PREAMBLE
The European Para Championships, its organizers, partners, officials, and athletes affirm their commitment to the Paralympic ethos, which is rooted in the history of the parasport and the tradition of fair and honourable sports competition. In parasport, history and tradition are based on the principles of excellence in sport, opportunity to participate in fair competition, and enhancement of the dignity of athletes and sport. This necessitates acceptance of the fundamental values of honesty, human rights, fairness, justice, non-discrimination, and personal integrity.
Members of the European Para Championships Family shall endorse the vision, mission and values of the European Para Championships and shall respect all European Para Championships codes, policies, and rules.
Together with promoting parasport through bringing sports together in big European cities, the athletes’ interests, priorities, and opportunity to participate in fair competition and excel in sport are the main objectives of the European Para Championships.
SCOPE
The European Para Championships Code of Ethics shall apply to all sports at the European Para Championships and shall overrule any local or national practices, traditions, or customs.
Any member of the European Para Championships Family, i.e. a person who accepts and assumes a function in the European Para Championships, or in association with the European Para Championships, regardless whether it is a voluntary or paid position, elected or appointed, an athlete or team official, shall be subject to the provisions as laid down in the European Para Championships Code of Ethics.
- DIGNITY, INTEGRITY, AND EQUALITY
Members of the European Para Championships Family shall abide by and respect the European Para Championships Code of Ethics at all times and, in particular, adhere to the following ethical standards:
1.1 Safeguard the athletes’ physical and mental health and equilibrium.
1.2 Fight against any unlawful discrimination on the grounds of disability, race, skin colour, national, ethnic, or social origin, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, language, political or other opinion, religion or other beliefs, circumstances of birth, or other improper ground. In particular, discrimination on the basis of impairment or disability is forbidden by the European Para Championships ideals. Athletic classification, which promotes sport participation of athletes with disabilities, is not discrimination but empowerment.
1.3 Safeguard the athletes’ interests, priorities, and opportunity to participate in fair competition and excel in sport.
1.4 Safeguard the dignity of the individual and of the sport.
1.5 Contribute to the creation of a drug free sport environment for all athletes.
1.6 Not tolerate any practice constituting any form of physical or mental injury. All forms of harassment including physical, mental, professional, or sexual, are prohibited. Behaviours that are humiliating, intimidating, or insulting will not be tolerated.
1.7 Conduct business with integrity, maintain a high standard of personal conduct and avoid any behaviour or action that would tarnish or give the impression of tarnishing the reputation of the Paralympic Movement.
1.8 Refrain from being involved with any firms, organisations, or persons whose activity is inconsistent with the European Para Championships Code of Ethics.
1.9 Refrain from using the European Para Championships to promote any political agenda, other than the advancement of sport for persons with an impairment and democracy, empowerment, equality, and the protection of human rights.
1.10 Respect the principle of neutrality in sport.
- CONFLICT OF INTEREST
2.1 In the following non-exhaustive list of examples, the circumstances in which a conflict of interest could arise, and which persons should avoid being involved in or create the appearance of, are:
- personal and/or material involvement (salary, shareholding, services, loans, or any other benefit) with sponsors, suppliers, vendors, contractors;
- using association with the European Para Championships for private gain or preferential treatment;
- impeding the European Para Championships’ efficiency, or economy, or service
- loss of independence, or impartiality;
- adversely affecting public confidence in the integrity or reputation of the European Para Championships;
- endangering life, health, or safety.
2.2 It is the personal responsibility of each member of the European Para Championships Family to avoid any case of conflict of interest. Faced with a situation of a potential conflict of interest, the person concerned must refrain from expressing an opinion, from making, or participating in making, a decision or accepting any form of benefit whatsoever.
- IMPROPER USE OF ASSETS
3.1 Members of the European Para Championships Family shall do all in its power to avoid any loss, damage, misuse or theft of property, records, funds, or other assets belonging to the European Para Championships that may be in their possessions. All European Para Championships assets must be used exclusively for conducting European Para Championships activities.
