Background
UMFÍ and ÍSÍ have long run working groups to examine the situation of the regional sports federations in Iceland. There are 25 regional sports federations around the country, with varying activities and levels of activity.
The allocation of lottery funds to regional sports federations and their member clubs has varied, and UMFÍ’s and ÍSÍ’s rules have differed. Joint committees of the organisations have prepared proposals for a coordinated division of lottery funds, which the organisations’ boards and committees have agreed on.
Stakeholders all over the country, large and small, are involved in the organisation, and a wide range of views is taken into account.
The emphasis is on ensuring that the outcome brings more funding to rural areas, that rules are coordinated regardless of membership of the organisations, and that special emphasis is placed on meeting the goals of the organisations and the government.
From the UMFÍ Federation Congress 2023
Proposal on regional sports federations approved at the congress:
“The 53rd UMFÍ Federation Congress, held at Hótel Geysir in Haukadalur on 20–22 October 2023, approves that UMFÍ, in consultation with ÍSÍ and the regional sports federations, work towards establishing 8 regional offices around the country to support the regional sports federations. The project shall involve neither a change in the democratic division of regional sports federations nor changes to the distribution of votes at ÍSÍ and UMFÍ congresses. A condition for such regional offices is that financial support from the state can be secured for the project, with reference to the state’s regionally divided projects that fit well with the tasks and obligations of the sports movement.”
Regulation on the lottery and lottery allocations
The following proposal was approved at the 53rd UMFÍ Federation Congress.
Lottery rules and lottery allocations
I. Division of UMFÍ’s lottery income:
- 79% to member federations.
- 14% to UMFÍ.
- 7% to the UMFÍ Education and Project Fund, allocated according to the fund’s regulation.
II. Division of lottery income to UMFÍ’s member federations:
The member federations’ share (79%) shall be divided as follows:
- 15% to running the regional offices of the regional sports federations.
- 85% to regional sports federations according to the number of residents aged 18 and under on 31 December of the previous year.
III. Rule on the allocation for running the regional offices of the regional sports federations
The allocation for running the regional offices is not subject to conditions.
IV. Rule on the allocation to member federations
A condition for each year’s allocation to member federations is that their representative attended the last Federation Congress / Federation Council Meeting. The share of those who do not attend is reduced, and the percentage is decided by the UMFÍ Board and announced with the notice of the meeting. The UMFÍ Board may also waive reductions for non-attendance if unexpected and unforeseen events occur (e.g. weather or accidents).
If a regional sports federation is not a member of UMFÍ, its share shall be calculated in accordance with the rules on the number of residents aged 18 and under on 31 December of the previous year. The regional federation’s share is distributed to UMFÍ, but first, if there is a club with direct membership of UMFÍ within the regional federation, that club shall receive an amount corresponding to its share of participants aged 18 and under within the regional federation according to the latest annual reports in the sports movement’s reporting system.
V. Allocation Before the 15th of each month, all proceeds received for the previous month shall be allocated. Each payment shall be accompanied by a statement showing the basis for the allocation.
Reservation
These changes take effect once agreements have been reached with the government for it to provide comparable financial support to the regional offices of the regional sports federations, with reference to, among other things, the Prosperity Act No. 86/2021. Until then, the previous rules apply. If agreement between UMFÍ, ÍSÍ and the government has not been reached before the UMFÍ Federation Congress in 2025, the congress shall then decide on the continuation of the matter.
