee is composed of three voting members: the President, the General Secretary and the General Treasurer,. Other non voting members are the Sports Directors, the Referee Director and two or more nonvoting vice presidents and Education Director.

 

10.2 The Directing Committee ("DC") is composed of:

The President

The Vice-Presidents

The General Secretary

The General Treasurer

The sport Directors

The referee Director

The education director

 

10.3. The members of the Directing Committee shall hold office for at least four years in the position to which they were elected. At the expiry of their term Committee members may offer themselves for re-election.

 

10.4. No person may hold more than two posts on the Directing Committee simultaneously.

 

10.5. Nominations for any of the elected posts on the Directing Committee must be sent to the General Secretary duly signed by the President of the Member National Federation at least two months prior to the date fixed for the Congress, The General Secretary will circulate these nominations together with the invitation and Congress documents at least one month prior to the date fixed for the Congress in order that all Member Federations may inform their Congress delegates of their opinions. Nominations will not be accepted from the floor of the Congress.

 

10.6. However, the term of members of the Directing Committee of the ESU will be automatically extended up to the time of the next Congress if the term expires before the meeting of such Congress. If because of a resignation, or any other reason a post other than that of President or Vice-President becomes vacant on the Directing Committee, the Directing Committee may co-opt a replacement, who shall serve until the next Congress, which will approve or not the co-option made by the Directing Committee, and if so approved the co-opted member shall complete the term of office for which the original member had been elected.

 

10.7. As a general rule the Directing Committee shall meet once per year on the occasion of the European Sumo Championships and particularly during the days preceding a Congress. A meeting of the Directing Committee may however be convened either by the President with the consent of the Office of the President, each time he judges this necessary, or on the request of a majority of the members of the Directing Committee.

 

10.8. When for any reason whatsoever a meeting of the Directing Committee cannot take place, necessary decisions may be taken following an exchange of letters, faxes or Emails.

 

10.9. The Directing Committee makes all decisions regarding the activities of the ESU between each Congress, and approves or disapproves any urgent decisions taken by the Office of the President or by the President himself.

 

10.10. The Directing Committee takes all its decisions by simple majority. In the event of an equality of votes, the President or his deputy shall have a casting vote.

 

10.11.    In order to be considered valid, any meeting of the Directing Committee must include at least half of its members and be presided over by the President, or in the event of his absence, by the Vice President or General Secretary.                                                                        

10.12.    To be assisted in their work, the Directing Committee may form commissions and/or working groups. Their members must be appointed and approved by the Directing Committee.

 

10.13 DC members are not allowed to compete as athletes in European Championships or any other official events.

 

Article 11 - President      

 

11.1. The President is elected by the Congress. He directs the ESU and represents it before third parties.

 

11.2. In case of absence of the President by reason of resignation or for any other reason the Presidency shall be assumed by the first Vice President. The interim President shall serve until the next Congress where the Congress will elect a new President.

 

11.3 The President must comply with the ESU Statutes, Rules, Regulations and decisions. The President chairs Congresses and DC meetings. The President has the right to entrust DC members and Commissions to solve specific problems and to appoint, with the approval of the DC, temporary Working Groups.

 

 

Article 12 - Vice-President

 

12.1 The Vice-Presidents are elected by the Congress.

 

12.2 The Vice Presidents will be responsible for a particular field of activities determined by the DC.

 

 

Article 13 - General Secretary           

 

13.1. The General Secretary is elected by the Congress. He concerns himself with the administration of the Secretariat, and with the relations with the National Federations, as well as with the third parties.

 

13.2. The legal seat of the ESU is located in Geneva, Switzerland, until decided otherwise by the DC. The effective seat is in the town of the general secretary.

 

13.3. On the proposal of the General Secretary the Directing Committee may appoint Administrative Secretaries without the right to vote who shall attend meetings of the Office and of the Directing Committee as required. The General Secretary shall render, for the benefit of the Congress, a report on the activities of the General Secretariat.

 

13.4    The General Secretary directs the ESU Secretariat. He holds close contact with the DC members of the ESU, the Chairpersons of the Commissions and with the Member National Federations. The General Secretary is responsible for the information and the correspondence within the ESU. He shall represent the ESU before third parties, as directed by the President.

13.5    The General Secretary sends the invitations and regulations for the European Championships and other important events. The General Secretary elaborates the minutes of Congress and DC meetings.

 

 

Article14- General Treasurer

 

14.1    The General Treasurer is elected by the Congress. He is responsible for the Treasury of the ESU and shall be responsible for keeping regular accounts. He shall represent the ESU before third parties,

14.2    All income and expenses must be included in the budget as approved by the Office of the President. Any expenses not included in the budget or approved by the Office of the President before being incurred, requires prior authorization by the President and the General Treasurer.

14.3    For each DC meeting or congress the General Treasurer shall provide an up-to-date report of the financial situation of the ESU.

 

Article 15 - Sports Directors

 

15.1    The ESU has three Sports Directors elected by the Congress, for Refereeing- and Education/Training field.

15.2    Sport. He shall guide and manage: the invitations/regulations and the running of the European Championships and other ESU events including directing the control of nations and the drawing.  He shall be responsible for the control of installations of the upcoming Championships.

