Extraordinary General Assembly Held in Plaintel

Presided over by CBI President Dr Mutlu Türkmen, the Assembly addressed key organisational matters with full participation and consensus among members. The agenda was unanimously approved, setting a constructive tone for the subsequent discussions.

A central item was the Hong Kong membership issue, reviewed in detail with the support of the CBI Appeal Commission. After thorough presentations by both Hong Kong federations and open discussion among delegates, the Assembly voted unanimously to open doors for both organisations to be associate members and invited them to reapply upon receiving recognition from the National Olympic Committee or the Sports Ministry.

Further resolutions included the termination of India’s membership due to inactivity and administrative shortcomings, and the approval of the Brazilian Volo, Raffa and Pétanque Federation (LBZP) as the substitute national member for Brazil, endorsed by the Brazilian NOC.

The Assembly also discussed potential host nations for the 2026 World Championship, including Paraguay, with a written intention letter, as well as the USA, China, and Australia, which expressed interest. President Türkmen encouraged the submission of full bid proposals by the end of the year, emphasising the importance of geographic diversity in hosting.

Delegates from North and South America engaged in dialogue on the structure of the Pan-American Confederation and the distribution of World Championship quotas, agreeing to forward the issue to the CBI Executive Committee for further review.

Before closing, Mr Joe Quartarone (USA) proposed organising U18 and U23 World Championships, a suggestion warmly received by the Assembly.

The meeting concluded successfully, with President Türkmen expressing appreciation for the members’ dedication and unity in advancing the global development of bocce sports.