Minutes of the WRRC Extraordinary General Meeting August 6, 2024, Online meeting

Start of the meeting: Tuesday, August 6th, 2024 at 16:0
Present: (See the list of delegates, Appendix 1)
The meeting was recorded

ITEM 1. Welcome by the President and definition of formalities
Opening of the Meeting:
The President, Miriam Kerpan Izak, welcomed all delegates, officials, and guests and officially opened the meeting.
The President confirmed that the General Meeting had been duly convened  and was quorate.
There were 38 delegates/proxies from 20 countries present, including:
• 30 delegates from ordinary members with the right to vote.
• 4 proxy delegates from ordinary members with the right to vote.
• 4 delegates from provisional members without voting rights.
For a simple majority, more YES votes than NO votes are required. A 2/3 majority needed 23 votes.
Additionally, 7 members of the Presidium and the Boogie Woogie Commissioner were present, all without voting rights.
There were 6 guests present, all attending for Item 2 on the agenda.
The President explained that, according to the Statute, electronic voting can be used during the General Meeting via the MentiMeter platform and proposed Patrice de La Torre as the scrutineer for the e-voting.

Question for the electronic voting:
• Do you agree to appoint Patrice DE LA TORRE as eVoting Scrutineer?

YES	NO	ABSTAINED	Total
30	0	0	30

(1) Patrice de La Torre was appointed as the scrutineer for the e-voting over  MentiMeter

The President informed the meeting about the operating policy regarding the presentation of
the motions and discussions connected to them:
• All, except the host will be muted
• Person who wishes to speak, shall raise the hand
• Host will unmute the person to be able to make a statement or ask a question
• Each person has a right to speak 1 min. for each topic once
• Specially for ITEM 2 on the agenda
o Each defendant has a right to speak max of 5 min to make a statement
o Presidium has a right to ask questions. Each question shall be answered in  max 1 min.o After this, the delegates can also ask question
o At the end a short break will be called which will follow with the final motions from the presidium
• For each motion 45 sec will be available for each delegate to cast a vote

Question for the electronic voting:
• Do you agree with the proposed operating policy?

YES	NO	ABSTAINED	Total
28	0	0	28

(2) The operating policy was accepted.

The President asked the delegates if there was any motion of urgency or request for an amendment to the agenda. There was no additional request.

The President informed the delegates that the presidium would like to propose an amendment for the Agenda ITEM 3

Question for the electronic voting:
• Do you agree to change Item 3 of the agenda to: Confirmation of the change of VP for marketing and Expansion and VP for Education?

YES	NO	ABSTAINED	Total
30	0	2	32

(3) The change of ITEM 3 of the Agenda was accepted.

ITEM 2. APPEAL TO THE PRESIDIUM DECISION 169 FROM MAY 26, 2024 (the relevant decisions were “issued on 26 May 2024” and “notified to the concerned persons on 30 May 2024”)
The President confirmed that all relevant documents from the Presidium, such as the Minutes of the Presidium Meeting and Sanction Letters, together with the Appeal letters, were distributed to all WRRC member federations and delegates. The President also confirmed that no additional documents were received by the WRRC office. In order to respect the right of those concerned to be heard, the floor is now given to the dancers, as follows:
Defendants’ Statements:
1. Statement by Ádám Király:
o Ádám Király spoke on behalf of himself and his partner, Gréta Mercs.
o He admitted they participated in the event in Russia but believed it was legal due to a decision made at the WRRC AGM 2024.
o They acted on incomplete information, intending only to compete.
o They appealed because they had no chance to defend themselves prior.
2. Statement by Gréta Mercs:
o Ádám Király stated that his earlier comments represented both of them, so no additional statement was made by Gréta Mercs.
3. Statement by Luca Bihari:
o Luca Bihari shared her interpretation of the WRRC AGM 2024 decision, which she believed granted her the right to participate in the event.
o She argued that the Presidium acted contrary to this decision.
o She felt her participation was not against WRRC and that her intent was simply to compete with a broad range of dancers.
o She believed she had done nothing wrong and requested the GM to revoke the Presidium’s decision.
4. Statement by Alex Deli:
o Alex Deli agreed with his partner’s (Luca Bihari’s) explanation, reiterating that the GM decision allowed their participation in the event.
o He hoped the decision would be revoked so they could continue dancing in WRRC events.
o He emphasized that competing with others showcases the beauty of the sport.
Finally, the President clarified the decision related to motion M02 concerning Ukraine and its members.

