General

Statutes

Chapter I: Designation and Purpose of FIMS
Chapter II: Composition of FIMS
Chapter III: Administrative Structure of FIMS

Select an Article:

CHAPTER I. Designation and Purpose of FIMS
Article 01. FIMS - Fédération Internationale de Médecine du Sport is a non-profit organization founded at St. Moritz (Switzerland) in 1928.

Article 02. FIMS has a permanent legal status. It is governed by Swiss Law, in particular by articles 60 and following of the Swiss Civil Code. Membership is not contingent on an individual’s sex or race, or any political or philosophical belief or practice.

Article 03. The official address of FIMS shall be in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Article 04. The aims of FIMS are:

To promote the study and development of Sports Medicine throughout the world.
To preserve and improve the health of mankind through physical fitness and sportsparticipation.
To study scientifically the natural and pathological implications of physical training and sports participation.
To organize and/or sponsor scientific meetings, courses, congresses, and exhibits on an international basis in the field of Sports Medicine.
To cooperate with national and international organizations in Sports Medicine and related fields.
To publish scientific information in the Sports Medicine and related fields.
To take all other such steps either alone or in cooperation with any appropriate individual or organization as shall from time to time be calculated to further the purposes above listed.

CHAPTER II. Composition of FIMS
Article 05. The membership of FIMS shall include associations and individuals:

National Associations of Sports Medicine,
Continental Associations of Sports Medicine,
Honorary members,
Individual members,
Associate members.

Article 06. National Associations.

06.01. The Council of Delegates shall admit to membership the National Association (not more than one from each country), which is recognized as representing the interests of Sports Medicine in each country.

06.02. Where two or more organizations in any country claim recognition as the National Association of that country, it shall be in the absolute discretion of the Council of Delegates to determine, after due consideration, which, if any, shall be recognized.

06.03. Applicant National Association must submit for consideration by the Executive Committee the following documents before the petition can be presented to the Council of Delegates:

Application in writing signed by the President and the Secretary General of theNational Association.
Copy of the Statutes of the Association.
List of Officers of the Association with their titles.
Total number of members in each category of membership.
Letter of recommendation attesting the fact that the applicant Association is the representative Sports Medicine organization in that country from one of the following bodies: National Medical Association, National Olympic Committee, or National Ministry of Health.
Letter of recommendation from the respective FIMS Continental Association.

06.04. National Associations shall forward to the Secretariat of FIMS, in the event of changes, a revised copy of their institutional document, a current list of their officers, and the total numbers of their members in each category of membership.

06.05. National Associations shall forfeit their status as a member of FIMS:

As a result of a formal resignation in writing by the association being duly received by the Executive Committee.
As a result of non-payment of dues for four consecutive years. An application for re-instatement will be entertained by the Council of Delegates until the arrears are paid.
As a result of revocation of membership by a recommendation of the Executive Committee for that action.

Article 07. Continental Groups in Sports Medicine.

Continental Associations of Sports Medicine shall represent continental Members National Associations affiliated to FIMS, organized on a geographical continental basis.
The aims of Continental Association of Sports Medicine are to realize the purpose of FIMS as well as to organize specific activities in the field of Sports Medicine in the appropriate areas such as promotion of participation in FIMS, organization of regional conferences and courses, issuing of regional conferences and courses, issuing of regional journals, and ensuring a permanent exchange of information.
The creation of a recognized Continental Association of Sports Medicine must be agreed to by the Council of Delegates upon request of the countries wishing to organize it and the approval of the FIMS Executive Committee.

Article 08. Honorary members.

08.01. The Honorary President is elected among individuals who have served as FIMS President, exceptionally contributing to the development of Sports Medicine worldwide. Nomination when the position is vacant shall be made by a FIMS Continental Association to the Council of Delegates for election at the next regular meeting.

The Honorary President will have, for life, the right:

to participate to the FIMS Council of Delegates, General Meeting, Bureau, Executive Committee and World Congress of Sports Medicine.
to pay no dues to FIMS.

