MEMORANDUM OF THE NBDSF EXTRAORDINARY MEETING 1/2006

Time             23.8.2006 at 18.15–20.25

Place             Hotel Schloss Weikersdorf, Baden, Austria

Participants  Jarmo Järventausta, President, Finland

                      Jussi Raisio, Finland

                      Ole Faustrup, Denmark

                      Oyvind Madsen, Norway

                      Edward Rundhaug, Norway

                      Marius Minkevicius, Lithuania

                      Aleksas Jasiunas, Lithuania

                      Riina Kuusk, Estonia

                      Esper Alaväli, Estonia

                      Arne Lunqvist, Sweden

                      Urban Mesch, Sweden

                      Bjorn Roine, Norway

                      Juha-Matti Aaltonen, Secretary, Finland

A)  President opened the meeting by stating that almost all NBDSF member countries were present at the meeting. Only the Latvian representatives were not present. A total of 13 representatives were present. It was noted that after a long time also the Danish representative was present at the NBDSF meeting. A separate meeting with the Latvian representatives was organised the following day about the issues discussed at the meeting. The Latvian representatives gave their full support to the decisions reached at the meeting.

B)  Aaltonen explained the meaning and objectives of the extraordinary meeting. The most important objective was to get a guarantee from each NBDSF member country about their participation in the NBDSF sports festivals on 22-27.6.2008 in Åland. The second important objective was to create clear guidelines for carrying out the sports festivals.

The meeting also discussed the NBDSF action plan for 2007-2009, made decision on organising a NBDSF Equality Seminar for Women and had a short discussion on the EDSO Congress issues.

The following decisions were made at the meeting:

1)  NBDSF SPORTS FESTIVALS IN MARIENHAMN, ÅLAND ON 22.–27.6.2008

-         A detailed report was given to the NBDSF member countries on the results of the visit to Åland. The visit was carried out on 24.–25.4.2006. In addition to the representatives of the Finnish and Swedish Deaf Sports Federations the representatives of Viking Line and Åland Sports Federation were present. Viking Lines -ferry line acted as the host for the visit to Åland and the co-operation meeting.

It was noted that all co-operation partners were very interested in organising these Deaf sports festivals. It was also noted that the sports places, accommodation and transportation facilities in Åland were excellent and appropriate.

       -   The following was agreed upon the plans of the sports festivals:

·        The dates for the festivals will be 22.–27.6.2008. The teams will arrive on 22.6. and depart on 27.6.

·        Every NBDSF member country agreed that they will try to see that as many deaf sports clubs will be represented at the sports festivals as possible – except Iceland.

·        It was agreed that the minimum age would be 16 years in principle – not taking into account swimming and other individual sports. The minimum age is not absolute, but there can be some flexibility after applications from the clubs are received. There will not be any maximum age. The idea is to get as many deaf people to participate in the sports festivals as possible!

·        The Executive Directors of the Finnish and Swedish Deaf Sports Federations were given the authority to function in the organisation and carrying out the festivals as they see best. The main principles agreed upon at this meeting should be followed. However, issues should be informed to the NBDSF member countries as soon as possible.

·        Decision was made to make a reservation on accommodation with half-board in the schools as soon as possible. Accommodation for 1500 people is available. The accommodation in the schools will include beds, washing possibilities + half-board and security. The price for a week including the above is approximately 120€/person.

        -   The following was agreed upon on actions to be taken and schedules:

·        The General Secretary will send an official letter to Jan Westerlund on the decision on the organisation of the festivals and the dates as soon as possible.

·        The Finnish and Swedish Deaf Sports Federations will apply funding from their own governments for the expenses of the festivals.

·        NBDSF will draft a joint co-operation and financial application to the Åland district council and Åland Sports Federation. The aim is to be able to cover or minimise the accommodation and meal expenses of the participants during the festival. The festival participants will cover their own travelling expenses. The participating countries and their member clubs can apply funding from their own home municipalities or organisations in the autumn of 2007.

