On August 30, 2005, delegates from 61 WMA member nations gathered in San Sebastian to give up, down and sideways votes to 26 proposals (rules changes, Constitution amendments and the like). Detailed results of these votes have only now begun trickling out — seven weeks later. Sigh. National Masters News in its October edition summarized the votes but didn’t give the complete context (for lack of space).

Our governing body is World Masters Athletics, which you’d think would post the votes on its Web site. It has yet to do so — and may not get around to it for months. But German masters maven Robert Koop took notes and finally (after dealing with a computer crash) has cobbled together his best understanding of what went down in Donostia.
I’ve taken Robert’s results and comments (denoted by boldface type) and appended them to the wording of the proposals straight out of the WMA’s agenda booklet.
Don’t take these results as gospel, but they’re probably pretty solid. Official minutes of the San Sebastian General Assembly will be posted god knows when.
But here’s all I know at the moment:
1. Constitution, section 4, General Assembly
Amendment of paragraph 4 (n)
The present text:
The names and addresses of Delegates to the General Assembly (including any alternates/substitutes) shall be given in writing to the WMA Secre-tary not later than thirty (30) days before the opening date of the General Assembly. The Secretary shall post the details of the Delegates on the WMA website not less than twenty (20) days before the opening date of the General Assembly.
shall be replaced by:
Delegates for the WMA General Assembly shall have a written accreditation from the President or Secretary of their WMA Affiliate to be presented at the registration before the General Assembly if asked for.
No. 1 Constitution section 4, GA – accepted
2. Constitution, section 5, Council
Addition of new paragraph 5 (n)
Not more than two members of the Council or any WMA Committee may come from the same Affiliate.
No. 2 Constitution section 5, GA – accepted with a modification: “or any single WMA committee” (it’s the same as the IAAF constitution)
3. Constitution, section 6, Election of Officers
Amendment of paragraph 6 (c)
The present text in the last sentence:
No officer may hold the same office for more than two consecutive terms of four years each.
shall be replaced by:
No officer may hold the same office for more than eight consecutive years but shall be eligible to be elected to the same office after a lapse of at least two years following the expiry of the previous consecutive eight year period.
No. 3 Constitution section 6, GA – defeated (i’m not sure if I’m right- sorry)
4. Constitution, section 6, Election of Officers
Addition to paragraph 6 (d)
Nomination of a candidate for an office may be made by any WMA Affiliate but must also include nomination by the nominee?s Affiliate to be valid.
No. 4 Constitution section 6, GA – accepted
5. Constitution, section 8, Standing Committees/Bye-Laws, section 3, Committees
Amendment of paragraph 8 (d) resp paragraph 3 (4)
The present name:
Doping and Medical Committee
shall be changed to:
Anti-Doping and Medical Committee
No. 5 Constitution section 8, GA – accepted
6. Constitution, section 11, Eligibility
Addition of new paragraph 11 (b) ? present paragraph 11 (b) will become 11 (c)
Athletes holding dual nationality/citizenship may be permitted to change nationality/citizenship, i.e. compete for another country, only when a change in the athlete?s permanent address has occurred. Such change must be re- ported to the WMA Secretary and shall only be effected once confirmed in writing by the WMA Secretary.
No. 6 Constitution section 11, GA – accepted
7. Bye-Laws, section 3, Committees
Amendment to paragraph 3 (2) (b) and (c) provided the WMA World Cham- pionships Non-Stadia are removed:
The present number of the Committee members shall be reduced from six members plus the Chairman to three members plus the Chairman.
The present paragraphs 3 (2) (b) and 3 (2) (c) shall be amended to read:
3 (2) (b) There shall be three (3) members of the Committee plus the
Chairman.
3 (2) (c) The three (3) members of the Committee shall be appointed by
the President, based upon nominations submitted to him by the
Chairman.
