Start of the meeting: 10:00
In attendance:
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Malcolm Richardson | President | Dieter Kolb | Vice-President | Urs Muller | Member at Large / Treasurer | Leif Ohman | Member at Large | Ainslie Smith | Member at Large | Olli Rissanen | Rep. Northern Europe | Andrew Ferguson-Smith | Rep. Central Europe | John Brown | Rep. Great Britain and Ireland | Saskia Krugl | Secretary General |
The 34 member nations (ISR had been suspended from membership owing to non payment of subscriptions) were represented as follows:
Member nations represented in person with full voting rights | | AND, AUT, CZE, DEN, ENG, ESP, FIN, GER, IRL, ITA, LIE, NOR, RUS, SCO, SWE, SUI, WAL | | Member nations represented by proxy | | BEL, KAZ | | Member nations not represented or without voting rights | | BLR, BUL, CRO, EST, FRA, GRE, HUN, LAT, LUX, LTU, NED, POL, SCG, SVK and UKR |
The President welcomed everyone to the meeting.
1 Reading of Notice of Meeting
The Secretary announced that the Semi-Annual General Meeting had been convened by intimation to the members on February 22, 2006.
2. 2 Apologies, number of votes and quorum
Apologies: Konstantin Zadvornov, Representative Eastern Europe
One half of the member nations were represented in person. The Secretary therefore reported that there was a quorum and that the total number of votes available was 19 (17 votes represented in person, 2 votes represented by proxy). It was also reported that any decisions needing a two third majority would need a total of 14 votes.
3. 3 Minutes of the ECF Annual General Meeting 2005 (Garmisch-Partenkirchen, GER) and approval thereof
The minutes of the ECF Annual General Meeting 2005 (Garmisch-Partenkirchen, GER) were taken as read and were unanimously approved.
4. 4 Matters arising from these minutes
Entry fee to ECC and EMCC
Olli Rissanen reported that especially after the experiences with the so-called “basic packages” in Garmisch-Partenkirchen during the ECC 2005, the ECF Executive Committee would like to propose the implementation of an entry fee to both the ECC and the EMCC.
The Secretary explained the proposal of the Executive Committee in detail as follows:
For each team that is entered into the ECC an entry fee of EUR 500,00 must be paid to the ECF. Entries to the ECC are only accepted if accompanied by the above mentioned entry fee. The entry fee is non-refundable and will be forwarded completely to each respective Organsising Committee.
For each team that is entered into the EMCC an entry fee of EUR 200,00 must be paid to the ECF. Entries to the EMCC are only accepted if accompanied by the above mentioned entry fee. The entry fee is non-refundable and will be forwarded completely to each respective Organsising Committee.
The Secretary went on saying that in future the ECF would not allow Host Committees anymore to force teams/nations to buy basic packages which include items that those teams/nations do not need. Even if the nations in future had to pay those entry fees they would overall spend less or maximum the same money when attending the championships, and in future they would be given the chance to purchase all items of the package separately. Teams would also be perfectly allowed to book accommodation in private homes and would not be “penalised” anymore by a Host Committee for doing so.
In addition to the above no team will be fined anymore for late withdrawal from the championships. However, as quite a few teams had withdrawn from ECF championships at a very late stage, the following penalty would apply in future: The nation which failed to appear at the EMCC resp. the gender of the nation which failed to appear at the ECC will not be allowed to enter a team for the following year’s competition.
All above mentioned Executive Committee proposals were approved.
ECC 2007
The President informed the meeting of the current status of the ECC in 2007 after the withdrawal of Andorra: Oberstdorf, GER as well as Megeve/St. Gervais, FRA have all dropped out as potential host cities. The only current option would be to have the championships again in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, GER. The members approved that further negotiations be made with Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
(Note of the Secretary: In the meantime also Garmisch-Partenkirchen as well as Grindelwald, SUI have dropped out. Negotiations are currently taking place with Füssen, GER)
ECF/WCF Cresting Policy
Following a remark of Per Näsman, SWE during the Annual General Meeting in Garmisch-Partenkirchen about the fact that the ECF and WCF Cresting Policies were different from each other and would force the teams to change sponsor crests between championships, the Secretary had compared both policies with each other. It was now suggested that the ECF should adopt the WCF Cresting Policy but allowing the member nations a third position for team sponsors (as the ECF had in previous times always allowed for three team sponsor crests). This proposal was agreed unanimously.
5. 5 Correspondence
The Secretary reported that she had received an application for membership from Iceland as well as an application from Spain to now recognize the Spanish Ice Sports Federation as ECF member (instead of the Spanish Winter Sports Federation). Both applications would be dealt with under item 9. of the agenda.
