THE CONSTITUTION of the sports union named
EUROPEAN UNION OF PANKRATION ATHLIMA
translated in Greek as
ΕΥΡΩΠΑΪΚΗ ΕΝΩΣΗ ΠΑΓΚΡΑΤΙΟΥ ΑΘΛΗΜΑΤΟΣ
ARTICLE 1: ESTABLISHMENT – NAME
A Sports amateur, non-profit organisation is founded under the name “EUROPEAN UNION OF PANKRATION ATHLIMA”, abbreviated to “E.U.P.A.”.
ARTICLE 2: SEAT - LANGUAGE - SEAL - TAX REG. NO. - WEBSITE - EMAIL
2.1. The official seat (registered office) of the E.U.P.A. is located in the city of Lamia, Greece.
2.2. The official language for communication between members of the E.U.P.A. is English. The technical and referee rules for the sport are in Greek.
2.3. The official seal of the E.U.P.A. is round, the border of which contains a meander pattern whose centre comprises a representation of the European Continent with two ancient Pankration athletes in a kick and block position.
2.4. The E.U.P.A. is a European non-profit sports organisation full member in the International Federation of Pankration Athlima.
ARTICLE 3: DEFINITIONS – OBJECTIVES
3.1. Pankration Athlima is a martial art that developed in ancient Greece, where it evolved and eventually became an Olympic sport in 648 BC. As such, it allowed its athletes to pursue both an intellectual and physical development.
3.2. Pankration is the most complete and effective contact and combat sport that uses the body to execute various kicks, punches, blocks, throws, grabs and submission techniques.
3.3. Pankration Championships are organised as an opportunity to test each athlete at all levels of competition, and aim at each athlete’s personal development.
The E.U.P.A. is a non-political, sports federation that does not discriminate in any way on the grounds of race or religious beliefs. Its main objectives are to:
a. Disseminate and develop Pankration Athlima by promoting and strengthening cordial relations between organisations and their respective members throughout the European Continent.
b. Develop Pankration Athlima in the spirit of an amateur sport, hence contributing to the betterment of the human personality.
c. To reinstate Pankration Athlima to its rightful place, namely the modern Olympic Games, as it was for 1,041 years during the ancient Olympic era.
ARTICLE 4: RECOGNITION OF THE I.F.P.A. AS HIGHER AUTHORITY -RECOGNITION OF THE CONTINENTAL UNIONS’ GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES
4.1. The E.U.P.A. recognises as its supervising authority the I.F.P.A. The latter’s Constitution, General Rules, and decisions taken both by the General Congress and by the Executive Committee are recognised by the E.U.P.A.
4.2. The E.U.P.A. recognises and respects the geographical areas of the following Continental Unions, whose purpose is to develop Pankration in their respective areas.
a. Africa [including the entire continent of Africa west of the Red Sea] is administered by the AFRICAN UNION OF PANKRATION ATHLIMA.
b. Asia [including the entire continent of Asia east of the Red Sea including the Middle East, the CIS Nations, Japan and the island nations of the Indian Ocean] is administered by the ASIAN UNION OF PANKRATION ATHLIMA.
c. Oceania [including the entire continent of Australia and the neighbouring island nations of the South-eastern Pacific Ocean] is administered by the OCEANIAN UNION OF PANKRATION ATHLIMA.
d. America [including the entire continent of North and South America and their neighbouring islands] is administered by the PAN-AMERICAN UNION OF PANKRATION ATHLIMA.
4.3. The E.U.P.A. is authorised to register national Pankration Federations as full or associate members, solely if they hold an official document as Full or Associate Member issued by the Executive Committee of the I.F.P.A.
ARTICLE 5: MEMBERS
5.1. The E.U.P.A.’s members shall comprise National Pankration Athlima Federations that hold the necessary qualifications to be such members, as laid down in the Constitution and as stated in the General Rules of the I.F.P.A.
5.2. National Federations shall autonomously manage all Pankration Athlima activities in their respective countries. The intervention of any other national, public, or private authority in their internal affairs is prohibited.
5.3. Each National Federation shall be an autonomous, non-profit organisation. It shall moreover be free of any professional involvement.
5.4. Each National Federation shall fight against and resist both the passive acceptance and the active implementation of any form of discrimination based on political, racial, or religious grounds.
5.5. The E.U.P.A. shall accredit and recognise one National Pankration Federation from each country.
5.6. Associate members may take part in all activities of the E.U.P.A. but shall not have the right to vote, nor to propose or second motions during any E.U.P.A. meeting.