Explanation:
The proposed motion stated that the WRRC needed to inform its members that participating in WFASD events would be against the Statutes, and any members who participated would face expulsion. However, the motion did not pass. Despite this, the motion was not relevant to the procedure against the individual dancers who participated in the WFASD event in St. Petersburg, as it only concerned the possible expulsion of a member federation, not individuals. The President emphasized that the primary issue was the dancers’ participation in an event organized in Russia with the support of the Russian Government.

President’s Questions and Defendants’ Responses:
The President asked the defendants, “Why did you participate in this WFASD competition in Russia without seeking permission from the WRRC or even informing the WRRC?”
Response by Alex Deli:
• Alex Deli responded by expressing his belief that the quality of WRRC events has declined compared to the past, and the number of couples in different categories has decreased. He felt it would be beneficial to reconnect with other dancers.
• He acknowledged that he was aware the event was held in Russian territory but explained that the GM decision was unclear to him, so he did not realize it was not acceptable to attend.
• He also suggested that the organization needs to evolve, with more marketing and development in different directions.
Other Defendants’ Responses:
• The other defendants did not respond to the question or provide any additional comments.

The President then asked another question »Were you aware of the official IOC statement dated on February 25th February, 2022 setting out the sanctions against Russia and Belarus, and in particular the sanction stating that ‘No international sporting event shall be organised or supported by an IF or NOC in Russia or Belaru’?«, to which Alex Deli responded by saying that the WRRC is not a part of IOC and referencing the Olympic Games and athletes with AIN (Authorised Neutral Athlete) status. He also mentioned the couple Samoylov-Gusarova, who
allegedly danced under a neutral flag in Geneva (though no one remembered such an event). Alex continued by stating that sanctions were imposed on Russian and Belarusian athletes, not others, and asserted, “There were no sanctions against us, so we can compete wherever we
want.”
• He also brought up the competition in Armenia, noting that many WRRC Presidium members, including the President, attended, even though it was sponsored by Rusatom, a Russian company, without any sanctions or other actions being taken.
President’s Response:
• The President interrupted to state that the question was whether the defendants were aware of the IOC statement from February 25, 2022 according to which no sports competitions can be organised or supported by an IF in the Russia territory.
• Alex Deli interrupted, claiming that the WRRC is not a sport under the IOC.
• The President clarified that the WRRC is a member of the WDSF (World DanceSport Federation), which is an IOC recognised federation, and that the Hungarian DanceSport Federation is also a member of WDSF, so the IOC’s stance is fully relevant.

The President then asked Alex Deli why he participated in the BRICS Games when it was clear that the event was organized by RUSFARR. Alex Deli interrupted the President multiple times during this question.
• Alex Deli responded: “Because I didn’t make any mistake. If we hadn’t gone, I would say we made a mistake, but we didn’t. I believe I made the right decision to compete there for our sport. It’s just about that, nothing else. And when I go somewhere, I don’t always know who the real host of the competition will be—like in Armenia.” He also complained that his lawyer could not be present.
• The President explained that there are no provisions in the WRRC Statutes allowing a lawyer to be present during a General Assembly.
• Mr. Deli continued, expressing his belief that it was unfair to receive a sanction without any prior procedure. The President explained that this Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) was being held so that the delegates could decide whether the Presidium’s actions were correct or not.

The President then asked the other defendants the same questions as Alex Deli had already answered.
• The other defendants did not respond.

