CAP. 46, SPORTS ACT BELIZE
SPORTS ACT CHAPTER 46
REVISED EDITION 2000 SHOWING THE LAW AS AT 31ST DECEMBER, 2000
This is a revised edition of the law, prepared by the Law Revision Commissioner under the authority of the Law Revision Act, Chapter 3 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 1980 - 1990.
This edition contains a consolidation of the following laws- Page
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 3
SPORTS ACT 4 Amendments in force as at 31st December, 2000.
BELIZE
SPORTS ACT CHAPTER 46
REVISED EDITION 2000 SHOWING THE LAW AS AT 31ST DECEMBER, 2000
This is a revised edition of the law, prepared by the Law Revision Commissioner under the authority of the Law Revision Act, Chapter 3 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 1980 - 1990.
This edition contains a consolidation of the following laws- Page
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 3
SPORTS ACT 4 Amendments in force as at 31st December, 2000.
Sports [CAP. 46
THE SUBSTANTIVE LAWS OF BELIZE REVISED EDITION 2000
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Printed in Belize by the Government Printer, No. 1 Power Lane, Belmopan,
by the authority of the Government of Belize.[ ]
CHAPTER 46
SPORTS
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
1. Short title.
2. Interpretation.
3. Director of Sports.
4. Appointment and powers of the Director of Sports.
5. Establishment of the National Sports Council.
6. Objects of the Council.
7. Powers of the Council.
8. Establishment of Sports Committees.
9. Vacation of office.
10. Appointment of acting members.
11. Acts valid despite vacancy.
12. Rules regulating business of the Council and the Sports Committee.
13. Special Committees.
14. Appointment of Committees by the Council.
15. Disqualifications.
16. Funds of the Council.
17. Accounts of the Council.
18. Administration of the Fund.
19. Registration of sporting organisations.
20. Regulations.
21. Appeals.
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THE SUBSTANTIVE LAWS OF BELIZE REVISED EDITION 2000
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by the authority of the Government of Belize.
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22. Refusal, suspension or cancellation of registration.
23. National Sports Tribunal.
24. Returns and information.
25. Investigation of activities.
26. Insurance against risks in sports.
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CHAPTER 46
SPORTS
[20th December, 1980]
1. This Act may be cited as the Sports Act.
2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:-
“Council” means the National Sports Council established under section 5;
“Minister” means the Minister responsible for sports;
“registered sporting organisation” means any sporting organisation reg- istered with the National Sports Council;
“sports committee” means a sports committee appointed under section 8 (1) or (2) ;
CAP. 35, R.E. 1980-1990. 31 of 1980. 22 of 1996. Short title.
Interpretation.
Sports [CAP. 46
THE SUBSTANTIVE LAWS OF BELIZE REVISED EDITION 2000
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“sporting organisation” means any organisation constituted for the pro- motion of or participation in sports;
“Sports Tribunal” means the Tribunal established under section 23.
3. There shall be a Director of Sports, who shall be responsible for the due performance of the duties and functions assigned to him by the Minister.
4.-(1) The Director of Sports shall be appointed by the Minister in consulta- tion with the Council and shall be paid such remuneration out of the National Sports Fund established under section 16 as the Council shall decide.
(2) No suit shall lie against the Director of Sports acting under this Act for anything done or omitted to be done by him in good faith.
(3) In the exercise of his powers and the carrying out of his duties and functions, the Director of Sports shall comply with any general or special di- rections issued by the Minister.
5.-(1) There is hereby established a body to be called “The National Sports Council of Belize” which shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal with power to purchase, take, hold and dispose of land and other property of whatever kind, to enter into contracts, to sue and be sued in the said name and to do all things necessary for the purposes of this Act.
(2) The seal of the Council shall be affixed to any instrument in the presence of the Chairman, Secretary and the Treasurer of the Council.
(3) The seal of the Council shall be kept in the custody of the Treasurer.
(4) The Council shall consist of the following members-
Director of Sports.
Appointment and powers of the Director of Sports.
Establishment of the National Sports Council.
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(a) a Chairman; (b) two vice-chairmen; (c) a Secretary; (d) a Treasurer; (e) nine others;
all of whom shall be appointed by the Minister by Order published in the Gazette and
(f) the Director of Sports, ex officio.
(5) The Minister shall in appointing the members of the Council take into consideration any representations that may be made by registered sporting organisations.
(6) It is expressly declared that the power of the Council to purchase, take, hold and dispose of land and other property shall be subject to the approval of the Minister first had and obtained.
6. The objects of the Council shall be-
(a) to promote, develop and improve the knowledge and practice of sports in the interest of the social well-being of and the enjoyment of leisure by Belizeans and for this purpose to appoint Commissioners for all or any sport;
(b) to encourage in co-operation with the sporting organisations the attainment of high standards in sports;
(c) to foster, support or undertake in co-operation with the Ministry of Sports the provision of facilities for sport;
Objects of the Council.
