Statutes of the National Paralympic Committee of Iran — 2018

Statutes of the National Paralympic Committee, approved on 15 August 2018 by the Council of Ministers — the founding instrument of the body that, following its separation from the National Olympic Committee, became the independent authority for disability sport.

Approval	15 August 2018 — Council of Ministers
Legal basis	The single article of the Act on the Separation of the National Paralympic Committee from the National Olympic Committee — enacted 2016
Proposed by	The Ministry of Sport and Youth and the National Paralympic Committee, jointly
Structure	24 articles — full text below on this page

Full text of the Statutes

Ministry of Sport and Youth

At its session of 15 August 2018, on the joint proposal of the Ministry of Sport and Youth and the National Paralympic Committee and pursuant to the single article of the Act on the Separation of the National Paralympic Committee from the National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Iran — enacted 2016 — the Council of Ministers approved the Statutes of the National Paralympic Committee as follows:

Statutes of the National Paralympic Committee

#Article 1

In these Statutes, the following terms have the meanings respectively set out below:

(a) International Paralympic Committee (IPC): an international, non-profit and non-governmental organisation that bears duties, responsibilities and obligations in respect of the Paralympic Charter throughout the world.

(b) Committee: the National Paralympic Committee (NPC), a non-governmental, non-profit public institution with independent legal personality, possessing financial autonomy and free of any racial, religious or political bias.

(c) Paralympic sport: sports whose summer or winter discipline has been or is admitted to membership of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

(d) Sports federation: a non-governmental public body with legal personality which, on the basis of the policy and sporting principles of the relevant international federation and national laws and regulations, operates as the highest competent technical authority in the country in one or more sports.

(e) Veteran with disability (jānbāz): a person who has lost their health in the course of the development, flourishing, defence and preservation of

the achievements of the Islamic Revolution and the entity of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the independence and territorial integrity of the country, and in confronting the threats and aggression of the enemy, counter-revolutionary agents and outlaws, and has thereby sustained physical or mental impairments and disabilities.

(f) Person with disability: an individual in whom, as determined by the medical commission of the State Welfare Organisation, a physical, intellectual, mental or combined impairment has caused a continuous and significant disturbance in their health and general capability, such that it reduces their independence in social and economic spheres.

(g) Sporting seat: a legal position that has been or is created, in compliance with the relevant rules, within the official structures of national and international sporting bodies.

(h) Paralympic athlete: a veteran with disability or a person with disability who practises sport at the recreational, elite or professional level.

(i) Sports coach: an individual who holds an official and valid coaching certificate in one of the sports from the relevant national, Asian or world sports federations.

(j) Sports referee: an individual who holds an official and valid refereeing certificate in one of the sports from the relevant national, Asian or world federations.

(k) Sports expert: a specialist, experienced and authoritative individual in sporting matters who is recognised as such by

the relevant national, Asian or world sports federations and other competent authorities.

(l) Target community: all veterans with disability and persons with disability in the country who have a type of impairment covered by and falling within the governance of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

#Article 2

The Committee, as the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran at the Games approved by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), enjoys exclusive powers. The Committee's head office is located in Tehran and the Committee's official language is Persian, and its emblem comprises the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the emblem of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in the upper part, together with the official name of the Committee, which is set out in both Persian and English at the lower part thereof.

#Article 3

The Committee is established on the basis of humanitarian principles and the principles set out in the Paralympic Charter, in compliance with domestic law, for the purpose of developing sport within the target community, training young personnel, supporting the Paralympic Movement, promoting sports and the programme of the Paralympic Games (summer and winter), and likewise participating in measures that advance peace and support and encourage observance of sporting ethical principles and responsible attention to environmental matters, and it has the following objectives within the target community:

(a) Maintaining and enhancing podium places at Paralympic and Asian Para level.

(b) Creating the conditions necessary for the development and expansion of sporting activities with a view to making sport universal.

(c) Disseminating and deepening the qualities of chivalry, the pahlavani ethos, ethical and cultural principles and national values among athletes.

(d) Laying the appropriate groundwork for the development of educational, recreational, elite and professional sport.

