CONSTITUTION

1. Interpretation

1.1 In the interpretation of these Rules and all by-laws thereunder, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) “Affiliate” shall mean any association, club, institution or other body affiliated to the Singapore National Olympic Council under these Rules;

(b) “Association” shall mean any association, club, institution or other body controlling any branch of sport in Singapore;

(c) “The Council” shall mean the Singapore National Olympic Council;

(d) “The Executive Committee” shall mean the Executive Committee for the time being appointed under these Rules;

(e) “IF” shall mean an international non-government organisation administering one or several sport(s) at world level recognised as such by the IOC and the Council;

(f) “IOC” shall mean the International Olympic Committee;

(g) “Officials” with reference to the Executive Committee shall mean and include the President, Vice-Presidents and Honorary Treasurer;

(h) “Olympic Games” shall mean the Games of the Olympiad and/or the Olympic Winter Games;

(i) “The Secretary-General” shall mean the Secretary-General or the Assistant Secretary-General for the time being of the Council.

1.2 In these Rules, the masculine gender used in relation to any physical person shall, unless there is a specific provision to the contrary, be understood as including the feminine gender.

2. Council

2.1 OBJECTS OF COUNCIL

2.1.1 The objects of the Council shall be:

(a) To promote the general interest of sport in Singapore;

(b) To negotiate with similar councils or bodies in other territories in all matters appertaining to the general interest of sport and in particular in the organisation of inter-territorial meetings, but so as not to limit in any way the activities of existing Associations;

(c) To plan, select, train and administer any Singapore team or organisation whether representing Singapore or as part of a joint team of organisation with any territory or territories, and for that purpose to be affiliated to the lOC, the Commonwealth Games Federation and any other organisation of a like nature;

(d) To develop and protect the Olympic Movement in Singapore;

(e) To ensure the observance of the Olympic Charter in Singapore;

(f) To encourage the development of high performance sport as well as sport for all;

(g) To help in the training of sports administrators by organising courses and to ensure that such courses contribute to the propagation of the fundamental principles of Olympism;

(h) To encourage the creation of institutions which devote themselves to Olympic education, in particular, National Olympic Academies, Olympic Museums and cultural programmes related to the Olympic movement;

(i) To raise and administer funds for the furtherance of the above objects;

(j) To conform to minimum standards for participation in international sports competitions and games and other terms and requirements for the purpose of receiving aid from the Singapore Sports Council;

(k) To be completely independent and autonomous and to resist all political, religious or commercial pressure;

(l) To fight against the use of substances and procedures prohibited by the lOC or the IFs and, in this regard, to ensure the observance of the World Anti-Doping Code which provisions shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to all persons and competitions under the jurisdiction of Council;

(m) To commit itself to taking action against any form of discrimination and violence in sport; and

(n) To co-operate with government or non-government bodies in order to fulfil its objectives.

2.2 POWERS OF COUNCIL

2.2.1 The Council:

(a) shall have the exclusive authority for the representation and participation of Singapore at the Olympic Games and at the regional, continental or world multisports competitions patronised by the IOC;

(b) shall constitute, organise and lead its delegation at the Olympic Games and at the regional, continental or world multi-sports competitions patronised by the IOC and be responsible for the behaviour of the members of its delegations while they are at the Olympic Games and the aforesaid competitions;

(c) shall decide upon the entry of athletes proposed by Affiliates;

(d) may formulate proposals to the lOC concerning the Olympic Charter and the Olympic Movement in general, including the organising and holding of Olympic Games; and

(e) may collaborate in the preparation of Olympic Congresses;

(f) may participate, at the request of the IOC, in the activities of the IOC Commissions.

2.3 CONSTITUTION

2.3.1 The Council shall consist of Associations affiliated to the Council.

3. Affiliation

 

3.1 QUALIFICATIONS FOR AFFILIATION

3.1.1 Affiliation shall be open to any legally registered National Sports Association or Federation that:
(a) is affiliated to an IF that is the governing body of an IOC-recognised Olympic Sport; or
(b) is affiliated to an IF that is a member of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) or equivalent; or
(c) is the governing body in Singapore of a sport that is featured at the SEA Games, Commonwealth Games and / or Asian Games; or
(d) is the governing body in Singapore of a sport that is recognised by the Executive Committee;

AND

(e) fulfils all statutory and regulatory requirements governing the National Sports Association or Federation.

