International Society of Olympic Historians (ISOH)

Constitution Adopted – July 1994

Constitution Amended and Revised – August 1996, May/June 2000, August 2004, August 2008, July 2012, and September 2022.

Article One (Name)

The Name of the Organization is the International Society of Olympic Historians. The official abbreviation of the organization’s name is ISOH and the official domain is www.isoh.org.

Article Two (Purpose)

The purpose of the organization is to promote the study of the Olympic Movement and the Olympic Games. The purpose will be achieved primarily through research into the history of the Olympic Movement and the Olympic Games, through the gathering of historical material concerning the Olympic Movement and the Olympic Games, and through publication of the research via journals and other publications. The organization serves and enhances the Olympic Movement by making available the skills, knowledge, and research of ISOH’s network of Olympic historians. ISOH is a non-for-profit organization whose dues will be used solely for promotion of this purpose.

Article Three (Government and Affiliation)

ISOH is be an independent organization with no political affiliations. ISOH will attempt to work closely with the International Olympic Committee [IOC] to disseminate information about and promoting the history of the Olympic Movement and Olympic Games.

Article Four (Language)

The official language of ISOH will be English. Study and knowledge of other languages by members will be encouraged, to promote better international understanding as exemplified by the goals of the Olympic Movement.

Article Five (Membership)

ISOH has the following categories of membership:

• Full Member – A Full Member of ISOH will be a person with an interest in studying the history of the Olympic Movement. This category of membership is open only to individuals and not organizations. All Full Members receive all publications of ISOH either electronically or physically.

With the exception of Honorary Members, onlyFull Members shall have voting privileges. Failure to pay dues shall result in revocation of membership.

• Patron Member – A “Patron Member” is any person or organization who/which wishes to support the purpose of ISOH. Patron membership is available to any person or organization who/which pays ISOH dues. Patron members will be eligible to receive all ISOH publications either electronically or physically but will not have voting privileges.
• Honorary Member – Honorary Membership may be granted to those who are deemed to have provided outstanding service to ISOH as an organization. Any person may be nominated for Honorary Membership by any member of the Executive Committee. Honorary Membership will be granted upon a majority vote of the Executive Committee. Honorary Members pay no dues but have the same voting rights and privileges as Full Members and receive all publications of ISOH.
• Complimentary Member – A Complimentary Member is a person who, in the opinion of the Executive Committee, shall have the dues waived by reason of financial hardship. The Committee shall review all such memberships annually and, by majority vote, shall confer, maintain, or withdraw such status.
• Payment of dues – The dues for ISOH membership will be reviewed periodically and determined by the Executive Committee.
• Resignation of membership should be notified to the Secretary-General.

The Executive Committee may, at its discretion, terminate memberships on grounds of ethical misbehaviour or misconduct. 

Article Six (Conventions)

• Conventions of ISOH will be held every year at a site connected with Olympic history.
• The convention shall be chaired by the President of ISOH, or, in his/her absence, by the Vice-President, failing which, by the Secretary-General or another chosen member of the Executive Committee.
  

Article Seven (Executive Committee)

• The management of the affairs of ISOH is entrusted to an Executive Committee [EC] consisting of nine members. Seven members will be elected as follows: President, Vice-President, Secretary-General, Treasurer, and three other members. One member will be appointed by the Executive Committee with defined responsibility as editor of the Journal of Olympic History. One other member will be appointed by the President of the International Olympic Committee, at his/her discretion.
• All members of the Executive Committee are required to sign the Code of Ethics of ISOH.
• Election of members of the Executive Committee will occur just prior to the Games of the Olympiad. The election will be held via electronic vote. In the event of an equal number of votes [ex-aequo] being cast for two or more candidates for any positions on the Executive Committee, a deciding ballot will be held at the ISOH Convention immediately following the ballot. If this still results in a tie, the President, or in his/her absence, the Vice-President, shall have the deciding vote. Prior to the elections, all candidates for the Executive Committee are asked to present their qualifications in writing to the ISOH members. The format, method of communication and timing will be decided by the Executive Committee in office at the commencement of the Convention.
• The President and Vice-President may serve no more than two terms in those respective offices. There are no term limits for the Secretary-General and Treasurer.
• The two most recent past presidents of ISOH serve as ex-officio members of the Executive Committee. Ex-officio members may attend meetings of the Executive Committee but will not have voting privileges. Past Presidents, if elected to a different position on the Executive Committee, thereby lose their position as an ex-officio member and will receive voting privileges.
• Members of the Executive Committee will attempt to meet regularly online or at sites to be designated by the President.
  1. Should vacancies arise among elected members of the Executive Committee between Conventions, the Executive Committee may appoint new members by vote. Should the Presidency become vacant, the Vice-President will serve in his/her absence until the Executive Committee can appoint an interim President. Should the office of the Vice President or Secretary-General become vacant, the President shall appoint a replacement for those offices, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee.
  2. Should any member of the ISOH Executive Committee be unable to fulfil his/her term of office for any reason, the Executive Committee shall have the discretion to co-opt a member to serve on the Executive Committee until the next General Meeting.
  3. Of the eight elected members of the Executive Committee, no more than two members from the same country shall be eligible to serve simultaneously.
  4. The President and the Vice-President may not be from the same country.
  5. The procedures for the nomination of new candidates for the Executive Committee shall be communicated to the ISOH members by the Secretary-General, at least three months before the actual electronic ballot.
  6. Each Member has the right to nominate other Members for a position on the Executive Committee. All nominees must confirm their willingness to serve. Each candidate must be nominated, in writing, by at least two Members.
  7. Members are not allowed to nominate themselves.
  8. The results of the ballot, as confirmed by the outgoing Executive Committee, shall be reported to the Convention of ISOH, at the conclusion of which the change-over to the newly elected Executive Committee will take place.
  9. To be eligible for any position on the Executive Committee, a nominated member must have paid the applicable dues.
     

Article Eight (Committees)

The Executive Committee may appoint, as it deems advisable, committees or working groups for work and study in particular fields. 

Article Nine (Amendments)

Amendments to the constitution may be proposed by any voting member by submission in writing to the Secretary at least three months prior to the Convention. Adoption of any such amendments will be by a two-thirds majority of the members responding to an electronic vote. 

Article Ten (Awards)

ISOH presents an annual life-time award to a person who has dedicated a significant porton of his/her life to the Olympic Movement and in particular to Olympic history. Candidates can be proposed according to a procedure established by the Executive Committee, which votes on the award. ISOH reserves the right to create and present further awards. 

Article Eleven (Daily Affairs)

Between meetings of the Executive Committee the daily affairs of ISOH will be handled by the President and the Secretary-General, who may delegate specific tasks to other members.

Respectfully submitted,

Dr. Christian Wacker, President [2020-2024]

Dr. Kostas Georgiadis, Vice-President [2020-2024]

Markus Osterwalder, Secretary-General [2020-2024]

Héctor Argüelles, Treasurer [2020-2024]