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(d) to assist and where possible develop proper coaching schemes which shall include the training of suitable personnel for all branches of sport;
(e) to carry out or to encourage and support research and studies into matters concerning sports and to disseminate knowledge and advise on these matters;
(f) to encourage participation in sporting events abroad by indi- viduals and teams from Belize;
(g) to own, establish, develop, improve, manage, maintain and take proper control of sporting facilities granted to or secured by the Council and to supervise sporting events to which the public is admitted upon the payment of any direct or indirect fee;
(h) subject to the approval of the Minister, to borrow funds for the purposes of the business of the Council and to make grants or loans upon and subject to such conditions as may be pre- scribed by the Minister;
(i) to carry on any sporting or sports related activity for the pro- motion of youth development; and
(j) to advise the Minister on any matters concerned directly or indirectly with the foregoing.
7. The Council shall have all such powers as are necessary or incidental to the fulfilment of its objects.
8.-(1) The Minister may by Order published in the Gazette establish a district sports committee for each such district or area as he may determine. The district sports committee so established shall be subordinate to and assist the National Sports Council in carrying out its objects, and shall advise the Na-
Powers of the Council.
Establishment of Sports Commit- tees.
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tional Sports Council on matters connected with the promotion and develop- ment of sports in the district.
(2) The Minister may appoint a village sports committee wherever he con- siders it necessary. A village sports committee so established shall be subordi- nate to the district sports committee for the district in which the said village is situate and shall assist the district sports committee and the National Sports Council in carrying out the objects of the Council and shall advise those bodies on matters connected with the promotion and development of sports in the village.
(3) Every sports committee established under this Act shall consist of not less than five members, all of whom shall be appointed by the Minister, com- prising of:-
(a) a Chairman,
(b) a Vice-Chairman,
(c) a Treasurer,
(d) a Secretary, and
(e) other committee members, the number of which shall be determined
by the Minister.
(4) The Minister may by regulations made in that behalf prescribe the du- ties and the limits of the authority of a sports committee.
9.-(1) Any member of the Council or a sports committee appointed by the Minister shall unless he vacates his office by death, resignation or removal hold office for a period of two years.
(2) The Minister may, if he considers it expedient to do so, remove any member of the Council or a sports committee appointed by him.
Vacation of office.
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(3) Any person appointed in place of a member who has vacated office by death, resignation or removal shall hold office for the unexpired term of office of the person who has vacated office.
(4) Any appointed member may resign his office by notice in writing addressed to the Minister.
(5) A member whose term of office has expired shall be eligible for re- appointment.
10. If any member appointed by the Minister is temporarily unable to discharge the duties of his office on account of ill health, absence from Belize or any other cause the Minister may appoint some other person to act as a member in his place.
11. No act or proceeding of the Council or a sports committee shall be deemed to be invalid by reason only of the existence of any vacancy among its members or defect in the appointment of any member thereof.
12. The Council or the sports committee, as the case may be, may with the approval of the Minister, make rules to regulate the procedure at meet- ings of the Council or the sports committee and for the transaction of busi- ness at such meetings.
13.-(1) The Minister may, by Order published in the Gazette, establish any special sports committee for such purposes as may be mentioned in the Or- der.
(2) The constitution, functions, powers and duties of any such committee shall be prescribed by regulation made by the Minister.
14.-(1) The Council may, whenever it considers necessary or expedient to do so, appoint a committee or committees to perform or advise it on the performance of any of its functions.
Appointment of acting members.
Acts valid despite vacancy.
Special Commit- tees.
Appointment of Committees by the Council.
Rules regulating business of the Council and the Sports Commit- tee.
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(2) The functions, appointment of members, quorum for meetings of the committee and the procedure to be adopted by the committee in the transac- tion of its business shall be prescribed by rules made by the Council.
15. A person shall be disqualified from serving on the Council or any com- mittee if he-
(a) is or has been adjudged by a competent court to be of unsound mind; or
(b) is or has been adjudged by a competent court to be an insolvent or bank- rupt; or
(c) is convicted in a court of law for any offence involving dishonesty.
16.-(1) There shall be established a National Sports Fund to be administered by the Council, hereafter referred to as “the Fund”.
(2) There shall be paid into the Fund-
(a) all such sums as may be voted from time to time by the National Assembly by way of grants and contribution to the Fund;
(b) all sums received for the Fund from any international sporting organisation;
(c) all sums received as donations made by any person to the Fund; and
(d) all sums received by the National Sports Council from any other source.
(3) Any donation or any movable or immovable property may be accepted by the Minister on behalf of the Government to be used for the purposes of this Act. Any such property may, in the discretion of the Minister and in the manner determined by him be sold and the proceeds thereof credited to the Fund.
(4) There shall be paid out of the Fund, such sums as the Council may determine, with the approval of the Minister-
Funds of the Council.
Disqualifications.