3.2 ORDINARY AND ASSOCIATE AFFILIATES

(a) has five (5) or more affiliate members legally registered in Singapore and with at least 25 members each;
(b) unifies and governs its sport in Singapore;
(c) organises one (1) or more National Championships annually;
(d) participates in regional or international competitions;
(e) has plans or scheme to develop training for schools & youth; and
(f) has policies & practices that are consistent with established principles advocated by SNOC, including but not limited to the:

(i) Olympic Charter;
(ii) World Anti-Doping Code;
(iii) Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of Manipulation of Competitions; and
(iv) governance principles applicable to national sports associations as may be issued or recommended by Sport Singapore from time to time.

may be accepted by the Executive Committee (in its sole and absolute discretion) as an Ordinary Affiliate, and in that event, shall have full voting rights.

3.2.2 All other Affiliates, which are not Ordinary Affiliates, shall be Associate Affiliates and shall have no voting rights.

3.2.3 The Executive Committee may also accept Associate Affiliates on a provisional basis if the requirements for affiliation at Article 3.1 are not met.

3.3 APPLICATION FOR AFFILIATION

3.3.1 An application for affiliation to the Council shall be made in writing and signed by the Secretary or other responsible official of the applicant body, and forwarded to the Secretary-General.

(a) Affiliation shall be for one (1) year ending on the 31st day of March and all applications for re-affiliation shall be submitted on or before this date each year, failing which the Executive Committee may reject such application in its sole and absolute discretion.

(b) The application for affiliation or re-affiliation shall be accompanied by the annual subscription and proof of its fulfilment of the affiliation requirements and criteria in Articles 3.1.1 and 3.2.1.

(c) Application for affiliation or re-affiliation shall constitute an agreement by the applicant body and by every constituent official and affiliate or member thereof to be subject to and bound by these Rules and any Bye-Laws made thereunder, the Olympic Charter and any rules regulations and by-laws made thereunder, including the World Anti-Doping Code.

3.4 ELECTION OF AFFILIATE

3.4.1 Applications for affiliation shall be considered by the Executive Committee who may accept either unconditionally or on such terms as it deems fit or reject the same without assigning any reasons for its decisions, provided always that not more than one Association shall be elected as controlling any one branch of sport.

3.5 DUTY OF AFFILIATE

3.5.1 An Affiliate shall take all necessary and proper steps to obtain the consent and acquiescence of all its constituent officials and affiliates or members to being bound by these Rules and any By-Laws made thereunder.

3.6 NOTICE OF AFFILIATION

3.6.1 Immediately upon election, notice thereof shall be given to the Affiliate and it shall be furnished with a copy of these Rules and any By-Laws made hereunder.

3.6.2 The Affiliate shall also be informed of the status of its affiliation, i.e. whether it is an Ordinary Affiliate or an Associate Affiliate.

3.7 SUBSCRIPTION

3.7.1 An Affiliate shall pay an annual subscription fee that shall be determined by the Executive Committee in its sole and absolute discretion from time to time.

3.8 EFFECT OF CEASING TO BE AN AFFILIATE

3.8.1 Any Association shall upon ceasing to be an Affiliate forfeit all rights, privileges and claims upon the Council, its property and funds.

4. Management

4.1 THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

4.1.1 The Council shall be managed by a Committee to be called the Executive Committee consisting of:

(a) A President, four (4) Vice-Presidents, and Honorary Treasurer, who need not necessarily be members or representatives of Affiliates;

(b) The Secretary-General and the Assistant Secretary-General as Ex-officios;

(c) Three (3) persons representing any of the National Sports Associations that are Ordinary Affiliates of the Council. Such persons:
(i) must be elected at an Annual General Meeting,
(ii) shall hold office until the second Annual General Meeting of the Council from the date their election; and
(iii) must, throughout the duration of their membership of the Executive Committee, be concurrently the Chairman or President, Vice Chairman or Vice-President, Secretary or Treasurer of any National Sports Association that is an Affiliate of the Council;

(d) Any IOC member, who is a citizen of Singapore and is in Singapore;

(e) Not more than five (5) persons co-opted by the elected members of the Executive Committee to sit in the Executive Committee, if the Executive Committee deems fit in order to better achieve the objectives of the Council. Such co-opted members shall hold office until the next general meeting of the Council.