5.7. Full or Associate members of the E.U.P.A. may resign from their position as members by submitting notice in writing to that effect to the Secretary General of the E.U.P.A.’s Executive Committee
5.8. A National Federation may be removed from the list of recognised E.U.P.A. members when it is found to have breached any decision taken by the E.U.P.A., the E.U.P.A. Constitution, the General Rules, any decisions and resolutions taken by the United Nations, or on the grounds cited in Articles 7.1.(e) and 12.6 of the present document.
5.9. Honorary membership of the E.U.P.A. may be conferred on suitable individuals elected by an ordinary majority by the E.U.P.A.’s General Congress. They may participate to the E.U.P.A.’s General Congress but are not allowed to vote.
ARTICLE 6: E.U.P.A. ORGANISATIONAL ISSUES
6.1. Minutes of all the E.U.P.A.’s meetings shall be written and copies shall be given to the E.U.P.A.’s Secretary General and to the I.F.P.A.’s Executive Committee.
a. The Secretary General shall issue copies of the minutes to each member of the Executive Committee and to the National Federations.
6.2. The activities of the E.U.P.A. shall be carried out via the following Administrative Bodies/Committees:
a. The General Congress
b. The Executive Committee
c. The Technical Committee
d. The Hellanodikon Committee
e. Any other board or committee which may be established to better serve the purposes of the E.U.P.A., if necessary.
ARTICLE 7: GENERAL CONGRESS
7.1. The General Congress shall:
a. Elect members of the Executive Committee and ratify the latter’s decisions and actions.
b. Approve its Continental technical and competition programmes as well as any changes done to either documents.
c. Be the uppermost authority in the E.U.P.A. regarding any issue, unless the latter is in conflict with the I.F.P.A.’s Constitution, the General Rules, and any decisions taken by either the I.F.P.A.’s General Congress or Executive Committee.
e. The E.U.P.A. shall not intervene in the internal affairs of its National Federations, unless they have breached either of the following:
1. The E.U.P.A. Constitution
2. The General Rules
3. The Hellanodikon (Referee) Rules, and
4. The election of the Executive Committee members using any procedures other than those stipulated in the national constitutions approved by the I.F.P.A.
f. Be constituted of:
1. Full National Federation members (ordinary and substitute members)
2. Members of the Executive Committee
3. Associate Members
4. Candidate Members
g. The minimum requisite quorum for the General Meeting shall be three (3) members of the Executive Committee and 50% of the members with voting rights.
h. Representatives of recognised National Federations that are the founding members of the E.U.P.A. shall have two votes.
1. Any non-founding member National Federation, which organises a Continental Championship shall acquire an additional voting at the next General Meeting.
2. As much as possible, championships shall be organised in rotation between the National Federations.
i. Representatives of Full Members are required to present written proof of their authorisation to represent their Federation at the General Congress, signed by their National Federation’s Executive Committee, to the E.U.P.A. Secretary General before the beginning of the Congress.
j. The General Congress shall be convened in principle once every two years, in conjunction with the Continental Championship. The General Congress will take place in the same city as the Continental Championship.
k. Should any Continental Championship be postponed, the corresponding General Congress shall also be postponed, until the next Continental Championship is organised.
l. An Extraordinary General Congress may be convened by the President, subsequent to a request by:
1. A majority of the Members of the Executive Committee
2. At least 2/3 of the Full Members.
m. The Secretary General, acting under the guidance of the Executive Committee, shall prepare the Agenda for the sessions of the General Congress. Should the Executive Committee be absent or unable to act, the President shall provide the necessary guidance to the Secretary General.
n. Any National Federation wishing to submit issues for inclusion in the agenda of a session of the General Congress shall submit full details of its issue to the Secretary General at least seventy (70) days prior to the General Congress.
o. A notice of the date and venue of the General Congress as well as a copy of the Agenda shall be dispatched by the Secretary General to all member National Federations, to the members of the Executive Committee, and to all other concerned individuals sixty (60) days prior to the scheduled date of the General Congress.
p. The General Congress shall elect members to positions in the Executive Committee. It reviews and ratifies the financial report, and approves the annual report and annual budget. It shall consider recommendations from its committees and boards and shall raise questions if necessary. It shall review questions and decisions made by the Executive Committee of the E.U.P.A., as well as proposals made by Members.
q. The General Congress shall, as a rule, examine only those items listed on the agenda, with the exception of any item proposed for discussion by 2/3 of the members present with voting rights.
r. The General Congress shall be chaired by the President of the Executive Committee of the E.U.P.A. and, in his absence, the Congress shall be chaired by any one of the members of the Executive Committee chosen by ballot.
s. All votes will be cast by show of voting cards, which shall be issued only to Members with voting rights by the Secretary General. All member National Federations with voting rights shall have one vote, with the exception of the cases as cited in paragraph 7.1., par. h. of the present document.
t. Members of the Executive Committeeshall have no voting rights unless they present written proof of this authority, signed by the Executive Committeeof their National Federation, to the E.U.P.A.’s Secretary General, prior to the beginning of the General Congress. In contrast, the President of the E.C. has the right to cast a vote in case of a tie.