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(a) for the encouragement, promotion and development of any sport in Belize;
(b) for the presentation of any trophy or medal to any participant in sports or registered sporting organisations in recognition of any exceptional contribution to sports; and
(c) for the purpose of carrying out or giving effect to the provisions of this Act.
17.-(1) The Council shall cause proper accounts to be kept of its financial transactions. Such accounts shall be made up in respect of each financial year and audited by the Auditor General or an Auditor approved by the Auditor General. The statement of accounts, together with a balance sheet and state- ment of revenue and expenditure of the Council, when so audited, shall be submitted to the Minister with the Auditor’s report.
(2) Every report furnished under subsection (1) shall be laid before the National Assembly.
18. The Minister may make regulations prescribing the books to be main- tained and the procedure to be adopted in maintaining the accounts of the Council and generally for the administration of the Fund.
19.-(1) Subject to approval of its constitution by the Council, any organisation may apply for registration as a sporting organisation.
(2) The Council shall maintain a register wherein shall be entered the names and addresses of all registered sporting organisations and their office-holders for each year.
(3) Every registered sporting organisation shall in the month of January in each year submit a list of the names and addresses of its office-bearers to the Council.
Administration of the Fund.
Registration of sporting organisations.
Accounts of the Council
CAP. 46 ] Sports
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(4) A sports organisation that has not been duly registered shall not be en- titled to any of the privileges (including use of equipment and facilities), conces- sions or exemptions granted to a registered sporting organisation and shall not be eligible to participate in any competitions or functions held under the aus- pices of the Council.
20.-(1) The Minister may make regulations for the purpose of carrying out or giving effect to the principles and provisions of this Act.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the powers conferred by subsection (1) the Minister may make regulations in respect of all or any of the following matters-
(a) any matter required by this Act to be prescribed or in respect of which regulations are authorised by this Act to be made;
(b) the registration by the National Sports Council of sporting organisations in Belize;
(c) the procedure to be followed in any appeal against the decisions or actions of a sports committee or the Council and the scale of fees and costs in respect thereof;
(d) supervision of the standards adopted by registered sporting organisations in the appointment of coaches, referees, umpires and judges;
(e) the books to be maintained by sporting organisations in respect of moneys received and expended by them;
(f) the participation in sports either in Belize or abroad of individual par- ticipants or teams of players purporting to represent Belize;
(g) the selection of national sports teams to represent Belize; and
Regulations.
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(h) the quorum for meetings of the Council and the sports committees.
(3) All regulations made under this section shall be subject to negative resolution.
(4) Regulations under paragraphs (d), (f) and (g) of subsection (2) shall be made in consultation with the registered sporting organisations and shall not conflict with recognised international rules and practices relating to any par- ticular sport or to sport in general.
21.-(1) Any person who is aggrieved by any decision or action of a sports committee may appeal to the Council against such decision or action.
(2) Any person who is aggrieved by any decision or action of the Council, may appeal to the Sports Tribunal against such decision or action.
22. The Council may refuse registration, or suspend or cancel the regis- tration of a sporting organisation-
(a) for failing or neglecting to remedy any malpractices, misconduct, or irregularities on the part of the office-bearers or members of such organisations on being notified to do so in writing by the Council within such time as may be specified in such notification;
(b) for inactivity, non-co-operation or obstruction in the implemen- tation of the policies of the Council; or
(c) for failing to carry out their duties and functions.
23.-(1) There shall be a National Sports Tribunal consisting of three persons appointed by the Minister.
(2) The Tribunal shall hear and determine all appeals under this Act and its decision shall be final.
Appeals.
Refusal, suspen- sion or cancella- tion of registra- tion.
National Sports Tribunal.
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(3) Any appeal to the Tribunal shall be heard and decided by a majority vote.
(4) The Minister may appoint a person to act for any member of the Tribunal who for reasons of illness or for any other cause is unable to sit.
(5) The Secretary of the Council shall submit all appeals to the Tribunal and shall act as Secretary of the Tribunal.
24. The Minister may from time to time direct the Council, sports commit- tee, or a sporting organisation to furnish to him in such form as he may require, returns of accounts and other information in respect of their prop- erty and activities and the Council, committee, or the sporting organisation shall carry out every such direction.
25. The Minister may from time to time order all or any of the activities of the Council, sports committee, or a sporting organisation to be investi- gated and reported on by a person or persons as he may specify and upon such order being made the Council, sports committee, or sporting organisation shall afford all facilities and furnish all information as the person or persons may require, to carry out every such order.
26. The Minister may by order published in the Gazette direct that any sporting organisation or class of sporting organisations mentioned by him in such order, shall insure or provide compensation by way of indemnity for any player or class or description of players who participate in any sport on behalf of that organisation against the risk of any accidental injuries or death likely to occur to such player in the course of any play. Such insurance or indemnity shall provide for the payment of compensation:-
(a) to such player for any bodily hurt or injury suffered by him; or
(b) to the dependents of the player in the event of death resulting to him from such participation.
Insurance against risks in sports.
Returns and information.
Investigation of activities.