No. 7 Bye-Laws section 3 – withdrawn
8. Rules of Competition, section 1, Championships
Amendment of paragraph 1 (1)
The WMA World Championships Non-Stadia shall be removed and its events allocated to the WMA World Championships Stadia and Indoors:
No. 8 Rules of competition section 1 Championships (Removing of the Nonstadia Cham and allocating to the Indoors) 51 yes – 41 no – defeated, two thirds majority was failed
9. Rules of Competition, section 1, Championships
Amendment of paragraph 1 (4)
The present text shall be deleted and replaced by:
The WMA World Championships Indoors shall include cross country, half marathon and 10K road walk.
The WMA World Championships Stadia shall include marathon, 10K road race and 20K road walk.
No. 9 Rules of competition section 1 – look to No 8
10. Rules of Competition, section 1, Championships
Amendment of paragraph 1 (2)
The present last three sentences:
The Council revises, if necessary, the grading and forwards the two highest graded Bid Cities to the General Assembly for presentation and decision. The detailed technical and inspection reports are to be circularised by the Secretary amongst the Affiliates 45 days before the opening of the General Assembly. If there are only a few bids which are regarded by Council as being not sufficiently competitive, the Council shall have the right to call for fresh bids.
shall be replaced by:
The WMA Council revises, if necessary, the grading and awards the Cham- pionships to the highest graded Bid City. The Council reports its decision to the General Assembly and the City presents itself at the General Assembly.
No. 10 Rules of competition section 1 – accepted
11. Rules of Competition, section 1, Championships
Addition to paragraph 1 (6)
Mountain running shall be added as an official WMA World Championships organised by WMRA.
The present text shall be amended to read:
WMA shall sanction such other road, cross-country and mountain running races as may be approved by the General Assembly, including the holding of a World Championships 100K Road Race in odd-numbered years and a WMA World Championships Mountain Running in Even numbered years.
No. 11 Rules of competition section 1 – accepted
WMA Affiliate motions
1. Constitution, section 4, General Assembly
Addition to section 4 (c)
New Zealand Masters Athletics proposes that rule 4(c) be amended to include WMA Honorary Life Presidents and Honorary Life members elected in accordance with clause 4(e)viii.
No. 1 Constitution section 4, GA – defeated
2. Constitution, section 4, General Assembly
Addition to section 4 ? new paragraph
USA MASTERS proposes addition of paragraph 4 (o)
The General Assembly shall determine the rights and entry fees for Stadia Championships, two Championships in advance.
No. 2 Constitution section 4, GA – defeated
3. Rules of Competition, section 1, Championships
Amendment to paragraph 1 (4)
Australian Masters Athletics proposes
that the number of Race Walking events for both men and women be increased to three events and that Race Walking events at the World Masters Athletics Cham-pionships be three separately scheduled events, i.e. 5K Track Walk, 10K Road Walk and 20km Road Walk
If the above motion to increase the number of Race Walks to three for both men and women is not adopted, then the following motion is proposed:
that the Road Walk for men 35 to 69 years of age be 20K and for men 70 year and over be10K.
No. 3 Rules of competition section 1, GA – accepted
4. Rules of Competitions, section 4, Age Groups
Amendment of present paragraph 4 (3)
Deutscher Leichtathletikverband and the Nordic countries Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden propose that the present sentence
An athlete?s age-group shall be determined by his date of birth
shall be replaced by
An athlete?s age-group shall be decided by his year of birth.
reasoning:
Within the international masters athletics associations the entry date into an age group does not correspond with the IAAF-rules (IAAF: entry date into a new age category is the 1st January of each year). The international masters? athletics organisations EVAA and WMA use as entry date the first day of the particular Championships. This means that with two or three international masters Championships per year two or three different entry dates for age categories have to be used. The new classification for age categories would facilitate the whole entry procedure for the athletes.
During the IAAF-Congress in Helsinki 2005 IAAF will submit a proposal that men, like women can enter the masters Championships at the age of 35 instead of 40. This change could be used to change age category classification in general.
No. 4 Rules of competition section 4, GA – defeated
5. Constitution, section 6, Election of Officers
Amendment of paragraph 6 (c)
British Masters Athletic Federation proposes that present paragraph 6 (c):
No officer may hold the same office for more than two consecutive terms of four years each
is replaced by
The term of office for any Officer be an initial term of four years, thereafter be subject to re-election at General Assembly at two year intervals. No person may hold any specific office for more than a maximum of eight years in total.