(e) Advancing women's sport.

(f) Raising the quantitative and qualitative level of Paralympic sports.

#Article 4

The duties and powers of the Committee are as follows:

(a) Safeguarding, developing and promoting the fundamental principles of the Paralympic Movement, and adopting the measures necessary to counter any discrimination, violence and corruption in sport and to create a sound and elevated environment, in compliance with domestic law.

(b) Providing the conditions for the attendance and dispatch of athletes and officials at the Paralympic Games (summer and winter) and to international seats, and likewise the dispatch of athletes to competitions held within the framework of those Games.

(c) Extending and advancing ethics, culture and national values among athletes and officials by various means, including through the establishment of a Paralympic museum.

(d) Developing and advancing the recreational, elite and professional sport that is the subject of these Statutes by conducting scientific and technical research through the Paralympic Academy.

(e) Encouraging and prompting the target community to preserve their health and fitness through participation in sporting activities.

(f) Maintaining continuous relations with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and its member countries and bodies and the relevant domestic authorities.

(g) Familiarising the general public with the charter and ethos of the Paralympic Games and encouraging them to support the Paralympic Games.

(h) Guiding, supervising and supporting the federations in matters relating to Paralympic sports, in compliance with the relevant laws and regulations.

(i) Preparing the design of the flag, emblem and anthem of the National Paralympic Committee, with the approval of the Presiding Board, for submission to national, international and world authorities.

(j) Examining the establishment and membership, or the suspension of membership, of a Paralympic sport within the federations in conformity with the Paralympic Charter, through the relevant authorities.

(k) Supporting the activities and the development of the role of women of the target community in the sporting, technical and managerial spheres of sport.

(l) Planning and supporting the compilation, authorship, translation and publication of sporting, cultural and scientific books, periodicals and articles related to the objectives and duties of the Committee.

(m) Adopting the measures necessary to counter the use of prohibited performance-enhancing substances declared prohibited by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

(n) Carrying out economic and financial activities to help meet the expenses of the National Paralympic Committee in furtherance of the Committee's objectives.

(o) Providing the groundwork necessary for the welfare and social security of the target community through the relevant organisations, bodies and centres.

#Article 5

The organs of the Committee are as follows:

(a) The General Assembly

(b) The Executive Board

(c) The statutory auditor

#Article 6

The General Assembly is the highest decision-making authority of the Committee and its sessions are held in two forms, ordinary and extraordinary. The chair of the General Assembly is responsible for conducting the session, and in their absence one of the vice-chairs, chosen by the chair, shall conduct the session.

#Article 7

The duties and powers of the General Assembly are as follows:

(a) Electing and removing the president of the Committee, the treasurer and the other members of the Executive Board.

(b) Examining and evaluating the Committee's annual performance report, which is presented to the General Assembly by the Secretary General.

(c) Examining and approving the financial report presented by the auditor.

(d) Selecting a statutory accountant for a term of one year, hearing their report and taking decisions on that basis.

(e) Examining and approving the Committee's annual programme.

(f) Examining and endorsing the necessary proposals concerning the amendment and modification of the articles of the Statutes, with the endorsement of at least two-thirds of the members of the General Assembly, for submission to the Ministry of Sport and Youth with a view to approval by the Council of Ministers.

(g) Approving the organisational structure of the Committee and its affiliated units in accordance with the provisions of the Statutes.

(h) Approving the establishment or dissolution of affiliated units, in compliance with the relevant laws and regulations.

(i) Approving the internal rules (the manner of convening and conducting sessions) of the General Assembly.

(j) Selecting the auditor.

(k) Proposing the dissolution of the Committee, following approval by two-thirds of the members of the General Assembly, to the Council of Ministers for consideration and decision so that the legal steps may be taken.

(l) Taking decisions on the bringing, pursuit of and response to claims and complaints relating to the Committee and their referral to arbitration or settlement, in compliance with Article (139) of the Constitution.

#Article 8

The composition of the members of the General Assembly is as follows:

(a) The president of the federation, or one of the members of the board of directors of those federations whose sports have been admitted to membership of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and which are active in the country, as chosen by the board of directors (8 members).