3.2 Proper use of funds is a fiduciary responsibility.
- IMPROPER USE OF INFORMATION
4.1 Members of the European Para Championships Family shall safeguard confidentiality. No person shall use for her/his personal gain or disclosure outside the European Para Championships any confidential information obtained through her/his association with the European Para Championships. This includes spoken, written and computer-generated data relating to European Para Championships business. It includes not only material marked as “confidential” but all European Para Championships material and information that a member should reasonably understand to be subject to a duty of confidentiality.
4.2 Members of the European Para Championships Family shall respect and protect from any inappropriate disclosure, by oral, written, or electronic means, the confidentiality of any private and personal information concerning athletes and other members of the European Para Championships S Family that is shared within the scope of their function.
4.3 Members of the European Para Championships Family shall accept and respect that any intellectual property (including copyrights, trademarks, and other material subject to protection) that is created and used by the European Para Championships is the property of the European Para Championships.
- GIFTS, GRATUITIES AND PRICES
5.1 Members of the European Para Championships Family shall not seek or accept gifts or gratuities for him/herself, his/her family or friends from any outside organisation or person having or seeking to have an involvement with the European Para Championships. Any other gift must be immediately turned over to the European Para Championships. This includes entertainment, non-business travel or other favours such as loans, services, or non-approved compensation. In case of doubt, the code of conduct of European Para Championships shall prevail.
5.2 The European Para Championships, recognising that the honour of winning competitions lies in sporting performance and excellence, will award only prices of nominal value such as medals to the athletes. Prices including money prices given by others, such as sponsors and organising committees, are not promoted by the European Para Championships, but are acceptable if given in accordance with the spirit of sportspersonship and fair competition.
- CODE OF CONDUCT FOR ATHLETES
In addition to the principles mentioned in above Articles 1 to 5 and their sub-articles:
6.1 All athletes shall participate in European Para Championships events, competitions, and activities in the true spirit of fair play for the glory of sport.
6.2 All athletes shall respect the performance of their fellow competitors and not cause any illegal obstruction, damage, or bodily harm to them.
6.3 All athletes shall respect their coaches, team officials, and not follow any illegal advice that would violate the European Para Championships ideals of fair play.
6.4 All athletes shall respect the European Para Championships and IF rules and regulations and any other rules, regulations, policies, procedures and/or participation agreements issued by the European Para Championships / IFs from time to time. In particular, without limitation:
6.4.1 All athletes shall respect the IPC / IF Classification Code and process and participate fully in it. They must respect the final decision of classifiers and officials and understand that failure to do so may jeopardise their ability to participate in European Para Championships events and competitions. Athletes and team officials will only lodge a protest when there is genuine doubt about the classification of an athlete.
6.4.2 All athletes shall respect the Anti-Doping regulations of their specific IF. It is recognised that athletes may have significant medical conditions that require treatment, but the use of any technique or medication whose sole purpose is sport performance enhancement while being detrimental or potentially detrimental to health will not be tolerated. Use of medications in this situation will be evaluated based on whether the medication gives an unfair advantage, whether it is essential to the athlete’s health in everyday life not just sport, and whether an alternative medication can be found. Everything possible shall be done to contribute to the creation of a drug free sport environment.
6.5 Athletes shall not support or assist other athletes to gain any illegal or unfair advantage and shall report any infringement to this principle to the responsible officials.
6.6 Athlete autonomy shall be respected as long as it does not violate the European Para Championships and IF rules and regulations, fair competition, or applicable law.
- CODE OF CONDUCT FOR COACHES AND TEAM OFFICIALS
In addition to the principles mentioned in above Articles 1 to 5 and their sub-articles:
7.1 Coaches and team officials shall comply with the European Para Championships ideals in the spirit of fair play.
7.2 Coaches and team officials shall never compromise true sportsmanship or the European Para Championships values and ideals to obtain personal, team or national advantage.