4.1.2  Any member of the Executive Committee may be removed on a majority vote of no confidence by the Council.

4.2 PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENTS

4.2.1 The President shall be elected by the Council at an Annual General Meeting and shall hold office for a term which will extend to the 4th Annual General Meeting of the Council after the date of his election.

4.2.2 The four (4) Vice-Presidents shall be elected by the Council at an Annual General Meeting and the following shall apply:-

(a) Prior to the Annual General Meeting in 2018, each Vice-President shall hold office for a term which will extend to the 4th Annual General Meeting of the Council after the date of their respective elections, or until the Annual General Meeting in 2018, whichever is earlier.

(b) During the Annual General Meeting in 2018, an election of four (4) Vice-Presidents shall be conducted and of the four (4) Vice-Presidents so elected, the two (2) persons obtaining the highest and second highest number of votes shall hold office for a term which will extend to the 4th Annual General Meeting of the Council after the date of their respective elections, while the remaining two (2) persons obtaining the lowest and second lowest number of votes shall hold office for a term which will extend to the 2nd Annual General Meeting of the Council after the date of their respective elections; and

(c) Upon the expiry of the term of office of the two (2) Vice-Presidents who were each elected for a term of two (2) years in accordance with Clause 4.2.2(b) above, the election of the Vice-Presidents shall thereafter take place on a staggered basis at Annual General Meetings held in even years with two (2) Vice-Presidents being elected every two (2) years and who shall each hold office for a term which will extend to the 4th Annual General Meeting of the Council after the date of their respective elections.

4.2.3 In the absence of the President, or while he is unable to act, the Vice-President who is most senior in office present or able to act shall act in his place as the Acting President and shall have the powers of the President.

4.2.4 Where at any time the office of the President becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, removal or otherwise, the Executive Committee must call a General Meeting to be held within six (6) months of such office becoming vacant to elect a new President. The new President so elected shall hold office for the remainder of the term of the President whose place he takes. Pending the election of a new President at a General Meeting, the Vice-President who is most senior in office present or able to act shall be appointed by the Executive Committee as Acting President and shall have the powers of the President.

4.2.5 In the event of the death or resignation of a Vice-President, a new Vice-President shall be appointed by the Executive Committee and the Vice-President so appointed shall hold office for the remainder of the term of the Vice-President whose place he takes.

4.3 SECRETARY-GENERAL AND HONORARY TREASURER

4.3.1 The Secretary-General and the Assistant Secretary-General shall be full-time paid officials of the Council, holding office for period(s) and on the terms and conditions to be determined by the Executive Committee. They shall, whilst holding office, not have any active connections with or hold any office in any of the Affiliates of the Council. They shall work on the directions of the President.

4.3.2 The Assistant Secretary-General shall exercise all the powers and perform all the duties of the Secretary-General at all times that the Secretary-General is not able to do so, or at the directions of the Secretary-General or the President.

4.3.3 The Honorary Treasurer shall be elected by the Council annually.

4.4 NOTICE OF MEETINGS

4.4.1 At least seven (7) days’ notice in writing shall be given of Executive Committee meetings. The President may direct that a meeting be called with less than seven (7) days’ notice.

4.5 ABSENCE FROM MEETINGS

4.5.1 Any official of the Executive Committee absenting himself from three (3) consecutive meetings without explanation satisfactory to the Executive Committee shall cease to be a member thereof.

4.6 QUORUM AND VOTING

4.6.1  At all Executive Committee meetings five (5) persons, who are entitled to vote, shall form a quorum.

4.6.2  All decisions of the Executive Committee shall be made by a majority vote of those members present and voting at the meeting. In the event of a tie, the Chairman of the meeting shall have a casting vote.