15.3.   Refereeing. He shall guide and manage: the formation and training of the referees, the division, control and supervision of the referees on the occasion of official ESU events, the direction and consultation of the Refereeing Sub-Committee, classification of the referees, as well as the representation in the IFS Refereeing Commission.

15.4   Education. He shall look at the respect of etiquette, as well as ethical matters. 

 

Article 16 - Office of the President

 

16.1  The Office of the President shall consist of the President, and Vice Presidents, General Secretary and General Treasurer. Meetings shall be convened by the  General Secretary on the demand of the President.

 

16.2.  It shall deliberate and decide in cases of emergency on questions of extreme importance. Any decisions taken, however, must be submitted for ratification to the DC by letter or at the next meeting of the Directing Committee.

 

 

Article 17

Honorary members can be named by the general assembly on the proposal of any member of the European Sumo Union. Proposals should arrive to the general secretary two months prior to any election.

 

Article 18 - Income and Expenditure 

18.1.  Operating and administrative expenses of the ESU are covered by the resources provided by the annual dues of the member Federations; by donations, and by all remittances from other sources.

 

18.2.  Member Federations must pay each year to the Treasurer before the 31st May of the year concerned an annual fee as fixed by the Congress or just prior to a European championship if so approved by the treasurer.

 

18.3.  Member Federations whose membership fees to the ESU are not paid by the 31st of May will not be permitted to take part in the European Championships or any other event held under the control of the ESU. Federations still not up to date with payment of such fees one further year later shall automatically be expelled from membership of the ESU.

 

18.4 All the directing personnel of the ESU, that is to say, the members of the Directing Committee, will offer their services freely. However, in the exception of the vice presidents, their travelling and living expenses will be assumed by the ESU in the case of all meetings and official missions with the exception of meetings or missions for which expenses are assumed by another organization.

 

18.5.  All the television, radio, film, photographical, contractual and proprietary rights of the European Sumo Championships are the exclusive property of the ESU. These rights may not be sold or negotiated without the written agreement of the Directing Committee, which may delegate its authority to negotiate the sale or utilization of these rights, but which shall retain the sole responsibility for the final decision and for the utilization of the income from the sale of the rights.

 

 

Article 19 - Control of Accounts

 

19.1. An external Auditor is confirmed at each general assembly by the approval of the accounts.

19.2. In case the accounts are not approved or have a chance not to be approved by the general assembly, a new auditor can be voted for , should a country propose a new auditor two months before the general assembly.

19.3.  The names of the auditor(s) should be submitted, by the member federations' applications, two months prior to the ESU Congress. The auditors will be given the opportunity to examine the accounts, two to four days before the Congress.

 

 

 

Article 20 - Expulsion, Resignation, Suspension

 

20.1.  A National Federation may be expelled from the ESU for one of the following reasons:

 

a)         As a result of expulsion from its national sports organization or NOC.

b)        Omission of payment of fees for one year.

c)        By majority decision of the Congress.

d)        By not participating to any international events during a period of five years

 

20.2.  National Federations who have not paid their annual fees to the ESU by the required date will be automatically suspended from all international activities until complete payment of all amounts due is made.

 

20.3.  National Federations, which, at the date fixed by the Congress, have not paid up to date, shall have the right to participate in the work of the Congress but not the right to vote.

 

20.4.  Any Federation which has resigned or been expelled from and wishes to rejoin the ESU, will have to pay a re-entry fee which may be equivalent to up to a maximum of twice the amount it would have had to pay had it remained in membership.

 

20.5. If a National Federation or an individual member contravenes the Statutes of the ESU or for any reason of discipline, the ESU may restrain or suspend the activities of this Federation or individual member, in accordance with the Statutes of ESU.

 

20.6.  All actions with the exception of expulsion taken by the ESU with regard to one of its member Federations shall entail the recognition of this action by the IFS.

 

20.7.  National Federations are prohibited from having sporting relations with dissident organizations of a member country of the ESU, or with member National Federations that are suspended due to non-payment of fees or for disciplinary reasons. Should they do so they will immediately be suspended and reported to the Congress, which will take the necessary disciplinary action.

 

20.8.  On the other hand in the interest of the development of Sumo and the raising of its technical level in all countries, friendly sporting relations with countries, which are not yet members of the IFS, are authorized.

 

 

Article 21 - Modification to the Statutes

 

21.1.For anything, which is not covered by these present Statutes, the Directing Committee may take action in accordance with the decisions of the Congress or take the necessary decision, which must then be submitted for approval to the next Congress.

 

21.2.   Modifications of the Statutes must be approved by a minimum of a two thirds majority of the Member National Federations present or represented at the Congress.

 

Article 22 - Bye-Laws

 

The ESU in addition to its Statutes shall recognize Bye-Laws. The Bye-Laws may be formed and changed by the Directing Committee. The ESU Statutes shall remain only to be changed in accordance with Congress decisions.

 

 

Article 23 - Dissolution

 

In the case of dissolution, the property and funds of the ESU will be divided amongst its members.

 

 

Article 24 - Effective date

 

Above Statutes of the ESU have been approved by the congress held in, Varna, Bulgaria 07/05/2011