08.02. Individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the development of Sports Medicine may be elected to Honorary Membership. Nomination shall be made by the Member National Associations or other interested bodies to the Executive Committee who may then recommend the nominees to the Council of Delegates for election at the next regular meeting. Nominations that are not recommended by the Executive Committee or, having been recommended to the Council of Delegates fail election, may be made again after an interval of four years from the time that the original nomination was received.

The title will enable them:

to earn a diploma indicating honorary status.
to participate in the FIMS General Meeting.
to pay no dues to FIMS.

Article 09. Individual member.
Granted by the Executive Committee on request to a person who:

is a full member of a FIMS Member National Association and where no Member National Association exists,
has completed a FIMS Basic or Advanced Course in Sports Medicine recognized by the Education Commission or has worked in the field for at least 5 years:

The title will enable the person:

to receive a FIMS certificate confirming the status of FIMS Individual Member.
to be elected for the Executive Committee, Standing or Special Commissions, and to represent his member National Association in the Council of Delegates.
to participate in the FIMS General Meeting.
to receive a reduction in the registration fee for FIMS sponsored congresses.

Article 10. Associate member.
Granted by the Executive Committee on request to a non-medical professional who:

is a member of the respective National Association where one exists;
has completed a FIMS Basic or Advanced Course in Sports Medicine recognized by the Development Commission, or has worked in the field at least for 5 years.

The title will enable the person:

to receive a FIMS certificate confirming the status of FIMS Associate Member.
to participate in the FIMS General Meeting.
to receive a reduction in the registration fee for FIMS sponsored congresses.

Article 11. Individuals shall lose their status as a Member of FIMS in the following situations:

As a result of a formal resignation in writing by the individual being duly received by the Executive Committee;
As a result of failure to pay annual dues for more than 2 years in succession;
As a result of revocation of membership by a two-thirds majority of the Council of Delegates present and following a recommendation of the Executive Committee for that action.

CHAPTER III. Administrative Structure of FIMS
Article 12. The following bodies make up FIMS:

The Council of Delegates,
The Executive Committee,
The Bureau,
The General Meeting.

Article 13. The Council of Delegates.

13.01. The Council of Delegates shall be constituted of one delegate from each of the Member National Associations duly affiliate to FIMS. Each delegate has one vote.

13.02. Any Member National Association may appoint a delegate of another National Association to represent it in the Council of Delegates. The proxy must be provided with a written power of attorney previously addressed to the Secretary General of FIMS.
A delegate present in the meeting may not have more than one proxy.

13.03. The Members of the Executive Committee are entitled to debate in the Council of Delegates but may not vote, unless they represent a Member National Association. The President, or his alternate, shall appoint one member of the Executive Committee to serve as its spokesperson for the meeting of the Council.

13.04. The Council shall meet every 2 years at a location to be determined by the Executive

Committee. All affiliated Member National Associations must be notified of the time, place, and agenda of the meeting 3 months in advance. In the year of the World Congress, it will meet at the time and place of the Congress. The host Member National Association is responsible for the local cost of the meeting and of the full board of the Executive members as well as the Chairperson of each Standing Commission.

13.05. Special meetings of the Council may be called at the initiative of the Executive Committee (by a vote of the majority of the members) or shall be called if there is a request by two-thirds of the Member National Associations to the General Secretary.

13.06. A quorum shall consist of one-third of the total number of Member National Associations in good standing. If there is no quorum, the National Associations must be notified within a month of the time of the meeting and the Bureau must decide on the place of the next meeting. The new meeting must be held within 6 months of the cancelled one.

13.07. The Council of Delegates shall rule by a simple majority of delegates voting (including proxies), except when it is to amend the articles of the Statutes, or to dissolve the organization, or to expel one of its members, in which case a two-thirds majority is necessary of those voting.

13.08. The deliberations of the Council of Delegates shall be recorded in the form of minutes in a ledger kept for this purpose. These minutes shall be circulated to the Member National Associations and shall be published in “International Sports Medicine Journal.”

13.09. All matters of business which are not assigned to the Council of Delegates by the Statutes of FIMS shall fall within the jurisdiction of the Executive Committee.