4.6.3  All members of the Executive Committee, except Ex-officio members, are entitled to vote.

4.7 POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

4.7.1 The Executive Committee, subject to the provisions of these Rules, shall have the power to:

(a) Carry out the objects of the Council;
(b) Fill any vacancy in the office of Auditor;
(c) Invite the President of the Republic of Singapore to be the Patron in-chief;
(d) Appoint and remove patrons;
(e) Appoint Sub-Committees as from time to time considered advisable;
(f) Enlist the service of any person or persons for the purpose of assisting in any business of the Council which may, by these Rules, be conducted by the Executive Committee;
(g) Apply or expend the funds of the Council in such manner as it deems expedient;
(h) Expel or remove any Affiliate subject to an appeal to the Council as hereinafter provided or take such disciplinary action as may be deemed necessary;
(i) Appoint, remove, dismiss and at its discretion remunerate such employees as it deems expedient;
(j) Co-opt up to five (5) persons to sit in the Executive Committee;
(k) Enter into contracts for the purposes of and incidental to the carrying out of the objects of the Council;
(l) Frame by-laws, regulations and/or standing orders not inconsistent with these Rules; and
(m) Act in any manner deemed expedient should the occasion arise for which provision is not made in the Rules or by-laws made thereunder.

5. General Meetings

5.1 ATTENDANCE AT GENERAL MEETINGS

5.1.1 Persons entitled to attend and vote at General Meetings shall be:
a) Executive Committee members;
b) Five delegates nominated by each Ordinary Affiliate; and
c) Any IOC member, who is a citizen of Singapore and is in Singapore.

Ex-officio members of the Executive Committee may attend the General Meetings but shall have no voting rights.

5.1.2 The Executive Committee may invite various others including the Council’s auditors, legal advisers, partners and guests to attend General Meetings. Such invitees shall not participate in the proceedings of the General Meetings and may only address the meeting if permitted to do so by the Chairman.

5.2 NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETING

5.2.1 Thirty (30) days’ notice in writing of any General Meeting and the nature of the business to be transacted thereat shall be given. Such notice shall be given to the members of the Executive Committee and to the Honorary Secretary of each Affiliate and may be published in one (1) or more newspapers at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

5.3 QUORUM AT A GENERAL MEETING

5.3.1 The quorum at a General Meeting shall be twenty (20) persons entitled to vote, provided that:

(a) there must be present representatives from a minimum of five (5) National Sports Associations which are affiliated to their respective IFs which are recognised by the IOC and whose sport is on the Olympic Games programme, and

(b) if at a General Meeting a quorum be not present, the meeting shall be adjourned to the same hour, place and day of the week following and at such adjourned meeting those present shall constitute a quorum.

5.4 DELEGATES

5.4.1  Each Affiliate, or other body entitled by these Rules to appoint a delegate or delegates shall in writing nominate a person or persons to be such delegate or delegates. Notification of such nomination shall be handed to the Secretary-General, before the meeting, which such delegate desires to attend, is due to commence.

5.4.2  Any Delegate so nominated shall continue to be the delegate of such Affiliate, or other body until notice in writing that he is no longer a delegate and nominating a new delegate has been lodged with the Secretary-General. Any delegate may in writing addressed to the Chairman of a Meeting appoint a substitute for that Meeting. Only such delegate or substitute so nominated or appointed shall be entitled to vote at meetings.

5.5 CONDUCT OF MEETINGS

5.5.1 The Chairman at all General and Executive Committee Meetings shall be the President. Should the President be absent the chairman shall be a Vice- President, failing him, a member elected by the Meeting.

5.5.2 Each person entitled to attend and vote shall be entitled only to one (1) vote, even though he may attend in more than one (1) capacity.

5.5.3 Unless specifically provided otherwise in these Rules, all resolutions at a General Meeting shall be passed on a majority vote of members present and voting. Any tie in votes during the election of Executive Committee members shall be resolved through a second round of voting and thereafter by drawing of lots or similar random methods if the tie continues.

5.5.4 General Meetings (i.e. AGM and EGM) may be conducted, wholly or partly, by electronic means. Affiliates must be allowed to contemporaneously observe the proceedings of such meetings by audio and video means (e.g. “live” webcast) and to cast their vote electronically where required. Electronic voting can be by a physical or digital show of hands or by an online poll.

Details on the arrangements for meetings to be conducted by electronic means shall be provided to members in the notice of the meeting.

6. Annual General Meeting

6.1 DATE AND AGENDA OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

6.1.1 The Annual General Meeting of the Council shall be held by September each year and at a time to be fixed by the Committee for the following purposes:

(a) To receive the Executive Committee’s Report, Balance Sheet and Statement of accounts for the preceding financial year;
(b) To elect members of the Executive Committee as are required under the provisions of these Rules;
(c) To appoint one or more Auditor(s) for the ensuing year;
(d) To decide on any resolution of which notice has been given as hereinafter provided; and
(e) To transact any other business arising in accordance with the objects and Rules of the Council.

