Statutes for Play the Game

The current Play the Game statutes were approved at the meeting of the Play the Game Board held on 10 April 2008.

Play the Game is an independent institution that was founded on August 1st 2004 by Danish sports organisations.

Item 2. The secretariat for Play the Game is based in Aarhus.

§ 2 Objectives

Play the Game aims to strengthen the basic ethical values of sport and encourage democracy, transparency and freedom of expression in world sport. This is achieved by:

1. Creating awareness of sport’s role in society at a local, national and international level
2. Drawing a many-sided picture of sport, and supporting the right of the individual to choose and influence his or her daily sporting activities
3. Ensuring a free, independent, open and fact-based debate on sport’s current situation and future development
4. Providing journalists, researchers and political leaders with both the inspiration and the tools to explore the cultural, political, social and economic aspects of sport.
5. Creating networks across national and professional boundaries in order to answer the challenges of a globalised sports and media world.

Item 2. Play the Game’s primary target group comprises of journalists, researchers and political leaders, and its goal is to strengthen the exchange of knowledge, opinions and ideas between these groups with a view to the further development of international sport – democratically, culturally, ethically etc.

§ 3 Tasks

Play the Game arranges, at suitable intervals, an international conference for journalists, researchers and sports leaders with a programme addressing, among other topics, current issues in sports politics.

Item 2. Between conferences, Play the Game carries out information and educational activities.

 

§ 4 Board

Play the Game is led by a Board consisting of seven members.

Item 2. The Danish Minister of Culture nominates the Chairman. The Danish Gymnastics and Sports Associations (DGI), the Danish Association of Company Sports (DFIF) and the International Federation of Journalists each nominate one board member.

Item 3. The Board will supplement itself with three additional members, who should provide specific competences within the world of international elite sport, research, sports politics, commerce or other related fields.

Item 4. Those board members nominated under §4, item 2 are appointed for a period of four years. Those board members nominated under §4, item 3 are appointed for a period of two years. In the instance of a board member stepping down, a new board member is appointed for the remainder of the Board’s period of appointment, in accordance with the rules laid out in §4, item 2 and item 3.

Item 5. The Board has overall responsibility for ensuring that Play the Game lives up to its objectives, and is run in a responsible manner.  The Board approves the institution’s budget and accounts, and has the capacity to employ or dismiss the day-to-day leader of Play the Game’s secretariat.

Item 6. The decisions of the Board are taken with a simple voting majority. In case of parity of votes, the Chairman has the deciding vote.

Item 7. The Board is allowed to take decisions when at least four members are present, including the Chairman.

§ 5 Advisory Board

In order to support and advise Play the Game, the Board may establish an Advisory Board comprising of particularly expert and engaged individuals.

§ 6 Programme Committee

After recommendations from the secretariat, the Board appoints a Programme Committee consisting of an appropriate number of experts. This Committee provides advice regarding which themes and speakers appear on the programme of the international conferences. The Programme Committee will subsequently undertake an evaluation of the conference’s professional and academic content.

Item 2. In order to ensure that a balance exists between continuity and variation in the conference programme, the Programme Committee will partially change after each conference.

Item3. A minimum of two of the Programme Committees members are to be recruited from the country where the conference will be held.

§ 7 The Secretariat

The Secretariat is responsible for the day-to-day running of Play the Game with regard to responsibility for the content of the conference programme (in cooperation with the Programme Committee), information activities, public relations, budget and accounts, holding of conference etc.

Item 2. Responsibility for Play the Game’s day-to-day running lies with the leader of the Secretariat.

Item 3. The leader of the Secretariat is responsible for the employment and dismissal of the institution’s other staff members.

§ 8 Financing

Funds for the institution’s operations and the hosting of conferences are provided through grants from public authorities and institutions, as well as from sports organisations. The institution procures additional funding through conference participant fees, publications, lecture workshops, grants from foundations, sponsorships etc.
 

§ 9 Budget, accounts and auditing

The accountancy year for Play the game follows the calendar year. The yearly accounts are audited by a state or registered auditor and approved by the Board no later than three months after the end of the financial year. 

§ 10 Alterations to statutes

Decisions on the alteration of the statutes are to be made by the Board.

§ 11 Dissolution

Decisions on the institutions dissolution shall be made by the Board, and will depend upon the approval of all Board members appointed under §4, item 2. The Board will make a decision on the practical and economic winding up of the institution, as well as the use of any outstanding financial surplus.

Item 2. Any net capital held by the institution will go towards the goals and aims outlined in the statement of objectives.

10 April 2008

Jens Brinch, Chairman