6. 6 Report of the Executive Committee
Olli Rissanen – Legal Adviser
Olli Rissanen explained that during the recent meetings (especially during the Semi-Annual Meetings) it had become more and more difficult to reach a quorum. He invited the members to make proposals for a constitutional change so that such a situation can be avoided in future. Niels Larsen mentioned that it would perhaps be a solution to also count proxy votes. Olli Rissanen replied that this would of course be a possibility but he would appreciate if all nations would think about a solution and send their proposals to him as soon as possible.
John Brown – Webmaster
John Brown, the new ECF webmster, advised the Meeting that everyone should let him know if they had any wishes for the homepage.
Leif Öhman – Technical Advisor
Leif Öhman indicated that he had put together a technical questionnaire to be completed by all potential bidding cities. The Executive Committee had agreed that in future this questionnaire should be part of the ECF bid guidelines and should be answered by the bidding cities before a decision on a host site is made.
Leif Öhman explained further that the Executive Committee feels that it would be worthwhile to investigate in the purchase of time-clocks and Leif Öhman himself had been asked to make inquiries.
Andrew Ferguson-Smith – Marketing Agent
Regarding the EMCC 2007 Andrew Ferguson-Smith advised that the city of Madrid, ESP would like to host the event. Past bonspiels had always been organised very professionally and provided excellent ice-conditions (standard 60 x 30 metres rink). Madrid would however like to host the event a little earlier in the month of October (approx. 2 weeks earlier than in 2005 and 2006). Andrew Ferguson-Smith informed the meeting that it was the intention of the Executive Committee to now enter into negotiations with Madrid. None of the members expressed any objection to that.
With regard to the marketing perspective he confirmed that he had been very happy that he could secure a sponsorship funding of EUR 50.000,00 out of the EMCC 2005 at Andorra. He advised that in the upcoming weeks he would have a series of meetings with several companies to further discuss the marketing aspect of the ECF. He also mentioned that due to the very successful sales of the Curling sponsorship calendar more than EUR 30.000,00 had been donated to Curling.
Ainslie Smith – Competitions
Ainslie Smith gave the following report:
Competition Report for SAGA Lowell 2006
An exciting year of competition, with the first hopefully of many Mixed Championships. The competition was to be played in Andorra, firstly and mainly due to the enthusiasm from its main organizer Andrew Ferguson-Smith, but also to give Andorra a trial run before their intention of hosting the full European Championships.
It may be seen as fortunate that with considerable problems producing ice of a suitable quality that there was a test event in Andorra. Briefly the ice was raised around 14 cm in places to level the ice sheet this requiring around 67,000 liters of water, with all sorts of methods from polythene to toilet rolls being used to stem the flow of water from the ice pad. So firstly we must thank the work of the ice technicians for their long hours of work, really above and beyond the call of duty. Without their immense input and that of the Andrew and Josep Duro in doing all that was desired by the players or the technical teams, the first European Mixed championships might have turned out to be the last.
It did however turn out to be a huge success with all enjoying the birth of a new competition within Europe firmly based on enjoyment, but also with the real bite of competition. Congratulations to Finland on their success. We look forward to welcoming your teams to Claut for this year’s Mixed Championships
As you are all already aware the event has made the ECF reconsider taking the full European championships to Andorra and also made us propose a non returnable bid fee to allow inspection of any proposed sites. These sites will in the future have to fulfill a technical checklist, questionnaire and inspection before acceptance as a venue for the European Curling Championships.
The European Championships were held in Garmisch Partenkirchen in December in a superb facility where a short stroll through the foyer took you from A hall to B hall, with good facilities for eating close to the arena. The competition ran very smoothly under an experienced umpiring team, with a total of 45 x 30 second warnings issued with a total of 3 stones being removed from play. There were a total of 9 hogline infringements, 2 in A hall and 7 in B hall.
The number of time warnings given shows again the need for time clocks to be considered. Thankfully in Basle I understand that time clocks will be in operation, so it will be the responsibility of the players.
The organizing committee, particularly Uli Sutor, Rainer Schoepp and Christof Falk warrant special mention for the excellent Championships in Garmisch.
Congratulations to Pal Trulsen for his first Gold Medal, and what about that outstanding Swedish ladies team skipped by Annette Norberg winning her fifth consecutive Gold medal at the European Championships.
Thanks for the smooth operation of both the competitions must firstly go to Saskia, all the background teams of ice men, umpires, organizing committees and of course the competitors without them all, it just would not happen.
It was good to hear at the open meeting of the WCF that the Continental Cup is to continue for at least another year. Vice President Les Harrison stated that the WCF would be picking the teams. I will be seeking assurances that this will be done in line with the selection guidelines agreed between the ECF and the WCF.