Reasoning:
This proposal allows a new officer a period of four years to settle in but with two year renewal gives more flexibility and opportunity for other candidates seeking office. The total of eight years maximum could be altered to ten years which is the time which was allowed originally before the introduction of four year terms.
No. 5 Constitution section 6, GA – withdrawn
6. Constitution, section 6, Election of Officers
Amendment of paragraph 6 (d)
British Masters Athletic Federation proposes that the text in present paragraph 6 (d)
Nomination of candidates for office may only be made by any Affiliate ?.
shall be replaced by
Only persons proposed in writing by the National Association of which they are a member, and who are domiciled in a country whose National Association is a member of WMA may be appointed member of the Council.
No. 6 Constitution section 6, GA – accepted (but I’m not sure)
7. Rules of Competition, section 1, Championships
Addition of new paragraph 1 (2)
British Masters Athletic Federation proposes that there should be no more than two consecutive WMA Championships (Stadia, Non-Stadia or Indoor) in one region. It is further recommended that WMA Council seeks bids for all Cham-pionships within all the Regions and look to improve Masters Championships around the Regions and where possible look to assist bidders of Asia, Africa, South America instead of preying on Europe. It is further recommended that WMA Championships Indoors are every 4 years (starting from 2006 after Linz).
No. 7 Rules of competition section 1, GA – not accepted (but I’m not sure)
8. Rules of Competition, section 18, Throwing the Weight
Amendment of present text in paragraph 18 (2)
British Masters Athletic Federation proposes that the present text
It is required that 2 hands be used at all times when throwing the weight
is replaced by
The weight may be thrown with either or both hands.
No. 8 Rules of competition section 18, GA – withdrawn
9. Rules of Competition
Amendment of present rule
British Masters Athletic Federation proposes that the weight of the M80+ shot and hammer be reduced from 4k to 3k.
Reasoning:
These weights decrease each 10-years up to age 70 but thereafter remain the same.
No. 9 Rules of competition, GA – accepted
10. Rules of Competition
Amendment of present rule
British Masters Atrhletic Federation proposes that the diameter of all outdoor shot may be up to a maximum of 120mm for women and 130mm for men, provided they meet the required weight specification and the weight is clearly inscribed on the ball.
No. 10 Rules of competition, GA – withdrawn
11. Rules of Competition
Amendment of present rule
British Masters Athletic Federation proposes that on all weights of javelin the grip may be up to 38mm in diameter and 160mm in length.
Reasoning:
Diameter and Length of Grip of Javelin – IAAF – 193/3 – WMA App A(5)
Similar to the shot the reduced diameter and length of the binding on the lighter javelins can make them uncomfortable and difficult to grip and throw. A degree of flexibility on the thickness and length of the binding should be allowed. Being located around the centre of gravity this would have little effect on the weight or flight characteristics.
No. 11 Rules of competition, GA – withdrawn
12. Rules of Competition
Amendment of present rule
British Masters Athletic Federation proposes that in the Combined Events Compe-titions IAAF – 200 – reference needs to be made to masters competitions for men?s decathlon and women?s heptathlon with specific reference to the hurdle distances and specifications for the various age groups.
No. 12 Rules of competition, GA – withdrawn
13. Rules of Competition
Amendment of present rule
British Masters Atletic Federation proposes that in combined throw and long throw competitions, at the discretion of the Field Referee, numbered pegs may be used to mark each throw with measurement of all throws made at the end of each round. This will shorten the duration of the events which is always a cause for concern.
No. 13 Rules of competition, GA – withdrawn
14. Rules of Competition
Amendment of present rule
Finnish Veterans? Athletes Association proposes that in the age category of women 60+ discus should be lighter than 1.0K for example 600G.
No. 14 Rules of competition, GA – not accepted
15. Rules of Competition
Additional rule for World Masters Championships Indoors
The French Athletic Federation proposes that 200 meter for men and women shall be in the events of the World Masters Championships Indoors.
No. 15 Rules of competition, GA – accepted