The President asked another question: “How were the participants selected for this competition, and how is it possible that this federation WFASD) has 8 members, yet 25 nations were present at the competition? Were you nominated by your federation or did you nominate
yourselves?”
Response by Ádám Király:
• Ádám Király clarified in the chat that they only participated in the first event, not the BRICS Games.
Response by Alex Deli:
• Alex Deli stated that he believed WFASD was not yet an official federation and that they participated based on a personal invitation.

Questions from Delegates:
• Sophie Sancosme (SUI): “How old is Gréta Mercs?”
o Answer : 17 years old; she is represented by her mother.
• Marina Kalacheva (ARM) : Noted that the sponsor of the competition in Armenia was Rusatom Europe, which is registered in Europe. She asked Alex Deli if he didn’t feel it was unfair to compete in Russia while Russian dancers cannot compete in WRRC events.
o Alex Deli : He expressed uncertainty about the question but reiterated his desire to compete, stating that he wants to compete and not deal with politics.
o The President : Emphasized that it was clear everyone was from Russia, and Russia is prohibited from organizing events by the IOC resolution.
o Alex Deli : Compared the situation to other sports where athletes can participate.
o Marina Kalacheva : Replied that sanctions work both ways, so if Russians cannot participate in WRRC events, WRRC dancers cannot participate in Russian events.
She reminded everyone that this was a GM decision that must be followed.

• Mykhailo Petrenko : Asked Ádám Király and Gréta Mercs whether they understood that
their participation in the event was a mistake and how they see their future—either with WRRC or with the new federation.
o Ádám Király : “If we knew it was illegal, we wouldn’t have gone there.”
No additional questions were raised.

Judge Bence Tóth’s Statement:
In order to respect his right to be heard, the President asked Judge Bence Tóth to make his
statement:
• Bence Tóth explained that his actions were not intended to be against the WRRC.
• He was convinced that the GM motion allowed him to participate in the event.
• He clarified that he did not represent the WRRC at the event; he was there to take an exam and participate.
• He mentioned that dancers often participate in non-WRRC events without facing any consequences.
• He believed that the sanction imposed on him was too harsh, especially since this was his first offense.
President’s Questions:
The President asked when he decided to attend the event and why he didn’t seek permission
from the WRRC.
• Bence Tóth responded that he made the decision after the GM.
• The President then asked whether he didn’t feel it was wrong to be part of a judging panel with Russian judges in Russia.
• Bence Tóth recognised that perhaps it was a mistake to go there and that he hadn’t considered that the sanctions might also apply to officials.

Defendants’ Comments:
The defendants wrote in the chat, claiming that they were not sanctioned because they went to Russia.
President’s Clarification:
The President explained that it was clearly stated in the Presidium’s decision that the issue was the event being held in Russia. Furthermore, the BRICS Games were organized by RUSFARR, which was evident from the merchandise and awards presented at the event.

Questions from Mykhailo Petrenko and Responses:
Mykhailo Petrenko asked Alex Deli and Luca Bihari : “Did you really not understand that your participation was against WRRC rules? What is your plan for the future?”
• Alex Deli replied that he did not believe it was wrong to compete and did not see it as being against WRRC rules. He planned to participate in as many events as possible.
• Mykhailo Petrenko sought clarification: “Does this mean you will only compete in WRRC events and never participate in other events again?”
• Alex Deli responded, “I never said that. We want to compete in as many events as possible!” He also answered a follow-up question from Mykhailo Petrenko, stating that he would consider participating in another event organized by the new federation.

Question from Tomas Jansson (Sweden):
Tomas Jansson posed a similar question: “If there are new events in Russia or similar locations, will you still go there even if the sanctions are still in place?”
• Alex Deli answered that he was not aware the sanctions also applied to him and stated that he had not made any plans regarding future participation in events in Russia.
President’s Question:
The President asked Alex Deli if he was aware of the IOC decision regarding the planned Friendship Games and the WDSF and WRRC statements about this event.
• Alex Deli did not provide a clear answer.
Question to Bence Tóth:
Mykhailo Petrenko then asked Bence Tóth about his future and wanted him to clarify whether participating in the event was a mistake.
• Bence Tóth replied that he did not attend the second event because he was unsure if it was acceptable and wanted to wait for the GM’s decision. He stated that if the GM decides it is not acceptable, they will not go there again. He concluded by saying, “Now I see that going there and judging in Russia was not the best idea.”