6.1.2 If there are any good reasons for a delay in holding the Annual General Meeting by 30 September, the Affiliates shall be notified of such reasons by 30 August through email or the Council’s official website. The Annual General Meeting may be postponed to a later date if no more than one-third (1/3) of the Ordinary Affiliates raise any objections in writing to the Secretary-General within seven days from the date of this notification.

6.2 NOTICE OF RESOLUTION

6.2.1 Any person desirous of moving any resolution at the Annual General Meeting shall give notice thereof in writing to the Secretary-General at least twenty-one (21) days before the date of the Annual General Meeting.

7. Extraordinary General Meeting

7.1 The Executive Committee may at any time for any special purpose call an Extraordinary General Meeting or shall do so forthwith upon the signed requisition of ten (10) persons entitled to attend and vote at such meeting when called. No Extraordinary General Meeting shall be convened for the same purpose within the following six (6) months.

8. Breaches of Rules

8.1 GENERAL POWERS OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

8.1.1 When any breach of these Rules or any by-laws made thereunder has occurred, the Executive Committee shall have power to enquire into any breach itself or by a Sub-Committee appointed for the purpose. Upon any such enquiry, the Executive Committee may direct the offending Affiliate or person to be cautioned, expelled from the Council or dealt with in any manner thought fit by the Executive Committee.

8.2 APPEALS

8.2.1 APPEALS TO THE COUNCIL

(a) Any Affiliate or person against whom a decision has been made under Clause 8.1 may appeal from such decision to the Council at an Extraordinary General Meeting to be called in accordance with Clause 7, provided that written notice of the appeal be received by the Secretary-General within fourteen (14) days of the date of the decision against which such appeal is made.

(b) On receipt of a notice of appeal by the Secretary-General, the consequences of the decisions appealed against shall be suspended pending the result of the appeal.

(c) No person who has sat in an enquiry or voted on the questions under the appeal shall be entitled to vote at the Meeting at which such appeal is heard.

8.2.2 DISPUTE RESOLUTION

(a) Any Affiliate or person may appeal against a decision of the Council made under Clause 8.2.1 to an Appeals Committee comprising 2 legally trained persons and 1 other person to be appointed by the President of the Council.

(b) The decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sports shall be final and binding on all parties.

8.2.3 OLYMPIC CHARTER TO PREVAIL

In case of doubt concerning the interpretation of these Rules, or omission or discrepancies between it and the provisions of the “Olympic Charter”, the latter shall prevail.

9. Accounts

9.1 The financial year shall end on the 31st day of March in each year to which the accounts shall be balanced.

10. Audit

10.1 The annual accounts shall be audited by an Accountant or Accountants as defined by Section 2 of the Income Tax Act, Cap 134 of the Statutes of the Republic of Singapore appointed at each Annual General Meeting and every appointment or change thereof shall have the prior approval of the Comptroller of Income Tax.

11. Property

11.1  Any immovable property of the Council shall be vested in three (3) trustees appointed by the Executive Committee and the power of appointing new trustees shall be vested in the Committee.

11.2  The Olympic flag, Olympic symbol and the terms “Olympic” and “Olympiad” are the exclusive property of the IOC and may not be used in the Republic of Singapore unless prior approval is obtained from the IOC and the Council.

12. Alteration of Rules

12.1 Any alteration of these Rules shall only be made:

(a) with the prior approval of the IOC Executive Board;
(b) with the prior approval of the Registrar of Societies; and
(c) at a General Meeting with at least two-thirds of the members present and voting in favour of the proposed alteration.

13. Dissolution

13.1  The Council shall be dissolved by an Extraordinary General Meeting called for this purpose with a minimum of three-fifths (3/5) of the voting membership of the Council for the time being resident in Singapore expressed, either in person or by proxy, at a General Meeting convened for the purpose voting in favour of the Resolution for dissolution.

13.2  After meeting all the legal obligations, the remaining funds, if any, shall be transferred to a charity registered under the Charities Act, Cap.37 of the Statutes of the Republic of Singapore with an approved Institution of a Public Character status or failing which, to the Government of the Republic of Singapore.

13.3 A Certificate of Dissolution shall be given within seven (7) days of the dissolution to the Registrar of Societies.