The Council of Delegates shall be the only body competent to conduct the following business:
Approve the biannual budget of FIMS.
Decide the affiliation of an applicant National Association as member based on a recommendation by the Executive Committee.
Recognize a Continental Associations of Sports Medicine after approval by the Executive Committee.
Elect the officers, auditors, and other members of the Executive Committee (including substitutes from nominations).
Approve the awards of a FIMS Gold Medal and of a FIMS Citation of Honour based on recommendations of the Executive Committee.
Suspend or expel Member National Associations, Member Continental Associations, Individual, or Associate Members.
Approve, amend or alter the Statutes.
Receiv e and approve reports of the officers an d chairpersons of the Standing Commissions.
Act on resolutions of the General Meeting.
Determine what other organizations shall be recognized by FIMS as having an active interest and/or involvement in Sports Medicine for the purpose of affiliation or other official contact.
Determine the site and date of the World Congress of Sports Medicine.
All other business that the Council shall from time to time reserve to itself.

Article 14. The Executive Committee.

14.01. The Executive Committee constitutes the Board of Directors in the sense of article 69 of the Swiss Civil Code. It is composed of a President, the Honorary President, a Past President, a first, second, third, and forth Vice President, a Secretary General, a Treasurer and eight members who have been elected from among FIMS Individual or Associate members after nomination by the Member National Associations.

14.02. Elections of the Executive Committee.

All candidates to all positions of the Executive Committee will be elected by the Council of Delegates in the FIMS World Congress of Sports Medicine every four years, except the Honorary President.
The candidates shall be nominated only by their Member National Associations. No Association may nominate more than one candidate for officer or member of the Executive Committee. Nominations for President, Secretary General, Treasurer, and Members will be presented to the FIMS Secretary General and nominations for Vice-Presidents and Members of the Executive Committee will be presented to the Secretary General of the respective Continental Group.
The candidates for President of FIMS should be an actual or past officer of FIMS (Vice-President, Secretary General, or Treasurer). The candidates for Vice-Presidents, Secretary General, or Treasurer should be an actual or past member of the FIMS Executive Committee.
Voting for each Officer shall take place by separate secret ballot. Those ballot slips that are not fully completed will be considered invalid.
Candidates for Officers who are not successful are entitled to be candidates for election as Members of the Executive Committee.
If the result of any ballot for Officer results in a tie, additional ballots will take place until the tie is resolved.
Following the ballot for the 8 elected Members of the Executive Committee, nominees with the highest number of votes shall be so named. If there is a tie among the final position(s), a new ballot will be held for these candidates only.
The number of Members of the Executive Committee from each Continental Association, except for Oceania, will be proportional to the number of Member National Associations affiliated for FIMS from the respective Continental Group (Africa, America, Asia, and Europe).
The two candidates who have the highest number of votes after those who are elected will be appointed Auditors and named substitutes. These substitutes shall replace elected Members of the Executive Committee if vacancies arise. If a vacancy occurs among the Officers, the Executive Committee shall elect one of its Members to the office for the balance of the unexpired term and that Member shall be replaced by the first substitute.
Officers and Members of the Executive Committee shall be eligible for immediate re-election in the same capacity only once.
To participate in a meeting of the Council of Delegates and have the right to vote, a Member National Association must have the membership dues for the current fiscal year and all previous years of membership paid in full on the occasion of the FIMS General Meeting which is held prior to the FIMS Council of Delegates meeting at which an election will take place.
A list of Member National Associations eligible to participate in and vote at a meeting of the Council of Delegates must be made available to each Delegate of a FIMS Member National Association prior to the meeting at which an election will be held.
Each Member National Association eligible to participate in and vote at a meeting of the Council of Delegates may designate one person to serve as its Delegate. To become accredited as the official Delegate of a Member National Association for a particular meeting of the Council of Delegates, that person must present typewritten authorization to the Secretary General of FIMS identifying the person as its Delegate. The authorization must be presented on the official letterhead stationery of the Member National Association and signed either by its President or other designated officer.
The designated Delegate of an eligible Member National Association is the only person permitted to vote on behalf of that Member National Association.
A Member National Association in good standing that is not able to send a Delegate to a meeting of the Council of Delegates may be represented by the accredited Delegate of another Member National Association. Both Member National Associations must be eligible to participate as regards completion of payment of annual dues.
To grant proxy, a Member National Association must submit to the Secretary General an official FIMS Proxy Form signed by its President or Secretary General. On the form, the specified Member National Association to receive the proxy must be identified. Only the accredited Delegate of the Member National Association receiving the proxy may use this proxy vote. A copy of the proxy form will be included with each announcement of a meeting of the Council of Delegates as distributed to all Member National Associations by the Secretary General. (As stated in the statutes, an accredited Delegate is entitled to use only one proxy vote in addition to the vote of the Delegate’s own Member National association).
Preparation for FIMS election:

1. Nominations must be received from Member National Associations at least two months in advance of the meeting of the Council of Delegates at which the election will be held.
2. The ballot of the nominations must be circulated, together with biographical information on each candidate, at least one month in advance of the election.
Accreditation of Delegates: Each sheet of the official ballot must be co-signed for validation in the voting procedure by the Secretary General and one Member of the Executive Committee, as appointed by the President.
Order of voting:

1. Separate elections will be held by roll call in the following order:
1. The President
  The Vice Presidents
  The Secretary General
  The Treasurer
  The eight Members of the Executive Committee
2. If a candidate is running unopposed for the office of President, Secretary General or Treasurer, the election to that office may be accomplished by the Council’s approval of a motion from the floor.
3. If there are only four nominations for the offices of the Vice Presidents, the election may be accomplished by approval of a motion from the floor after the determination of a method of designating the order of seniority as First Vice President, Second Vice President, Third Vice President, and Fourth Vice President.
4. The ballot for the category of elected Members of the Executive Committee will list the candidates in alphabetical order by first letter of the family name.
Procedure for voting for each office:
1. Three Auditors will be elected from the Delegates of the Council of Delegates to receive and count the ballots. If more than three persons are nominated, an election will be held.
2. When the agenda item for elections is reached during the meeting of the Council of Delegates, the President shall solicit ballots for the election of Officers and Executive Committee in the order prescribed above.
3. For the collection of ballots for each of the elected positions, the name of each Member National Association given the privilege of voting (both those with Delegates present and those represented by proxy) shall be read in alphabetical order, at which time the Delegate of the Member National Association or the Delegate carrying the proxy shall come forward and place the ballot in a closed ballot box.
4. The election Auditors will control that only one ballot at a time is placed in the ballot box and that the ballot carries the signature of the Secretary General and the appointed Member of the Executive Committee.
5. The votes for the each of the elected positions will be tallied separately and publicly in front of the members of the Council of Delegates by the election Auditors.
6. A blackboard must be available for this purpose that can be viewed by all the members of the Council of Delegates.

14.03. The Executive Committee shall meet at least twice annually to transact the business of FIMS except for that reserved exclusively for the Council of Delegates, to receive and respond to reports from the officers and the chairpersons of the Standing Commissions, and to carry out programs and policies approved by the Council of Delegates. The date and place of such meetings will be decided by the Executive Committee andnotices sent to all members at least 3 months in advance together with an agenda of business to be discussed. Any member who fails to attend three consecutive meetings shall forfeit the office or membership in the Executive Committee.

14.04. Between the meetings of the Council of Delegates, it is the responsibility of the Executive Committee:

To administer the affairs of FIMS.
To transact the business which is not reserved exclusively for the Council of Delegates.
To select and supervise the Standing Commissions, receiving and acting on their reports.
To decide the dates, venue, and agenda for the meeting of the Council of Delegates and the General Meeting, as well as ensure that the necessary preparations are made.
To implement the decisions of the Council of Delegates.
To approve Individual and Associate Members of FIMS.
To examine the applications of National Associations and make recommendations regarding their acceptance or rejection to the Council of Delegates.
To approve the request of countries organized on continental bases to form a Continental Association of Sports Medicine.
To recommend the appointments of Honorary Members and the awards of the FIMS Gold Medal and the FIMS Citation of Honor to the Council of Delegates.
To approve the contract with the National Association entrusted with the staging of the World Congress of Sports Medicine and to supervise regularly its preparation.
To act on the recommendation of the Scientific Commission regarding the scheduling, programs, and faculties for congresses and conferences to be sponsored by FIMS and to supervise the preparation and conducting of such events.
To review and take action on the minutes of the meeting of the Bureau.
Recommend to the Council of Delegates the award of the FIMS Gold Medal or the FIMS Citation of Honor following consideration of nominations by the Awards Committee and receipt of the Committee’s endorsement.
To approve, amend or alter by-laws.