(b) Representatives of the sports whose membership of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has been confirmed and which are active in the country under the multi-sport federations (the federations for the sports of veterans with disability and persons with disability, and for the blind and partially sighted) (one person for every three sports, and four persons in total).

(c) The representative of the State Welfare Organisation.

(Note) In the event that a new sports federation or a new Paralympic sport is established, its members shall be added to the composition of the General Assembly.

(d) Five Paralympic sports experts, at least two of whom shall be women, as chosen by the Executive Board.

(e) The Minister of Sport and Youth and three of the Minister's deputies for elite sport, recreational sport and women's affairs.

(f) The president or the representative of the Committee.

(g) The members of the Executive Board.

(h) Four Iranian members of international assemblies, with priority given to membership of the world organisations for the blind (IBSA), for persons with intellectual impairment (INAS), for amputees and wheelchair users (IWAS) and for those with cerebral palsy (CPISRA), approved by the Executive Board, respectively in the International Paralympic Committee and world bodies, two of whom shall be women where such a seat exists.

(i) The president of the Paralympic Academy.

(j) The presidents of the university, school, workers' and medical federations (4 persons in total).

(k) The representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.

(l) One female coach and one male coach, and one female referee and one male referee.

(m) Two male Paralympic medal-winning athletes.

(n) Two female Paralympic medal-winning athletes.

#Article 9

The members of the General Assembly have the right to vote and to submit proposals and express views in the General Assembly, to nominate candidates for the relevant sections of the Committee, and to participate and cooperate in the Committee's activities.

#Article 10

The members of the General Assembly are obliged to develop, promote and safeguard the vision and mission of the Committee in accordance with the by-laws, internal rules, laws and regulations of the Committee.

#Article 11

The manner of holding the General Assembly and the conduct of elections are as follows:

(a) The ordinary General Assembly is held at least once a year.

(b) The Executive Board must determine the date, place and agenda of the General Assembly at least two months before the date on which the General Assembly is held.

(c) The official written notice convening the General Assembly must be sent to all members at least (45) days before the session, together with the agenda, the Committee's performance report, the financial report, the audit report and other relevant matters.

(d) The Executive Secretary must draw up the agenda of the General Assembly on the basis of the proposals received from the Executive Board and the other members. Should any member have a proposal for consideration by the General Assembly, they may send their proposal in writing, with the necessary explanations concerning it, to the Executive Secretary (30) days before the notice convening the General Assembly is sent.

(e) The quorum for the first session of the General Assembly to be validly constituted is the attendance of half plus one of the members.

(f) The quorum for the second session to be validly constituted is at least one-third of the members, unless the agenda concerns the amendment or modification of the Statutes, the expulsion of members or the dissolution of the Committee, in which case the session shall be validly constituted with the attendance of two-thirds of the members.

(g) Decisions of the General Assembly are valid by a majority of half plus one of the members present at the session of the General Assembly.

(h) If the quorum of members is not attained at more than two sessions, the membership of those members who have not attended

the said sessions shall be revoked and another person shall be substituted in accordance with the provisions of these Statutes.

(i) The election of the president, the vice-presidents (one of whom must be chosen from among women) and the treasurer is by a majority of the votes of the members present at the session (half plus one), by written and secret ballot, and for a term of four years.

(Note) There is no impediment to the re-election of the aforementioned persons for one further term.

(j) The election of the members of the Executive Board is valid by a majority (half plus one) of the votes of the members present at the session. Should none of the candidates succeed in obtaining half plus one of the votes in the first round, twice the required number of candidates, being those who obtained the most votes in the first round, shall take part in a second round at the same session, and those persons who obtain the highest number of votes in that round shall be elected as the Committee's Executive Board.

(Note) In the event of the death, resignation or removal of any member of the General Assembly, the body that nominates the representative for membership of the General Assembly is obliged to present a replacement to the president of the Committee.

(k) Should any member of the Executive Board be unable to attend sessions of the Executive Board by reason of resignation, incapacity, death or unjustified absence for more than three months, as determined by the Executive Board, another person shall be elected as a replacement at the first session of the next term of the General Assembly by the mechanism for the election of members of the Executive Board.