Further Comments from Members:
• Darya Buzykina (IRL) asked if it would be acceptable for an event to be organized in the USA but by Russia.
o The President replied, “According to the IOC resolution, clearly not.”
• Sissel Myren (NOR) commented that in Norway, Russians cannot compete, and Norwegians cannot go to Russia. She noted that for her, it was clear that the WRRC made a similar decision, which applies to their athletes. She further commented that based on his answers, it seemed Alex Deli either does not understand the rules or is unwilling to follow them.
• Viktor Bublikov (UKR) echoed Darya Buzykina’s question.
o The President responded that the WRRC also issued a statement in 2022 confirming that it would follow the IOC’s direction.

Conclusion of the Discussion and Final Motions:
There was no additional discussion, so the President asked if there were any motions to change the Presidium’s decision, to which the athletes and the judge had appealed.
Viktor Bublikov (UKR) commented that it was important to him to offer a second chance to those who realized they made a mistake and to take a different approach to those who deny the rules and refuse to respect them.
To facilitate clearer decision-making, the Presidium displayed all the initial proposed sanctions on the screen. Viktor Bublikov (UKR) also suggested the possibility of reducing the sentence for the judge if he signed a statement acknowledging his mistake.
Marina Kalacheva (ARM) proposed that if the sanctions were not confirmed, the WRRC should consider dropping the active sanctions against other countries, including Russia, and decide on the matter at the next AGM.

Hearing no additional requests for discussion or alternative motions, the President called for a 15-minute break to prepare the final motions from the Presidium.
After the break, the President announced:
Following the presentations and the testimonies heard at the Extraordinary General Meeting and based on the previously decided sanctions, the Presidium has made the final proposal for the GM to vote on. The following elements were taken into account:
• Ádám Király and Gréta Mercs only participated in one event. During the EGM, they did not express any intention to participate in another event.
• However, Alex Deli and Luca Bihari participated in two events and spoke favorably during the EGM about participating in similar events in the future.
Given these circumstances, the motions were different for each couple.

Questions for the electronic voting:
• Do you confirm the sanctions imposed by the WRRC Presidium against Adam Kiraly as written in the notification of penalty from May 30th, 2024, with the possibility of a reduced sentence based on the signed letter of commitment as written in the notification letter?

YES	NO	ABSTAINED	Total
30	0	2	32

(4) The EGM fully confirmed and approved the sanctions imposed by the WRRC Presidium against Adam Kiraly as written in the notification of penalty from May 30th, 2024, with the possibility of a reduced sentence based on the signed letter of commitment as written in the notification letter.

• Do you confirm the sanctions imposed by the WRRC Presidium against Greta Mercs as written in the notification of penalty from May 30th, 2024, with the possibility of a reduced sentence based on the signed letter of commitment as written in the notification letter?

YES	NO	ABSTAINED	Total
30	0	2	32

(5) The EGM fully confirmed and approved the sanctions imposed by the WRRC Presidium against Greta Mercs as written in the notification of penalty from May 30th, 2024, with the possibility of a reduced sentence based on the signed letter of commitment as written in the notification letter.

• Do you confirm the sanctions imposed by the WRRC Presidium against Luca Bihari as written in the notification of penalty from May 30th, 2024, without the possibility of a reduced sentence based on the signed letter of commitment as written in the notification letter?

YES	NO	ABSTAINED	Total
29	2	2	33

(6) The EGM fully confirmed and approved the sanctions imposed by the WRRC Presidium against Luca Bihari as written in the notification of penalty from May 30th, 2024, without the possibility of a reduced sentence.
According to WRRC Presidium notification of penalty of 30 May 2024, in the event of a repeated breach of the penalty’s subject, the suspension will then be for 1 year from the date of each repeat breach.