14.05. The President shall be the representative of FIMS and responsible for the international relations of the organization. His special functions include:

Presiding over all the meetings of the Council of Delegates, General Meeting, Bureau, Executive Committee, and World Congress of Sports Medicine.
Maintaining contact between FIMS and other international organizations.
Signing together with the Secretary General any document that commits FIMS after its approval by the Executive Committee.
Referring to the Executive Committee a written report of FIMS activities to be submitted to the Council of Delegates.
Handing out the FIMS awards.
Fulfilling further tasks connected with FIMS activities according to the Statutes, By-Laws, and decisions of the Council of Delegates.

14.06. The 4 Vice-Presidents shall assume in the order of their precedence the place and duties of the President in his absence or if requested by him to do so.

14.07. The Secretary General is responsible for:

Preparing the agenda for the meetings of the Council of Delegates and the General Meeting, after decision of the Executive Committee, as well as the meetings of the Executive Committee and the Bureau, on request of the President, and circulating notice of these meetings in advance.
Preparing and circulating minutes of the meetings of the Council of Delegates, the General Meeting, the Executive Committee, and the Bureau of FIMS.
Maintaining official correspondence.
Preparing and circulating a Newsletter at least twice a year to all Member National Associations, the Executive Committee, and other appointed organizations and individuals.

14.08. The Treasurer is responsible for:

Keeping the financial accounts of FIMS in the official books together with all necessary supporting documents.
Preparing a detailed account and balance sheet for the preceding period which he shall submit to the Executive Committee and to the Auditors for each of their meetings.
Keeping a register of the Member National Associations, and Individual and Associate Members and to notify them at appropriate intervals of the dues that they must pay, as well as to collect such income.
Preparing an annual budget for the Executive Committee and a biannual budget for the Council of Delegates.

14.09. The two auditors will review the financial account presented to them by the Treasurer and give a report of their review to the Executive Committee and the Council of Delegates.

Article 15. The Bureau.

15.01. The Bureau is composed of the President, the Honorary President, the First Vice-President, the Secretary General, and the Treasurer.

15.02. The Bureau shall meet at least once annually. The President shall preside at the meetings of the Bureau. If he is unable to do so, the first Vice-President shall take his place.

15.03. The minutes of the meetings of the Bureau are to be approved by the Executive Committee at the next subsequent meeting.

Article 16. The General Meeting.

16.01. The General Meeting shall consist of:

The members of the Council of Delegates.
The members of the Executive Committee.
The representatives of the Continental Associations of Sports Medicine recognised by FIMS.
The Honorary Members.
The Individual Members.
The Associate Members.

16.02. The General Meeting of FIMS meets every 4 years on the occasion of the World Congress of Sports Medicine. This meeting precedes the meeting of the Council of Delegates at that time.

16.03. The General Meeting shall discuss any question connected with the scientific and practical development of Sports Medicine throughout the world. Each person attending the General Meeting is entitled to one vote on any motion presented to the assembly. Motions that are carried shall be submitted to the Council of Delegates.

Article 17. The World Congress of Sports Medicine.

17.01. A World Congress of Sports Medicine will be held every 2 years. The Secretary General will inform the Member National Associations about the necessary conditions for staging this Congress and ask that proposals be submitted at least 3 years prior to the projected date of the next Congress. The Executive Committee will review the received proposals and recommend to the Council of Delegates the site and date for their approval at their meeting at least 2 years before the designated date.

17.02. The Member National Association in the country selected shall assume full responsibility for the planning and financial support of all pertinent arrangements forthe Congress.