(l) Persons who are members of the General Assembly and who are candidates for the various positions on the Executive Board must attend the Committee in person and register at least thirty days before the date of the elections, bringing with them the documents that have been announced.

(Note) The conditions and documents required for registration shall be announced in accordance with the relevant directive approved by the General Assembly.

#Article 12

The extraordinary General Assembly takes decisions on the following matters:

(a) The modification and amendment of the Statutes.

(b) The expulsion of members and the dissolution of the Committee.

#Article 13

The manner of convening the extraordinary General Assembly is as follows:

(a) The president, with the endorsement of the Executive Board, or one-third of the members of the General Assembly may at any time request that the General Assembly be convened in extraordinary session.

(b) The official written notice convening the extraordinary General Assembly must be sent to the members at least one month before the session, together with the agenda and other relevant matters.

#Article 14

The manner in which the membership of any member of the General Assembly terminates is as follows:

(a) In relation to the representative of a sports federation or a sporting body:

1. Dissolution.

2. Expiry of membership where that member no longer satisfies the conditions of membership under the rules set out in these Statutes.

(b) In relation to natural persons:

1. The death or resignation of the individual who has been recognised as a member of the General Assembly.

2. Conviction to a penalty for the disqualifying criminal offences referred to in Article (25) of the Islamic Penal Code, or deprivation of social rights.

3. Expulsion in the event of a breach of the provisions of these Statutes or of the Olympic Charter or of the rules of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), subject to the endorsement of the General Assembly and after affording an opportunity for the explanations of the member concerned to be heard.

(Note) A decision in this regard shall, after the explanations of the member concerned have been heard, be valid by a two-thirds majority of the votes of the members entitled to vote.

#Article 15

The members of the Executive Board comprise the members of the Presiding Board and six persons elected from among the members of the General Assembly.

(Note 1) Sessions of the Executive Board are held at least once a month and with the attendance of a majority of the members. The chairing of Executive Board sessions rests with the president of the Committee, and in their absence one of the vice-presidents conducts the session.

(Note 2) Resolutions of the Executive Board are validly adopted by a majority of the votes of the members present at the session. In the event of a tie, the view of the president shall prevail.

(Note 3) The manner of convening and conducting sessions is in accordance with a directive approved by the Executive Board.

#Article 16

The duties of the Executive Board are as follows:

(a) Planning and directing all technical and executive matters with a view to implementing the decisions and resolutions of the General Assembly.

(b) Examining and proposing the financial, transactional and employment by-laws and the organisational chart of the Committee for submission to the General Assembly.

(c) Examining and approving strategic programmes to support the sports at the Paralympic Games.

(d) Endorsing the Committee's annual programme for submission to the General Assembly.

(e) Endorsing the Executive Secretary and the president of the Committee's Academy, on the proposal of the president of the Committee.

(f) Selecting the executive officers and the heads of the Committee's commissions, on the proposal of the Executive Secretary.

(g) Selecting the Committee's representatives for attendance at international assemblies and congresses, on the nomination of the Executive Secretary.

(h) Supporting the federations' representatives for membership of international, Asian and world assemblies.

(i) Proposing the establishment or dissolution of affiliated units and submitting this to the General Assembly.

(j) Taking decisions on the reports prepared for submission to the General Assembly and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and other relevant legal authorities.

(k) Supervising the course of the Committee's current affairs.

(l) The other duties provided for the Executive Board in these Statutes.

(Note 1) The Executive Secretary is appointed by decree of the president of the Committee and is a member of the Executive Board.

(Note 2) Membership of the Committee's Executive Board, other than the Executive Secretary and the treasurer, is not full-time, and only an attendance fee for sessions shall be paid in accordance with the rules and regulations relating to the members of the Executive Board.

#Article 17

The Executive Secretary, under the supervision of the president of the Committee, is responsible for administering the administrative and executive affairs of the Committee through the Committee's secretariat, and their other duties and powers are as follows:

(a) Implementing the resolutions of the Executive Board.

