Independently of all other existing press associations, the International Ski Club of Journalists has as its object the sustaining and fostering of personal and friendly links between colleagues of the international media, irrespective of politics and nationality. The SCIJ will take steps to promote cultural and intellectual exchanges between countries' delegations, always remembering that their essential setting is that of skis and mountains.
Article II
The SCIJ consists of the following executive bodies:
a) General Assembly
The General Assembly, which is paramount, consists of representatieves duly elected by the national ski clubs of the member countries, on the basis of one vote per country. It sits during each annual meeting as a gereral assembly; an extraordinary assembly may be summoned on the authority of the international executive comittee or at the request of at least five member nations. The presence of representatives of two thirds of the member countries constitutes a quorum. If there is not a quorum, the assembly can legally convene thirty minutes after the official opening. Decisions or recommendations are made by majority vote at ordinary or extraordinary general assemblies. Voting by proxy is admissible. Any modification of the statutes can only be put forward at an extraordinary general assembly, following a request to the president at least three month before the meeting of the ordinary general assembly. Decisions of such modifications require a two thirds majority vote. Ordinary and extraordinary meetings of the general assembly are presided over by the president of the international executive committee or, in his absense, by one member of the international committee. In the event of an equal vote, the president has the casting vote.
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b) International Executive committee
The Internation Executive committee is responsible for the running of the association. It consists of a president, four vice-presidents and a secretary-general. Members of the committee are elected by the ordinary general assembly for four years at a time; their term may be renewed.
c) Elections
Elections will be conducted by secret ballot, in accordance with procedures established by the I.E.C. Each member country shall have one vote for each vacancy. The candidates elected shall be those with more votes than any others. In the event of an equal vote, a further ballot will be held to decide between the tied candidates. The number of votes for each candidate shall be published by the Secretary General.
The need for an election, and the time it will be held will be announced on advance. Each Captain will be given Elections Notes and a Voting Card for identification. This card may also be used to avoid mis-counting during votes on other issues in the General Assembly. Nominations by Captains will be made to the Secretary General in advance of the session at which the election will be conducted. The Secretary General will prepare a Ballot Paper, listing the candidates in alphabetical order, with their nationality and the name of the team or teams nominating them. The number of copies required is two more than the number of teams entitled to vote. A team of scrutineers will be elected at the beginning of the General Assembly. The team will consist of a Schief Scrutineer and four Scrutineers.
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Cards will be marked to indicate a ballot paper has been issued, and a record of ballot papers issued will be kept on one of the lists of teams provided. The time at which voting closes will be announced in advance. No ballot papers will be accepted after this time. Ballot papers will be accepted by the Scrutineers only form Captains, who procedure a voting card. Cards will be marked to indicate a ballot paper has been issued, and a record of ballot papers returned will be kept on the second list of teams.
The Chief Scrutineer will be provided with two copies of the list of teams present; all ballot papers; a table in the meeting hall at which ballot papers can be issued and collected; a bollot box; a private room in which the votes can be counted.
Once the Scrutineers have been elected, the Chief Scrutineer will explain procedure to the Scrutineers. Each Scrutineer will agree to honour the secrecy of the ballot, or withdraw. Immediately afterwards, ballot papers will be issued to the team Captains who produce their Voting Cards.
When the voting time has expired, the Scrutineers will retire to their room. the Chief Scrutineer will then designate two Readers and two Writers. The two Readers will jointly read out from each ballot paper the votes for each candidate. The two Writers will separately mark the two spare copies of the ballot paper so as to keep a running total. Thus a check of errors is provided at each stage. When the Chief Scrutineer is satisfied that the ballot has been counted correctly, she or he will immediately take possession of all ballot papers and documents connected with the count. The candidates elected are those with the highest number of votes. Where there is a tied vote, a second ballot will be run with the names of the tied candidates only on the paper. The Chief Scrutineer will privately convey the results of the ballot to the President (Secretary General) of SCIJ. The Chief Scrutineer will retain all documents until the conclusion of the meeting (in case of disputes), and then destroy them.
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Membership of the SCIJ is open to the following:
a) Active members
Full-time professional journalists working for the major media, written or audio-visual, who are recognised as such by the national ski club to which they belong and according to the regulations in force in their own country. In those countries where there are no national ski clubs, prospective members apply to the international executive committee, which decides on ther admission. An active member is eligible for the various executive bodies of the SCIJ.
b) Associate members
Open to all former active members who have taken part in al least five international meetings and who have subsequently changed their profession.
c) Honorary members
The international executive committee decides on the nomination of an honorary member, either on its own initiative or at the suggestion of a national ski club. A honorary member shall have deserved, by his activities, the gratitude of the SCIJ. Associated and honorary members are not eligible for the governing bodies of the SCIJ. Associate members can take part in international meetings, if there is sufficient space, but may not constitute more than a third of their country's delegation without permission from the international executive committee. Associate members may only take part in international competitions with an hors concours status.
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Article IV
Every year and in a different country, the SCIJ organises a sporting, friendly and international meeting. Its organisational details are specified in separate regulations.
Article V
Through their professional activities members of the SCIJ will strive to make known their association and its aims.
Article VI
Members of the SCIJ always owe each other mutual and friendly assistance.
Article VII
The headquarters of the SCIJ is in Lausanne, but may be changed if the Assembly wants it. The international executive committee has the right to employ a lawyer to represent the SCIJ.
Article VIII
In the event of disagreement over the interpretation of the present statutes, the French version is binding.
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The competitive events must be included in the programme of the meetings: - a giant slalom (one single run) which counts for the combination; - a cross-country, which also counts for the combination. There will be a third optional race (for exemple parallel slalom or free style cross-country for mixed teams, etc.).
Article II
Competitors must take part in both official races (giant slalom and cross-country).
Article III
The starting order must take into consideration the skiing capabilities of the competitors. Depending on the numer of entries, competitors will be split into groups of thirty. The composition of these groups will be based on the results of previous races, with priority for the most recent results. Any competitor taking part in the races for the first time will beplaced in the third group whatever his ability. Any past competitor of European or Wold Cup will only be permitted to enter the official SCIJ races ten years after his last international competition.
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Article IV
A separate classification for men and women (3 categories: junior, senior and super-senior) will be made for each race, as well as for the combination (giant slalom and cross-country). There are three age classifications: - junior up to and including 44 years; - senior aged 45 to 54 years; - super-senior aged 55 years and over. Participants become seniors or super-seniors the year in which they reach the age of 45 or 55 respectively. Only fulltime journalists recognised in their respective country will be classified. The others will be classified.
Article V
The classification is based on the points system of FIS (International Ski Federation). However for the combination (giant slalom and cross-coutnry) the placings of the competitors in the two races are added together. The lowest total is the best. In the event of a tie, the one who placed the best in giant slalom is the winner.
Article VI
The giant slalom must be easy enough for all skiers, yet technically challenging for the best skiers. The racing time (category FIS B) should be about 1'20 for an average skier. The giant slalom could be held at different times on two different tracs, one for junior and senior men and the other for women and super senior men.
Article VII
The cross-country will be of average difficulty and run over a course of 5 kilometers for men in the junior and senior classes and 3 kilometers for all women and men in the super-senior class. The length of the course may be reduced due to altitude or other factors. Skating is forbidden. Each category starts at a different time, but all competitors will start on the same line.
Article VIII
The SCIJ International Committee must have access to all race option from the national organizing committee, to verify the race courses and eventually modify before the start. FIS regulations will apply to preparations of courses, safety precautions, control systems, arrival arrangements, etc. Whenever possible the giant slalom will be held before the cross-country and ladies will start first.
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