17.03. The President of FIMS shall be the President ex-officio of the World Congress of Sports Medicine.

17.04. The secretariat of the Congress shall be established and maintained by the sponsoring Member National Association.

17.05. The decision of the city that will hold the FIMS World Congress should be made by the Council of Delegates by simple majority of votes. After the decision of the Council of Delegates as to where the next World Congress will be held, the President and the Secretary General of FIMS shall sign a contract with the representatives of the concerned Member National Association or the designated organizers.

Article 18. The Standing Commissions.

18.01. The Executive Committee is supported by Standing Commissions.

18.02. Each Standing Commission consists of FIMS Individual or Associate Members and is composed as:

A chairperson designated by the Executive Committee who directs the activities of the Commission and reports to the Executive Committee and Council of Delegates, with the right to attend both meetings.
Up to four Members designated by the Executive Committee from nominations submitted by Member National Associations after considering recommendations of the Commission chairperson.
Appointed Executive Committee members.
Corresponding members.
Observers nominated by appropriate international organizations.
Temporary members, co-opted ad hoc, for particular purposes.

18.03. The working period for a Standing Commission is 4 years.

18.04. A chairperson shall give rise to a record of meetings to be kept with the help of one Secretary and circulate it to the Commission membership, the FIMS President, and the Secretary General.

18.05. A Standing Commission

Reports directly to the Executive Committee which alone shall endorse policy.
Shall not have executive responsibility except where specific tasks are delegated to it by the Executive Committee.

18.06. The Standing Commissions are:

Scientific
Interfederal
Education
Development

18.07. The Scientific Commission.

The aims of the Scientific Commission are:
To promote scientific research in the field of Sports Medicine.
To prepare statements regarding specific problems in Sports Medicine proposed bythe Executive Committee.
To cooperate with the organizers of the FIMS World Congress of Sports Medicine as well as with the organizers of other international scientific events sponsored by FIMS, especially as regards the choice of topics, invited lecturers, chairperson of sessions, and publication of proceedings.
To cooperate with the Editor of “International Sports Medicine Journal” to ensure the required scientific level of published contributions.

18.08. The Interfederal Medical Commission.
The aims of the Interfederal Medical Commission are:

To study, from a medical point of view, practical problems related to sports activity submitted by the Executive Committee.
To promote and propose scientific research in cooperation with the FIMS Commission concerned regarding the medical aspects of sports activity in a form that can be suitably understood by officers, physicians, paramedic staff, coaches and athletes.
To organize meetings of physicians linked to International Sports Federations and National Olympic Committees for the exchange of information on Sports Medicine.

18.09. The Education Commission.
The aim of the Education Commission is:

To provide educational opportunities that meet the needs of sports medicine physicians in both developing and developed countries with the goal of developing both leadership and mentorship.
To provide advice and make recommendations to the Executive Committee on matters related to sports medicine education for medical and allied health professionals.
To cooperate with the organizers of the FIMS World Congress of Sports Medicine as well as with the organizers of other international educational events sponsored by FIMS to ensure that FIMS educational goals are included in best educational formats.
To assist the local organizers of FIMS Courses, such as the Team Physician Development Course, Team Physician Advanced Course, Sports Rehabilitation Course, and others, with the course organization, implementation, and evaluation/review process.

18.10. The Development Commission.
The aims of the Development Commission are:

To deal with and to suggest recommendations to the Executive Committee on mattersrelated to communication, promotional activities, memberships, marketing activities of FIMS
In conjunction with the Secretary General, the Development Commission will:
1. facilitate and enhance cooperation with other International Organizations related to
2. sports medicine as defined by the Executive Committee;
3. assist in the maintenance of effective communication with national bodies, individual members, and associated organizations through acquisition and collection of materialsfor FIMS publications;
4. enlarge contacts with international organizations and institutions of non-medical professions related to the field of sports medicine;
5. up-to date strategic plan for FIMS in conjunction with the Treasurer, the Development Commission will:
  1. raise the level of awareness and promote the benefits of individual membership of FIMS.
  2. develop strategies for the maintenance and monitoring of effective membership services.
  3. assist the Executive Committee in the implementation of procedures associated with the granting of Individual and Associate Membership.
  4. operate in close cooperation with the Continental Presidents in setting-up support programs for new members.
  5. expand the business activities of FIMS by generating revenues for the use of the FIMS image and expertise through negotiating contracts with sponsors and suppliers.
  6. perform all other FIMS marketing and promotion activity, developing partners, and marketing of the FIMS website.

