We’re excited to share some of the important decisions and updates made during this year’s summit:
1.Membership Growth: We’re proud to say that 20 member nations attended this year’s summit, with multiple delegates representing each. With 28 member nations currently in our organization and more pending approval, this strong turnout reflects the dedication and engagement within our growing community.
2. Membership Fees Adjustment: To make participation more accessible, we’ve adjusted fees to align with local economies. This change, approved with near-unanimous support, ensures a fairer approach for all members.
3. Conference Restructuring: The world conferences have been streamlined into four. One major change is that all of Europe will now be treated as a single conference instead of two. National Organizations (NOs) expressed optimism that this will encourage more travel to tournaments across the region.
4. Voting Power Update: To create a more balanced representation, voting rights were revised based on membership numbers:
• 1 vote for 15-50 members
• 2 votes for 51-100 members
• 3 votes for 101+ members
This approach strengthens the voice of larger nations without diminishing smaller ones.
5. Competitor Withdrawals: The issue of competitors dropping out of events without prior notice was addressed. Penalties, such as point deductions and registration restrictions, will now apply. However, reviews will be conducted to ensure fairness for cases with valid reasons.
6. Rules and Time Limits: Round durations have been standardized, and clarifications made for issuing red cards in the case of injuries and other unique circumstances experienced this past year.
7. Outrance Rules Update: While the new Outrance Rules are still under debate, we’ve decided to give them another season to develop. A notable change for Division 2 now ends the round instead of the match, giving competitors a chance to recover and turn things around.
8. Technical Standards: Comprehensive technical requirements for weapons, shields, armor, and equipment are being finalized. These will focus more on precise statistics than just the names of items.
9. AC Rules Revision: The updated AC rules were passed with overwhelming support and will be released soon.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to these important discussions and decisions. The collaborative efforts of our community at BI Summit 2024 have paved the way for an exciting year ahead!