(b) Arranging, holding and attending sessions of the Executive Board and the General Assembly, and likewise sending notices to the members and drawing up the minutes.

(c) Conducting all of the Committee's domestic and foreign correspondence.

(d) Drawing up the Committee's budget in cooperation with the treasurer.

(e) The necessary coordination between the Committee's various sections.

(f) Submitting proposals to the Executive Board for the selection of officers, staff and heads of commissions, in representing the Committee before all judicial, administrative and registration authorities.

#Article 18

The duties of the statutory auditor are as follows:

(a) Reporting in writing to the General Assembly and the Executive Board any irregularities in the manner in which the Committee's affairs are administered and any excess beyond the limits of the Statutes, the by-laws and the regulations.

(b) Examining the accounts, ledgers, documents and records, and the revenues and the cash and non-cash assets and securities.

(c) Examining and expressing an opinion on the annual reports of the Executive Board, the balance sheet and the closing of the previous year's budget and the statement of assets, and likewise on the accuracy of the matters and information placed at the disposal of the General Assembly by the Executive Board.

(d) Preparing a comprehensive report on the state of the Committee for the General Assembly at least ten days before the General Assembly convenes, so that it is accessible to the members of the General Assembly.

(e) Continuous inspection of and supervision over the implementation of, and the conformity of the manner in which the Committee's affairs are administered with, the Statutes and the by-laws and the domestic and international regulations of the Committee, particularly at times when Paralympic, world and Asian Para competitions are held.

(Note) The statutory auditor may, without interfering in executive matters, carry out any necessary examination and inspection at any time, and may request and examine the documents, records and information relating to the Committee.

#Article 19

The treasurer bears executive responsibility for financial affairs and the safekeeping of the Committee's property and must satisfy the following conditions:

(a) Iranian nationality.

(b) Holding a bachelor's degree in one of the relevant fields.

(c) Having no disqualifying criminal conviction or deprivation of social rights.

(Note) The treasurer shall, if they satisfy the necessary legal conditions and subject to the confirmation and decree of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance, also bear responsibility for performing the duties of the Committee's financial comptroller.

#Article 20

The duties and powers of the treasurer are as follows:

(a) Supervising the activities relating to the attraction of financial assistance and gifts.

(b) Taking the necessary action and follow-up for the collection of receivables and the securing of the Committee's funding.

(c) Close supervision of the proper conduct of the Committee's financial and transactional affairs and the keeping of the statutory ledgers and current records.

(d) Drawing up the budget and the expenditure of the approved budget in the non-governmental appropriations section in accordance with the regulations in force, in coordination with the Secretary General and in compliance with the approved by-laws and directives.

(e) Supervising all matters relating to the Committee's expenditure.

(f) Preparing, drawing up and submitting the financial report to the Executive Board and the statutory auditor for consideration by the General Assembly.

(Note) The Committee's binding financial instruments and documents are valid with the signature of the president or the Executive Secretary (by delegation from the president of the Committee) and the standing signature of the treasurer or the financial comptroller, in compliance with the Public Accounting Act, and bearing the Committee's seal.

#Article 21

The Committee may, for the purpose of obtaining advisory opinions, establish specialist commissions on athletes' affairs, legal and judicial affairs, recreational sport and women's sport, and other matters required within the scope of the Committee's activity.

#Article 22

The Committee's financial resources are as follows:

(a) Government assistance.

(b) Financial assistance or gifts from natural and legal persons.

(c) The proceeds of competitions and likewise the proceeds of Paralympic Day or Paralympic Week.

(d) The proceeds from the sale of sporting stamps and coins and Paralympic and Asian Para medals.

(e) Income arising from economic activities within the framework of the subject matter of these Statutes.

(f) Other income, with the approval of the Executive Board, such as from sponsors and advertising, in compliance with

the relevant laws and regulations.

#Article 23

The Committee's financial year begins on the first day of Farvardin of each year and runs to the end of Esfand of that same year.

#Article 24

Where the articles of these Statutes are silent, ambiguous or unclear, the basis for action shall be the general regulations governing the Committee and the provisions of the Paralympic Charter.

First Vice-President — Es'haq Jahangiri