• Do you confirm the sanctions imposed by the WRRC Presidium against Alex Deli as written in the notification of penalty from May 30th, 2024, without the possibility of a reduced sentence based on the signed letter of commitment as written in the notification letter?

YES	NO	ABSTAINED	Total
26	3	2	31

(7) The EGM fully confirmed and approved the sanctions imposed by the WRRC Presidium against Alex Deli as written in the notification of penalty from May 30th, 2024, without the possibility of a reduced sentence.
According to WRRC Presidium notification of penalty of 30 May 2024, in the event of a repeated breach of the penalty’s subject, the suspension will then be for 1 year from the date of each repeat breach.

Sanction Consideration for Bence Tóth:
For Bence Tóth, the Presidium reviewed the list of WRRC international judges assigned to events in 2024. It was noted that he had not been announced for any events. As a result, shortening his sanction would effectively mean that no real sanction would be imposed at all.

• Do you confirm the sanctions imposed by the WRRC Presidium against Bence Toth as written in the notification of penalty from May 30th, 2024, only in his role of WRRC international judge

YES	NO	ABSTAINED	Total
30	1	1	32

(8) The EGM approved Jiri Hais as the VP for education.

 

ITEM 3. Confirmation of the change of VP for marketing and expansion and VP for education

Presidium Member Resignations and Co-opted Replacements:
The Presidium had already informed all members about the resignation of two Presidium members. In accordance with the WRRC Statute (§13 Point 5), the Presidium has the authority to co-opt substitutes to fill these vacant positions until the next general meeting.
The Presidium has co-opted replacements for both vacant positions and would like to ask the delegates of the EGM to approve the new Presidium members to serve until the end of the current term, which extends until March 2026.
The President then invited Lena Arvidsson to present herself for the role of Vice President for Marketing and Expansion.
Lena Arvidsson highlighted the following objectives:
• The importance of expanding the WRRC’s reach and influence.
• Collaboration at a broad international level to promote the sport globally.
• Her extensive experience in sports governance.
• Securing federation funding through sponsorship and effective marketing strategies.
Question for the electronic voting:
• Do you agree to approve Lena Arvidsson as VP for marketing and expansion until
the end of term of this WRRC Presidium (March 2026)?

YES	NO	ABSTAINED	Total
33	0	0	33

(9) The EGM unanimously approved Lena Arvidsson as the VP for marketing and expansion.

The President asked Jiri Hais to present himself for the role of Vice President for Education.
Jiri Hais outlined the following objectives:
• His desire to contribute to the growth and development of the WRRC.
• The importance of optimizing the rules and ensuring a better understanding of them across the community.
• The goal of sharing knowledge widely throughout the WRRC community.
• His extensive experience in various areas relevant to the ro

Question for the electronic voting:
• Do you agree to approve Jiri Hais as VP for education until the end of term of this WRRC Presidium (March 2026)?

YES	NO	ABSTAINED	Total
29	0	3	33

(10) The EGM approved Jiri Hais as the VP for education.

ITEM 4. Election of Chair of arbitration committee

New Chair of the Arbitration Committee:
Lena Arvidsson, who was previously the elected Chair of the Arbitration Committee, is stepping down from that role due to her new appointment. Consequently, a new Chair for the Arbitration Committee is needed.
The delegate from Sweden proposed Lars Wallin for the position and provided a detailed description of his experience and qualifications to the delegates.
There were no questions or proposals for additional candidates.

Question for the electronic voting:
• Do you agree to appoint Lars WALLINs as Chairman of the Arbitration Committee until the end of term of this WRRC Presidium (March 2026)?

YES	NO	ABSTAINED	Total
34	0	0	34

(11) The EGM appointed Lars WALLIN as the chairman for the Arbitration committee.

Conclusion of the Meeting:
There were no additional points on the agenda.
At the end of the meeting, the President informed everyone about the extensive work being carried out in various commissions. The Presidium has been focusing on the competition structure, rules, and scoring. A major change is planned for 2026.

The General Meeting was closed at 18:30

Miriam Kerpan Izak
WRRC President

Minutes:
Denis Lilih, Miriam Kerpan Izak