ICSD 50th Extraordinary Congress

Dear Sport Friends,

During the 20th Winter Deaflympics in Erzurum, Türkiye, on 10 March 2024, the 50th Extraordinary Congress of ICSD took place. During this Congress the ICSD Constitution was amended in 76 places and the ICSD Code of Ethics in 35 places, in order to fully comply with the expectations of the IOC, the International Olympic Committee, and the principles in their BUPGG (Basic Universal Principles of Good Governance).

The day before the Congress, we held an intensive workshop where these amendments were discussed and understand by the delegates.

I will report on the key decisions of the 50th Extraordinary Congress.

Regarding the ICSD Constitution:

1. Clarification of the definition of good standing, reinforcement of the financial responsibility of Member organisations. 2 years of non-payment by a Member organisation shall lead to suspension of the Member organisation by the ICSD Executive Board.

2. A new category of membership has been created: Regional Membership, i.e. PANAMDES, CADS, EDSO and APDSC can now be Regional Member organisation of the ICSD, they can send delegates to the Congress, and their presidents will remain members of the ICSD Executive Board, but they will not have voting rights.

3. We have abolished the position of the Vice President for Youth Sports, which brings the number of the elected ICSD Executive Board members to 6, with the addition of the President of the Athletes Commission, i.e. 7 members, and 4 regional presidents, who do not have voting rights.

4. We have introduced a mandatory 30% gender balance, i.e. the other gender must have at least 30% representation in the ICSD Executive Board and also in the Executive Board of the Member organisations.

5. ICSD will now hold a Congress every year to ensure more transparency and accountability.

6. A Tribunal Commission will be established to make decisions on the cases investigated by the ICSD Ethics Commission. And with the Tribunal Commission the Member organisations will get the possibility to appeal against decisions of the ICSD Executive Board.

7. We have abolished the institution of "interim" member of the ICSD Executive Board, and only the Congress will be able to elect a person to the ICSD Executive Board. (Previously, the ICSD Executive Board could temporarily appoint a person to fill a vacancy.)

Regarding the Code of Ethics:

1. We have created a binding document based on the BUPGG, the Basic Universal Principles of Good Governance, and its principles are binding on the ICSD.
2. We have reinforced the rules on conflict of interest.
3. We have added the detailed rules of the Tribunal Commission.

The consolidated Constitution and Code of Ethics will be available on the ICSD website soon.

On behalf of the ICSD, thank you for the support of the present 44 members during the Congress!

Long Live Deaf Sport!