The WFDF Annual Congress was held in Gold Coast, Australia 30-31 August at the Gold Coast Performance Centre in a hybrid format with both in person and virtual attendance. Combined over both sessions, 57 Member Federations with up to 121 eligible votes participated.
In addition to reports from the various WFDF committees, and updates on WFDF’s day to day operations, a number of votes were held. Notable among these, Congress voted to approve by an overwhelming majority:
- the addition of four new National Federations: Azerbaijan, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, and Sierra Leone;
- a number of revisions to the Bylaws, including a change in the election term for most positions from two years to four years, the imposition of term limits to three successive terms, a change in the name and mandate of the Women in Sport Commission to the Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Commission, and new deadlines for the requirement for National Federations to represent all Disc Sports, among others;
- the annual Risk Assessment; and
- the approval of the 2023 audited financial statements, the 2025 budget, and other financial matters.
The WFDF Bylaws allow for members to submit proposals to Congress, two such proposals were submitted by member federations and voted on. The first was a motion by the Lebanese Flying Disc Association calling for event fees for participants from poorer nations to be subsidized by participants from richer countries. The motion was rejected with 31 votes for, 70 against, and 12 abstentions. The second motion, from the Indonesia Ultimate Players Association, called for WFDF to update its November 2023 statement on the Palestine/Israeli conflict and call for a cease fire. The motion failed to get sufficient support with 38 votes for, 47 against, and 31 abstentions.
“Good governance is a core value for WFDF,” stated WFDF President Robert “Nob” Rauch. “We had two good days of business and were pleased to share the progress we are making as an organization toward our vision of WFDF 3.0. We understand the desire of certain member federations and athletes to promote social and political causes, and confirm their right to do so as codified in our Social Expression Policy. We also hope they understand why we as an organization need to focus on our core mission to support and promote the inclusive growth and development of all Flying Disc sports and Spirit of the Game, as confirmed by our members in the Congress vote.”
