Minutes
1 -The President informed the Council that Sandoz had very kindly agreed on a survey of public awareness with regards to organ donation and they would financially underwrite this survey which would take place around the time of the 1997 Sydney World Games.

2 - According to our Constitution, a vote of the representatives present at the General Assembly has to be one in which over 70% of the members voting agree that the Constitution should be changed. It emerged that the vote taken to change the Constitution in Manchester was not legal since it did not have a 70% majority in fact, only 61% were said to have voted for the necessary changes.

A decision was therefore unanimously passed to repeat the vote on the motion in question at the next General Assembly in Sydney in 1997. Prior to that vote, the representatives of each nation would be made aware of the situation whereby Council had acted illegally but in good faith and thus a formal ratification in order to respect the Constitution was necessary.
President's Report

ThePresident introduced the concept of the way forward and 'the new deal' for the WTGF. In essence, he outlined a number of new initiatives which would mean more work for all members of the Council in order to achieve the new goals which were agreed were proper and necessary in order to increase the scope to the WTGF and achieve its avowed goals. In essence, the WTGF needed to be extended in the effect it produced on public awareness and to do this it required more financial capacity. He gave examples of organ donor rates in Cyprus, Sardinia and the Canary Islands and spoke about the 'island effect' which, as a result of good communications and planning, lead to a great increase in organ donation.

The President gave significant figures to support his comments pointing out that the average rate of donation in the United Kingdom for kidneys was 31 kidneys per million of population. In Australia it was 12, whilst in Cyprus, Sardinia and the Canary Islandsthatfigurewas over 50 per million of population per year. He pointed out that the WTGF had a very powerful position in which to help increase the rate of organ donation in its member countries and outlined plans which would enablethis effort to be undertaken.

WTGF every four years

A discussion took place as to the pros and cons of the Games being held at four yearly intervals rather than the present two years. It was decided that the Treasurer, Mr. Karl Handschuch would present a list of pros and cons for a change of interval years betwen the Games. In a vote taken by the Council, the Council did not favour a change by a margin of 7 to 2.

Heart Transplants to have Specific Categorisation

The issue was whether heart transplants should or should not be dealt with as a special category in that it was felt by some that they were disadvantaged- that view was strongly opposed by others. For this reason, it was decided that medical issues would be identified and given to the Council for their information. The President was asked to clarify these medical issues. In addition Mr. Geoff Finnigan, President of the Heart Transplant Association of Great Britain was to be asked his views. After a debate of the notion that heart transplants should have a specific categorisation a vote was taken in which the motion was defeated by a margin of 5 to 3.
 

SECOND MEETING

Minutes
1 - Volley Ball as a sport was adopted because of its universal appeal and wide practice. Lawn Bowling would remain as a sport.

2 - It was agreed that two people would be nominated to count the votes at the next General Assembly and that the numbers would be displayed after the General Assembly for information for everyone.

3 - Role of the Medical Adviser. This was discussed and it was decided that:

a The Medical Adviser would check the registrations with the LOC medical representative.

b That medical safety would be ensured by a system in which the medical representative of each country would first be asked to sign a certificate endorsing the medical appropriate safety of each of the competitors. The certificates would then be reviewed by the Local Organising Medical Representative and would finally be reviewed together with other problematical situations with the WTGF Medical Adviser. There should be a designated doctor for each team. This designated doctor would not necessarily be travelling with the team since the expense would be prohibitive in the case of small teams. The term of office of the WTGF Medical Adviser would be of four years.

WTGF Slogan

The new slogan would be ORGAN GIFT, LIFE GIFT.

Sport Issues; Maximum number of events; mixed doubles or lawn bowls or 10 pin bowling.

1 - Maximum number of events. Five events including volley ball. Participation in the relays would not be counted as part of the five events.

2- A choice of two events from the mixed doubles in thetennis, the lawn bowls and 10 pin bowling as non-scoring but medal events would be made by the LOC. That is two of these three possibilities could be chosen.

Participation of Children

This has been adopted by the last General Assembly and was confirmed.

Disabled Competitors

Again, this was discussed but it was felt that it would not be appropriate for disabled competitors to participate in the World Transplant Games. This, of course, does not preclude member countries deciding on this issue, for their own National Games. Furthermore, this issue will be debated once more at General Assembly.

Projects List

Record of World Performances. It is planned to set up a list of the best performances achieved at the World Transplant Games. There is still the question of whether to maintain a list of laureates (record of medal winners).

Procedure fort he election of representatives. It is planned to design and distribute a suggested standard procedure for the election of country representatives. Each country member must clearly understand that the Councillor's mandate is for four years. During that time the council member represents his country but also has individual responsibility.

Children competing

Following the vote taken at the last General Assembly, children will be allowed to compete in the Games. Orien Young and Karl Handschuch will add the necessary sports regulations for the participation of children.

Votes of Officers and Councillors at the General Assembly

The principle of 'one country, one vote' means that Officers and Councillors will not vote at the General Assembly.

World Winter Games

On behalf of the Council, the President congratulated Olivier Coustere on the concept of the Winter Games and thanked Gary Green for organising the next Winter Games in the USA. Gary Green said that the Games will take place at Salt Lake City, Utah if the prices were competitive, if not, they would be held at another resort.
 

 

Last modified: 11 May 2000