7.3 Coaches and team officials shall respect the European Para Championships and IF rules and regulations. In particular, but without limitation, coaches and team officials shall respect the IPC Classification Code, the Anti-Doping regulations, and all competition rules and regulations; and shall report any irregularity or potential breach of the European Para Championships and IF rules and regulations to the responsible officials.
7.4 Coaches and team officials must respect the classification process and doping control procedures and shall ensure that their athletes perform honestly and make protests only when there is genuine doubt about the classification of a competitor.
- CODE OF CONDUCT FOR CLASSIFIERS AND ANTI-DOPING OFFICIALS
In addition to the principles mentioned in above Articles 1 to 5 and their sub-articles:
8.1 Classifiers and officials must perform their duties courteously, competently, consistently, and objectively for all athletes regardless of team or national origin.
8.2 Classifiers and officials must declare any potential conflicts of interest.
8.3 Classifiers and officials must not abuse their positions or capacity to obtain advantage or benefits.
8.4 Classifiers and officials must respect athletes and coaches and be sure that there is a courteous attitude during the classification process and during doping control tests. They must maintain confidentiality of athlete information and respect the dignity of the athletes.
- CODE OF CONDUCT FOR SPORTS TECHNICAL OFFICIALS
In addition to the principles mentioned in above Articles 1 to 5 and their sub-articles:
9.1 Sports technical officials shall apply the respective rules consistently for all athletes and ensure fair play at all times.
9.2 Sports technical officials must make all decisions with absolute impartiality and objectivity.
9.3 Sports technical officials must declare any potential conflict of interest that would prevent them from being impartial.
- CODE OF CONDUCT FOR ALL ELECTED OR APPOINTED SPORTS LEADERS AND ADMINISTRATORS
In addition to the principles mentioned in above Articles 1 to 5 and their sub-articles:
10.1 Sports leaders, administrators, and elected officers shall promote the European Para Championships Code of Ethics by role modelling, peer monitoring, and active peer support.
10.2 Sports leaders and administrators shall make all decisions with absolute impartiality in the best interest of the athletes and the sport.
10.3 Sports leaders and administrators shall declare any potential conflict of interest and shall not act in association with any national or vested interest.
10.4 Sports leaders and administrators shall not abuse their positions or capacity in obtaining advantages or benefits.
- CODE OF CONDUCT FOR MEMBERS ELECTED OR APPOINTED TO THE EUROPEAN PARA CHAMPIONSHIPS GOVERNING BOARD, EUROPEAN PARA CHAMPIONSHIPS COMMITTEES AND EUROPEAN PARA CHAMPIONSHIPS REPRESENTATIVES
In addition to the principles mentioned in above Articles 1 to 5 and article 10, and their sub-articles:
11.1 Members shall serve the European Para Championships, demonstrate the importance and value of the European Para Championships, and endorse the vision, mission, and values of the European Para Championships.
11.2 Members shall act honestly, in good faith and in the best interest of the European Para Championships.
11.3 Members shall exercise due diligence and skill, i.e., members shall take their tasks and responsibilities seriously and perform their duties to the best of their personal abilities.
11.4 Members shall conduct business with integrity, maintain a high standard of personal conduct and avoid any behaviour or action that would tarnish or give the impression of tarnishing the reputation of the Paralympic Movement.
11.5 Members have a duty of loyalty to the decisions of the Governing Board.
11.6 To protect the individual member from any personal liability, members shall not sign any agreement or contract on behalf of the European Para Championships; shall not sign for the acceptance of any claim on behalf of the European Para Championships.
- RELATIONS WITH EUROPEAN PARA CHAMPIONSHIPS PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS
All relationships and activities with partners, supporters, and sponsors must be done in the spirit of promoting the European Para Championships athletes and European Para Championships sports in the true spirit of fair play and in compliance with the European Para Championships values and ideals.
- SUSPECTED BREACHES OF THIS CODE OF ETHICS
Suspected breaches of this Code of Ethics will be governed by the European Para Championships Board together with the specific IF, if it concerns a sports issue. If it concerns a general organisation, commercial or hosting issue the European Para Championships Board will be advised by a legal team.