ARTICLE 8: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
8.1. The Executive Committee(hereinafter referred to as the E.C.) represents the E.U.P.A.’s executive authority and shall fulfil its duties in the following ways:
a. Between sessions of the General Congress it shall assume full responsibility and absolute jurisdiction on behalf of the E.U.P.A.
b. All resolutions and actions of the E.C. are subject to subsequent ratification by the General Congress.
c. The members elected to positions in the E.C. of the E.U.P.A. shall not derive any direct, or indirect personal, or professional gain, or loss from the business world of Pankration Athlima. This article does not apply to Pankration Athlima Proponites (coaches) who earn money by teaching in Pankration Athlima gyms.
d. The E.C. shall comprise Members that hold the following positions:
The President
The Vice President – Chairman of the Technical Committee
The Vice President – Chairman of the Hellanodikon Committee
The Secretary General
The Treasurer
e. The voting in the E.C. will follow a simple majority rule. Each Member will have one vote, with exception of the President who may cast a second vote in case of a tie.
f. Members elected to positions in the E.C. by the General Congress shall hold office for a period of 4 years only. After this period, they may offer their candidacy for re-election, without the requisite written candidacy papers submitted by their National Federation. In cases of resignation of a member of the E.C., the vacant position shall be filled by a substitute candidate elected by a majority of the E.C. members .
g. The E.C. shall meet twice a year or more frequently if circumstances so dictate. Additional meetings shall be convened in writing by the Secretary General, subsequent to the orders of the President or to a request lodged by two or more members.
h. The President shall chair all meetings of the E.C. In case where the President is absent, a draw will define which member of the E.C. shall chair the meeting.
i. The Secretary General shall be responsible for the day to day administrative and bureaucratic activities of the E.U.P.A. and shall generally communicate with members and with third parties. Following the Secretary General’s request, the President shall appoint a Special Secretary (with no voting rights) who will in all likelihood reside the same city as the Secretary General.
j. The minimum quorum for a meeting of the E.C. shall be three (3) members.
ARTICLE 9: BOOKS AND RECORDS
9.1. The E.U.P.A. have the following books, which must be ratified and signed by the President and Secretary General of the I.F.P.A..
These include:
a. The Members Register
b. Minutes of the General Congress
c. Minutes of Executive Committee Meetings
d. Income - Expenses Books
e. Register of Assets
f. Register of incoming and outgoing documents.
ARTICLE 10: TECHNICAL COMMITTEE
10.1. The aim of the Technical Committee (hereinafter referred to as the T.C.) is to develop the technical aspect of Pankration. Its work shall be implemented via recommendatory reports and suggestions made to the Executive Committee
a. The T.C. shall consist of:
1. Three (3) Members
2. One (1) representative for each Member-National Federation.
b. The Technical Members of the T.C. shall be directly appointed by the E.C. to occupy the positions of Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Secretary General. They shall remain in office until released by the E.C., or until their resignation.
c. Meetings of the T.C. shall be conducted in conjunction with the Continental Championship but on a different day than the General Congress session. An extraordinary meeting of the T.C. may be convened following instructions from the E.C.
d. Meetings of the T.C. shall be chaired by the Chairman of the Committee or in his absence by the Vice Chairman. Should both the Chairman and Vice Chairman be absent, the meeting shall be chaired by one of the members chosen by ballot.
e. Voting shall be conducted by the T.C. by simply majority of the representatives of Members National Federations present and entitled to vote. The Chairman and T.C. Members shall have one vote. The Chairman has the right to cast a second vote in case of a tie.
f. The T.C. shall have a quorum when two of its three Members are present along with 50% of the representatives of Members National Federations.