·        By the end of October the NBDSF secretary will draft a so-called sports events Gallup to the organisations in the member countries. The organisations will distribute and collect the responses from their member clubs. It is hoped that the responses can be received by the end of 2006. In the questionnaire the sports clubs will be asked their wishes for most popular sports events in the sports festivals. After the responses an official decision will be made on the sports included in the programme of the sports festivals.

·        The NBDSF countries will meet in Salt Lake City in connection with the ICSD (former CISS) Congress either on 31.1. or 1.2. At this meeting final decision will be made on the sports events at the sports festivals.

·        An official invitation, registration forms and preliminary programme of the sports festivals will be sent to the participating countries in April-May 2007. The organisations and clubs of the participating countries can use these invitations and programmes as documents in applying funding for travel and other expenses.

·        Preliminary registration by 15.10.2007.

·        Probably there will be no registration fee for the sports festivals. Issue tabled for the present.

        -   The participating federations made the following preliminary list of the most popular sports events (men + women) and the number of participating countries at the sports festivals as follows:

·        Track and field 6 countries, Badminton 5+5, Street-Basketball 5+5 (men + women), Beachvolleyball 6+6 , CrossCountry-running 6+6, Fishing 6, Mini-football (incl. 5 players) 5, Golf 4, Handball 2, Floorball  3, Park-orienteering 6, Tabletennis 4, Minigolf 3, Tug-of-war 7.

·        Tug-of-war was added as the last event to have some fun because it is a sports festivals in question.

·        To be noted: Basketball was changed into street basketball and volleyball into beachvolleyball. Instead of football minifootball was taken into the events. This way the clubs will have more possibilities to participate also in the team sports.

·        All above mentioned plans will once again be discussed at the next NBDSF official meeting on 2.-3.6.2007 in Copenhagen.

2)  THE NBDSF EQUALITY SEMINAR FOR WOMEN ON 13.-15. OCTOBER 2006

A decision was made to organise the seminar as planned. The seminar will be organised in Stockholm. Sweden distributed the preliminary programme for the seminar to the participants, which was approved. The contribution from Finland to the seminar expenses will be 2000€. 2 women/country will be invited from the participating countries. The participating countries will be responsible to cover only the travel expenses themselves. Accommodation and meals are provided free to the participants. It was decided that the SDI President and Secretary and NBDSF President and Secretary will participate in the seminar as observers and support persons. The main principle is that the seminar will be carried out on women’s terms.

3)  MISCELLENEOUS (23. and 24.8.)

·  A similar extraordinary meeting was decided to be held in Salt Lake City in connection with the ICDS Congress, if possible. The issue will be discussed more thoroughly later.

·  The NBDSF countries were asked to prepare themselves for the meeting in Copenhagen on 2.-3.6.2007 so that the next country of presidency is thought in advance. The most probable candidate for the next presidency after Finland is Latvia.

·  The NBDSF plan of action, which has been agreed earlier, was checked. Denmark will inform as soon as possible, if it can organise the next NBDSF meeting and orienteering in 2007. Estonia informed the meeting that they will organise the NBDSF bowling in 2007.

·  Latvia informed that they will organise a seminar for the sports clubs of the NBDSF member countries in May 2007. Two participants from each club will be invited to the seminar. The objective of the seminar is to develop co-operation activities between sports clubs in the NBDSF countries and to inform/prepare the 2008 sports festivals.

·  A decision was made to table other activities in the NBDSF plan of action so that everyone will be able to concentrate in their participation in the sports festivals as well as possible.

·  A short discussion was carried out on the forthcoming EDSO meeting. It was noted that the NBDSF countries have two candidates for the election of EDSO Board members, Riina Kuusk from Estonia and Aleksas Jasiunas from Lithuania.

4) CLOSING OF THE MEETING

NBDSF President Jarmo Järventausta closed the meeting by thanking the participants for good spirit of co-operation and success of the meeting.

Jarmo Järventausta                                                                          Juha-Matti Aaltonen