Special Olympics Official General Rules
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SpecialOlympics.org SPECIAL OLYMPICS OFFICIAL GENERAL RULES Special Olympics Official General Rules 2 Special Olympics Special Olympics Official General Rules Contents Contents 3 PREFACE 9 PREAMBLE to the Special Olympics General Rules 10 Article 1 Mission, Goal and Founding Principles of Special Olympics 14 Section 1.01 Mission Statement 14 Section 1.02 Goal of Special Olympics 14 Section 1.03 Founding Principles of Special Olympics 14 Section 1.04 Structure of Special Olympics 16 Article 2 Special Olympics Athletes 19 Section 2.01 Eligibility for Participation in Special Olympics 19 Section 2.02 Registration of Athletes 20 Section 2.03 Use of Athletes' Names and Likenesses 25 Section 2.04 Releases from Athletes 26 Section 2.05 Participation by Persons Who Are Blood-Borne Contagious Disease Carriers 26 Section 2.06 Counting and Reporting Participating Athletes 26 Article 3 Special Olympics Sports Training and Competition 28 Section 3.01 Founding Objectives of Special Olympics Sports Training and Competition 28 Section 3.02 Prohibition on Charging Fees 29 Section 3.03 General Requirements for Special Olympics Sports Training and Competition 29 Section 3.04 Requirements Concerning Special Olympics Sports 31 Section 3.05 Requirements Concerning Special Olympics Training 33 Section 3.06 Requirements Concerning Special Olympics Competition 34 Section 3.07 Awards 35 Section 3.08 Conduct of World Games 36 3 Special Olympics Special Olympics Official General Rules Section 3.09 Conduct of SOI-Sanctioned Games 37 Section 3.10 Invitational Games and Tournaments 38 Section 3.11 Special Olympics Unified Sports® 40 Section 3.12 Special Olympics Motor Activities Training Programs 41 Section 3.13 Volunteers 41 Article 4 SOI’s Governance of Special Olympics 42 Section 4.01 SOI's Governance Authority, Powers and Responsibilities 42 Section 4.02 Lines of Communication within Special Olympics 43 Section 4.03 SOI’s Decision Making 45 Section 4.04 Amendments to General Rules 46 Section 4.05 Amendment of Other Uniform Standards 48 Section 4.06 International Advisory Committee 48 Section 4.07 Regional Leadership Councils 49 Section 4.08 Sub-Regional Leadership Councils 51 Section 4.09 Sports Rules Advisory Committee 51 Section 4.10 General Rules Advisory Committee 53 Section 4.11 Medical Advisory Committee 53 Section 4.12 Torch Run Executive Council 54 Section 4.13 Other Advisory Committees 55 Section 4.14 Regional and World Games 55 Section 4.15 Tournaments and Demonstrations 55 Section 4.16 Approvals of Accredited Program Activities 56 Section 4.17 Broadcasting and Recording Matters 56 Section 4.18 Registration and Protection of SO Marks 57 Section 4.19 Official Languages 58 4 Special Olympics Special Olympics Official General Rules Article 5 Governance and Operation of Accredited Programs 59 Section 5.01 Structural Requirements 59 Section 5.02 Governance Requirements 60 Section 5.03 Names Used by Accredited Programs 63 Section 5.04 Jurisdictional Limitations of Accredited Programs 64 Section 5.05 General Requirements Concerning Training and Competition 64 Section 5.06 Scope of Program; Growth Requirements 64 Section 5.07 Use of Special Olympics Name and Other SO Marks 65 Section 5.08 Display of Commercial Messages at Games and Prohibition of the Display of National Flags 68 Section 5.09 Alcohol and Tobacco Policy 70 Section 5.10 Compliance with Laws 72 Section 5.11 Compliance with Voluntary Standards 72 Section 5.12 Contracts with Third Parties 72 Section 5.13 Avoiding Conflicts of Interest 73 Section 5.14 Financial and Insurance Requirements 73 Section 5.15 Codes of Conduct 73 Article 6 Accreditation of Special Olympics Programs 75 Section 6.01 Purpose of Accreditation 75 Section 6.02 Rights and Responsibilities 75 Section 6.03 Authority to Grant Accreditation 75 Section 6.04 Documentation of Accreditation 75 Section 6.05 Accreditation Standards 76 Section 6.06 Changes to the Accreditation Standards 76 Section 6.07 Period or Duration of Accreditation 76 5 Special Olympics Special Olympics Official General Rules Section 6.08 Application for Initial or Renewed Accreditation 77 Section 6.09 Accreditation License 78 Section 6.10 Review by SOI of Accreditation Applications 79 Section 6.11 Accreditation Boundaries 79 Section 6.12 Obligations of an Accredited Program 79 Section 6.13 Rights of an Accredited Program 80 Section 6.14 SOI's Power to Impose Sanctions for Violations of an Accredited Program's Obligations 81 Section 6.15 Grounds for Imposing Sanctions or Revoking/Denying Accreditation 81 Section 6.16 Procedures for Imposing Sanctions 82 Section 6.17 Appeal Procedures 85 Section 6.18 Emergency Suspension of Accreditation 87 Section 6.19 Effect of Termination or Expiration of