ARTICLE 11: THE HELLANODIKON COMMITTEE
11.1. The Hellanodikon (Referee) Committee (hereinafter referred to as the H.C.) shall be responsible for ensuring a very high level of arbitration and uniform interpretation and implementation of the Referee Rules. Its work shall be implemented via recommendatory reports and suggestions made to the E.C..
a. The HC shall consist of:
1. 3 Referee Officers
2. 1 representative for every Member National Federation.
b. The Referee Officers shall be directly appointed by the E.C. to fill the positions of Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Secretary General. They shall remain in office until released by the E.C., or until their resignation.
c. Meetings of the H.C. shall be conducted in conjunction with the Continental Championship but on a different day than the General Congress session. An extraordinary meeting of the H.C. may be convened following instructions from the E.C.
d. Meetings of the H.C. shall be chaired by the Chairman of the Committee or in his absence by the Vice Chairman. Should both the Chairman and Vice Chairman be absent, the meeting shall be chaired by one of the Referee Officers chosen by ballot.
e. Voting shall be conducted by the H.C. by simply majority of the representatives of Members National Federations present and entitled to vote. The Chairman and H.C. Officers shall have one vote. The Chairman has the right to cast a second vote in case of a tie.
f. The H.C. shall have a quorum when two of its three Referee Officers are present and 50% of the representatives of Members National Federations.
g. Members of the E.C. may participate in the various committees but shall not be entitled to be concurrently active Hellanodikis.
h. Members of the H.C. may not be active Hellanodikis concurrently.
ARTICLE 12: FINANCIAL ISSUES
12.1. The financial year of the E.U.P.A. shall start on January 1st and end on December 31st.
12.2. The Treasurer shall draft:
a. A report on the income accrued and expenses incurred for the period between General Congress sessions.
b. A budget with the income and expenses to be accrued/incurred up until the next General Congress session.
c. The report and budget should be approved first by the E.C. and then by the General Congress.
12.3. The Treasurer shall keep a register of accounts and shall justify the entries made in them. The Books of accounts shall be subjected to professionally conducted accounting audit each year before delivering them to the General Congress for inspection.
12.4. At each General Congress a Financial Committee shall be appointed which shall inspect the E.U.P.A.’s finances. It shall consist of three members who are not members of the E.C. This Committee shall review the activities of the Treasurer and inform the General Congress accordingly.
12.5. Each Member National Federation shall pay the E.U.P.A. Treasurer a membership subscription fee, which shall be determined by the E.C. and approved by the General Congress.
a. Any National Federation which does not abide by this membership subscription fee payment may only attend the General Congress as an observer.
b. Any E.U.P.A. athlete that has violated the membership subscription fee rule, shall be allowed to take part in E.U.P.A. competitions only after he/she has settled his/her outstanding dues.
12.6. A Full or Associate member that, for two successive years, has violated the membership subscription fee payment rule shall automatically be removed from the E.U.P.A. members’ list.
12.7. Only the President of the E.U.P.A. has the authority to make resumption in any country from the banking accounts or other accounts, to receive payments, or to sign writ of payment for the E.U.P.A.. The President must then notify and send within 24 hours the necessary documents to the Treasurer and the General Secretary.
ARTICLE 13: RULES
13.1 The E.U.P.A. functions according to the following Rules that have been approved by the I.F.P.A.’s General Congress:
a. General Rules
b. Technical Rules
c. Hellanodikon (Referee) Rules
13.2 Every change to the above-mentioned Rules approved by the I.F.P.A.’s General Congress will automatically be enforced in the E.U.P.A..
ARTICLE 14: WINDING UP
14.1. The E.U.P.A. may be wound up following a decision taken by a 2/3 majority of Members at an Extraordinary General Meeting.
14.2. Should the E.U.P.A. be wound up, it shall be placed in liquidation by the Court of Lamia, Greece.
14.3. Following the end of liquidation, any assets that remain shall devolve to the Hellenic Sports Secretariat General. Subsequent to the winding up, no assets shall be distributed among the members.
ARTICLE 15: SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS IN EFFECT
15.1. Any ambiguous matter not regulated by the present Constitution or by the I.F.P.A.’s General Rules, shall be regulated by the decisions of the I.F.P.A. and by the E.U.P.A.’s General Congress.
ARTICLE 16: FINAL PROVISIONS
16.1. This Constitution as presented herewith and including sixteen (16) Articles, has been approved by the E.U.P.A. Members at the I.F.P.A.’s and Continental Unions Foundation General Congress held at Lamia - Greece on April 17th, 1999.
On behalf of the E.U.P.A.’s Executive Committee
The President Alexander Mandrik
The Secretary General Vangelis Koutras, Prof. Physical Education
