Ali Thameem
Commissioner of Sports, Mohamed Tholaal has ordered the Badminton Association to redraft its Article of Association before they proceed with the association’s election.
The Sports Commissioner had addressed the issue on previous occasions through letters to the BAM, but the BAM had disregarded the message and announced the election, scheduled to be held on the 22nd of this March.
The Commissioner has therefore held a meeting with the Association yesterday. BAM has agreed to follow his advice, but the association has also been asked to seek an assessment from the World Badminton Federation and proceed with assistance from The Maldives Olympics Committee.
What Needs to Change?
While the Commissioner worries that the election might not be held before the incumbent EXCO runs out of term, certain issues should be addressed beforehand, the most urgent of which is the question of Badminton Development Committees (BDCs).
The BDCs – stationed across the country – exist to develop badminton players from within the Atolls and provide wider representation in the community. They are named “Complete Members” by the AoA – one of seven types of BAM members. And while BDCs have the right to vote in the Badminton Congress, they operate unregistered at the office of the Sports Commissioner.
“Complete Members (BDCs) are entitled to the same rights as other members of the association. These include the right to take part and vote in the annual congress, and the right to run for the association’s EXCO. Unlike the clubs (Associate Members), depending on the number of memberships within (the BDC) – including YDP registrees – every 10th member of a Badminton Development Committee gets to cast 15 votes”
– BAM Article of Association, Article 10 (f)
In addition to the disproportionate voting powers, BDCs are the only BAM members who do not need to pay a registration fee. As mandated by the current AoA, The only financial contribution these regional centres make to the association is an annual fee of MVR 100, as opposed to the associate members (badminton clubs) who each pay a yearly fee of MVR 18,000.
The Commissioner has thus pleaded with BAM to ensure these BDCs are registered. The association also agreed with Tholaal to amend the policy so that each registered member will not cast more than one vote in the elections.
The current EXCO of the badminton association had run out of term earlier this March. Should the congress be postponed any further, the association has been told to seek feedback from the World Badminton Federation, and do so with assistance from the Olympics Committee of the Maldives.