Article 19. Financial Structure.

19.01. The capital of FIMS is derived from annual dues of the Member National Associations and Individual Members, administrative fees of Courses and FIMS Congresses, donations, legacies, and subsidies.

19.02. The Treasurer shall be in charge of financial operations and shall be supervised by two auditors appointed for 4-year terms by the Council of Delegates.

19.03. The Treasurer shall submit a report on the current status of the FIMS account at each meeting of the Executive Committee and a complete report to each meeting of the Council of Delegates. The report to the Council of Delegates should be certified by the Auditors.

19.04. Any transfer of budgetary credits or any expenditure must be approved by theExecutive Committee.

19.05. FIMS is responsible for:

the administrative expenses of the Secretary General,
the expenses of the President in connection with his administrative functions,
the administrative expenses of the Treasurer and the Chairpersons of the Standing Commissions,
membership fees to international organizations to which FIMS belongs.

19.06. The expenses involved in attending meetings of the Council of Delegates, Bureau, Executive Committee, Standing Commissions, and General Meeting are the responsibility of individual members or of the National Association to which each member belongs.

19.07. The financial year of FIMS begins on January 1st and terminates on December 31st of the same year.

19.08. In the event of dissolution of FIMS, the funds shall be allotted to one or more organizations in the field of Sports Medicine in accordance by the Swiss law.

Article 20. Annual Dues.

20.01. The annual dues shall be paid by each Member National Association, Multinational Group, as well as by each Individual or Associate Member in U.S. dollars according to the amount established by the Council of Delegates and specified in the By-Laws.

20.02.Waiting Member National Associations shall pay annually a service subscription established by the Council of Delegates and specified in the By - Laws.

20.03. Only members who have paid their dues and are not in arrears in relation to the previous fiscal year have voting privileges and may be elected or appointed for the Standing Commissions.

Article 21. FIMS Awards.

21.01. A FIMS Gold Medal may be awarded to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership which has resulted in advancement in sports medicine of international dimension and importance. A FIMS Citation of Honor may be awarded to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to sports medicine in one or more of the following categories: research in sports medicine and the sports sciences, scholarly activity and publication in sports medicine and the sports sciences, medical care of athletes, regional and / or national leadership, or service to FIMS.

21.02. Nominations for an award will be referred to the Awards Committee. Following review of credentials and discussion of the rationale for the nomination, the Awards Committee will make its recommendation to the Executive Committee which, by official action, will approve the award case of “Gold Medal” whereas in case of “Citation of Honor”, will forward the nomination to the Council of Delegates which will have the power to approve the recommendation and make the award.

21.03. The FIMS Awards Committee shall consist of five members of the FIMS Executive Committee, one member of which will be a Vice President and four will be elected members of the Executive Committee. The Vice-President will serve as the chairperson.

Article 22. Liability.

22.01. FIMS shall recognize and acknowledge its responsibility towards third parties only by documents signed jointly by the President and the Secretary General.

22.02. The members of the Executive Committee, the Officers, the Member National Associations, the Honorary, Individual, and Associate Members, as well as the members of the Council of Delegates, shall be exempt from any personal liability as far as the commitments undertaken by FIMS are concerned. Such commitments are guaranteed solely by the assets of FIMS.

Article 23. Official Language.

23.01. The official administrative language of FIMS is English.

23.02. For the purpose of international meetings held under the patronage of FIMS, the French, Spanish, German, and Russian languages, together with the language of the host country, may be used in addition to English at the discretion of the organizing body.

Article 24. Date of entry into force.

24.01. These Statutes and any amendment or alteration thereto enter into force immediately upon their approval unless expressly decided otherwise.
These Statutes have been adopted by the FIMS Council of Delegates on 27th October 2011, in Salzburg (AUT).