It is always easy to look back and enjoy the memories, it is often more difficult to look into the crystal ball and try to guess where we are going, so now a gentle reminder of up and coming issues.
We are going to have to consider representation of our nations and probably it will be a case of following the guidelines for national eligibility laid down by the WCF, with whom we are inextricably linked.
Of a more serious nature:
Following discussions with the WCF executive in Garmisch, the format for achieving entry to the Worlds and therefore gaining Olympic points, and we are of course talking about the European Championships, will remain with the status quo at least until the next Olympics.
However discussions should start to take place fairly soon if there is a view from the WCF to change the qualification system. The ECF will be affected more than other zones within the WCF due to the sheer numbers of participating nations, and as such should have a strong voice within any discussions, let’s be proactive, get in on the act, work with the WCF rather than being disappointed at any resultant change on future qualification.
The point has been made to members of the WCF executive that the ECF should have a voice in any discussion.
Ainslie Smith also explained the following proposal of the Executive Committee for a new system of play of the ECC:
Page Play-off
With the World Curling Championships now playing a page system for the final games, and considering that the ECF is supposed to be following the WCF rules etc. it would seem logical that the ECC should also play the page system for the final games, giving a second chance to the top two teams after the round robin.
On Scheduling
This will mean more four draw days, to allow the whole of Thursday for any tie break games. It would also be desirable when running more four draw days to continue to have a three draw day on the Monday this would automatically change the gender of the early/ late draws. This rescheduling would accommodate the extra draw required for the page system. If no tie breaks are required on Thursday, then I am sure it would be a welcome rest day after a very tight schedule of round robin draws.
For A division it is proposed to move to a page play-off system following the round robin:
1 v 2 the winner of this game goes to the final, the loser plays the winner of the 3 v 4 game with the winner of this game gaining the second final position, and the loser receives the Bronze medal.
For B division when there are two divisions:
It is proposed that with the two divisions called B1 and B2 that the page system will work as follows:
B1,1 v B2,1 the winner of this game goes to the final, the loser plays the winner of the B1,2 v B2,2 game with the winner of this game gaining the second final position, and the loser receives the Bronze medal for B division.
In the event of there being three B divisions: The top teams of each division B1, B2, and B3 will be ranked by “The Draw Shot Challenge” as laid down in the WCF rule book. These 3 teams will be ranked 1, 2, and 3
For the page system:-
1 v 2 with the winner going to the final, and the loser playing against the third ranked team. The winner of this game will gain the second final position and the loser will receive the Bronze medal.
In addition to the page system, Ainslie Smith also explained the following proposal of the Executive Committee:
Last stone advantage rule
For the page play-offs in A division of the European Championships:
A team gaining last stone advantage by being clearly ahead of all other teams in the round robin will gain guaranteed last stone advantage for two games only.
Both above proposals were accepted unanimously by the members.
7. 7 Progress Reports of future Organising Committees (2006 until 2008 – if in attendance)
The President had already reported on the current status of the ECC 2007 under item 4 of the agenda. Unfortunately, nor a representative of ECC 2006 Basel, SUI nor of ECC 2008 Örnsköldsvik, SWE had been able to attend the meeting.
The President reported however that the Host Agreement with Claut, ITA for the EMCC 2006 had been signed. Entries to the EMCC 2006 will be accepted until May 31, 2006.
8. 8 Finance
Urs Müller reported that this year member associations had paid their subscriptions much faster than in previous years (between 80 and 90% of the subscriptions had been paid to date). Israel had now been suspended from membership due to non-payment of subscriptions for a number of years.
Urs Müller also advised the members that in future it would strictly be pointed out on the subscription invoices that subscriptions must be received net of all bank charges. Also, subscription payments made in cash or by cheque would only be accepted if the respective member nation would also cover the bank charges (EUR 20,00) involved in those transactions
9. 9 Resolutions
Changes to ECF constitution
Olli Rissanen explained the proposed change to the ECF constitution which refers to paragraph 4c) of the current constitution. It was proposed that this paragraph should in future read (changes are marked in bold):
If a Member Association is in arrears with any kind of its payments that Member Association may not play in any competition/championship organised by the European Curling Fecderation and its voting rights shall be suspended until three (3) months after payment in full is received.
The above proposal to change the ECF constitution was accepted unanimously.
Acceptance of new ECF member nations
The Secretary reported that she had received an application for membership from Iceland as well as an application from Spain to now recognize the Spanish Ice Sports Federation as ECF member (instead of the Spanish Winter Sports Federation). Both applications were unanimously approved by the General Meeting.
10.10 Any other business
None
11 Next Meeting
11
The Annual General Meeting of the ECF will take place in Basel, SUI on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 at 10:00.
The meeting closed at 11:50
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