Accreditation 87 Section 6.20 Sanctions Available to SOI 89 Section 6.21 Accreditation of Sub-Programs 90 Section 6.22 Waivers of Non-Compliance with General Rules 91 Article 7 Fund-Raising and Development 93 Section 7.01 Division of Fund-Raising Responsibilities within Special Olympics 93 Section 7.02 SOI's Exclusive Authority 93 Section 7.03 Authority of Accredited Programs 96 Section 7.04 Fund-Raising Responsibilities of Accredited Programs 98 Section 7.05 SOI's Designation of Exclusive and Non-Exclusive Sponsors 101 Section 7.06 Sponsor Recognition Requirements 103 Section 7.07 SOI's Contract Policies 105 Section 7.08 Fund-Raising Obligations of GOC's 107 6 Special Olympics Special Olympics Official General Rules Section 7.09 Reporting Obligations of Accredited Programs 107 Section 7.10 Fund-Raising Information to be distributed by SOI 108 Section 7.11 Cooperation in Protecting SO Marks and Other Intellectual Property Owned by SOI 108 Section 7.12 Avoiding Use of Marks Owned by Third Parties 108 Article 8 Financial Arrangements, Fiscal Accountability, Insurance 108 Section 8.01 Standards for Financial Management 109 Section 8.02 Fiscal Years 111 Section 8.03 Development of Strategic Annual Plans and Program Budget 111 Section 8.04 Financial Statements 111 Section 8.05 Audit Requirements 112 Section 8.06 Reporting to SOI 113 Section 8.07 Financial Management of Sub-Programs 114 Section 8.08 Accreditation Fees 114 Section 8.09 Insurance Requirements 114 Article 9 Interpretation of General Rules 115 Section 9.01 Substitute Terminology 115 Section 9.02 Section Headings 115 Section 9.03 Rights of Third Parties 115 Section 9.04 No Waiver 115 Section 9.05 Translations 116 Section 9.06 Applicability of Rules; Superseding Effect 116 Article 10 Definitions 117 Section 10.01 Definitions 117 7 Special Olympics Special Olympics Official General Rules Supplement to Special Olympics General Rules – United States Specific Rules 121 Preface 121 Article 3 Special Olympics Sports Training and Competition 121 Section 3.07 Awards 121 Section 3.09 Conduct of SOI-Sanctioned Games 121 Section 3.13 Volunteers 122 Article 4 SOI's Governance of Special Olympics 125 Section 4.18 Registration and Protection of SO Marks 125 Article 5 Governance and Operation of Accredited Programs 126 Section 5.01 Structural Requirements 126 Section 5.11 Compliance with Voluntary Standards 126 Article 7 Fund-Raising and Development 128 Section 7.02 SOI's Exclusive Authority 128 Section 7.03 Authority of Accredited Programs 129 Section 7.04 Fund-Raising Responsibilities of Accredited Programs 129 Article 8 Financial Arrangements; Fiscal Accountability; Insurance 131 Section 8.09 Insurance Requirements 131 Article 10 Definitions; Structure of Special Olympics 132 8 Special Olympics Special Olympics Official General Rules PREFACE These Special Olympics Official General Rules have been revised and restated in order to provide current and consolidated guidance to all accredited Special Olympics programs and Games Organizing Committees. This revised edition of the General Rules was adopted by the Special Olympics Board of Directors on 14 February 2012. An additional revision to Section 2.02(g) was adopted by the Board of Directors on 12 November 2013. A full description of the amendments is contained in a Written Summary and Explanation of Amendments document available at www.specialolympics.org. The amended text and reorganization of Articles is included herein. These General Rules are an official publication of Special Olympics, Inc. 9 Special Olympics Special Olympics Official General Rules PREAMBLE to the Special Olympics General Rules Special Olympics unleashes the transformative power and joy of sports to reveal the full potential of athletes with intellectual disabilities, creating more inclusive communities, everyday around the world. We do this through a set of values that guide our actions and behavior in the implementation of our mission. SPORTSMANSHIP WITH JOY We believe in the transformative power of sports. We embrace the purity of sports at all levels as we witness incredible personal athletic triumphs that shatter stereotypes. ATHLETE LEADERSHIP We empower athletes to be contributing and respected members of Special Olympics and society. We support athlete leaders on and off the playing field. UNITY We are united in our commitment to inclusion, respect and dignity. We build communities of acceptance: loving families, inspired employees, coaches, volunteers, and fans. We are one Movement, in every community and every country. BRAVERY We live our Athlete Oath: “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” PERSEVERANCE We are capable, tenacious and resilient. We don’t give up on ourselves or each other. Special Olympics, Inc. (“SOI”) has relationships with various bodies and organizations