English Karate Structure - WKF Statutes
ART. 5- RECOGNITION AND AFFILIATION
5.1 The recognition of a National Federation by the WKF will be done following the regulations contained in these Statutes. For the official recognition of a National Federation in its country, and following Rule 29 and Bye-Laws to Rules 28 & 29 of the Olympic Charter, the WKF will inform the National Olympic Committee and the Highest Sports Authority of the country in question.
5.2 The approval of an applicant National Federation’s Statutes by the WKF Executive Committee is required for recognition. The same applies to any subsequent change or amendment to the Statutes of a National Federation that will also have to be approved by the WKF Executive Committee. Such Statutes shall, at all times, conform to the principles of the WKF Statutes and make explicit reference to the affiliation to WKF and to the acceptance and subordination to the WKF Statutes. If there is any doubt as to the meaning or interpretation of the Statutes of a National Federation or if there is a contradiction between such Statutes and WKF Statutes, the latter take precedence.
5.3 Also the Rules and Regulations of the National Federations members shall conform to the principles of the WKF Rules and Regulations. In particular, WKF Competition Rules shall be applied in its entirety in all official national competitions titles for national championships and pertaining national titles, including modalities and categories, and the National Federations members will not schedule or participate in any international activities which contravene the aforementioned competition rules or which fall on dates of celebration of official WKF events.
5.4 A country is defined as an independent State recognised by the International Community. The name of the National Federation must reflect the territorial extent and traditional name of its country and shall be subject to the approval of the WKF.
5.5 Only 1 (one) National Federation per country shall be allowed.
5.6 The area of jurisdiction of a National Federation must coincide with the limits of the country in which it is established and has its headquarters.
5.7 National Federations wishing to be recognised by and subsequently affiliated to the WKF must be an independent organisation in their own country. The President and the other members of the Executive Committee of a National Federation must be democratically elected and hold the citizenship of their own National Federation country. Governments or other public authorities shall not designate any members of a National Federation. However, a National Federation may decide, at its discretion, to elect as members representatives of such authorities.
5.8 National Federations wishing to be affiliated to the WKF must send to the General Secretary, together with the relative membership fee payment, a complete dossier of documents giving detailed information on the standing and capacity of the National Federation. This dossier must include the Statutes and the Rules and Regulations of the applicant Federation and documentation of any recognition by the National Olympic Committee or the Highest Sport Authority of the country.
Such membership fee payment shall be in the form of a bank cheque or bank transfer and of such amount as specified by the WKF. This payment must be cleared at the WKF bank before membership may proceed.
5.9 Affiliation shall be deemed "provisional" when it has been accepted by the Executive Committee. Once accepted and only then, the Executive Committee will decide on submission of the application to the Ordinary Congress. Provisional affiliation will automatically expire 2 (two) years after the Executive Committee has granted it. Only the Executive Committee is empowered to award any extension to any provisional membership which has so expired. Provisionally affiliated National Federations shall enjoy all rights, excluding voting rights. Once ratified by the Ordinary Congress, the affiliation shall be considered "permanent" and shall confer the right to vote 2 (two) years after the Congress at which it were ratified.
The present Statutes have been initially drafted by Professor Giuseppe Pellicone, revised by the Executive Committee and finally approved by the WKF Congress in Tampere (Finland) on October 11 of the year 2006 on the occasion of the XVIII World Senior Championships. Please check the World Karate Federation website regularly for any updates or changes that may occur.
