By Graham Thomas
World Boccia has approved sweeping governance reforms designed to modernise its structure, strengthen accountability and ensure the sport’s international federation remains fit for the future.
The changes were unanimously backed by members during an Extraordinary General Assembly (EGA) last weekend.
Delegates voted 28-0 in favour of amendments to the organisation’s Articles of Association, with one abstention recorded due to a technical voting issue.
The reforms represent the first comprehensive review of World Boccia’s constitutional framework since 2017 and form part of a wider programme of governance improvements being undertaken by the federation.
Alongside the governance changes, World Boccia has continued to expand its global membership.
The federation’s board has approved Bangladesh, Paraguay and Belarus as new full members, whilst it was confirmed that a transfer of membership for the Republic of Ireland has been made to the Irish Wheelchair Association.
Worldwide growth
The additions increase the organisation’s global reach and reflect the continued growth of boccia worldwide as preparations continue for a busy 2026 season, culminating in the World Championships in Seoul.
World Boccia President Jon Morgan described the changes as an important milestone in the organisation’s development.
“This is crucial to the continuing development and evolution of good governance within World Boccia,” Morgan told members during the meeting.
“Good governance is the bedrock and foundation of any organisation and it starts with the Articles of Association.”
The revised Articles introduce a range of structural and procedural changes aimed at improving transparency, accountability and operational effectiveness.
Among the most significant reforms are changes to board composition to enhance gender diversity and bring a broader mix of skills into the leadership team.
New positions
The amendments also create the new positions of First Vice President and Second Vice President, introduce an athlete representative and independent board member roles, and establish a Director of Finance position to replace the traditional Treasurer role.
At the same time, the role of Secretary General will be removed, reflecting the development of a fully functioning executive structure within World Boccia.
The federation has also strengthened its commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, safeguarding and fairness through the inclusion of specific provisions within the Articles.
Additional changes include compliance measures linked to International Paralympic Committee membership requirements, clarification of the Athletes Committee’s role and responsibilities, updates to membership provisions and the adoption of gender-neutral language throughout the governing document.
World Boccia Secretary General Marta Mascarenhas said the reforms would provide the organisation with greater flexibility while ensuring members remain at the centre of decision-making.
Pic: Raquel Gouveia
“Such changes enable us to respond more swiftly and effectively to market opportunities and challenges. In terms of member engagement and benefits, they ensure that the interests of all members are protected and are paramount,” she said.
Extensive discussions
Mascarenhas noted that the proposed amendments had been extensively discussed with members before the vote.
“Proposed draft amendments have been trailed in advance of this extraordinary general meeting and information shared in advance with members at the December 2025 and March 2026 Regional Members meetings.
“The proposed changes to the Articles of Association and results in the governance arrangements will underpin further support development of World Boccia and the continual improvement of services to our members.”
Explaining the scope of the reforms, Mascarenhas highlighted the breadth of changes contained within the new constitutional framework.
She also added that the reforms modernise key leadership positions and governance processes.
Next General Assembly
The changes will come into effect following the completion of the required legal filings, with the new Articles expected to be fully operational ahead of the General Assembly scheduled for August 26 in Seoul during the 2026 World Championships.
Board elections at that Assembly will be conducted under the new governance framework, while elections for the Athletes Council – which was created in December 2022 – will also take place, with the council subsequently nominating its representative to serve on the board.
The constitutional reforms form part of a broader governance programme undertaken by World Boccia in recent years.
During the EGA, Morgan highlighted the creation of a safeguarding sub-committee, the appointment of a new Chief Medical Officer to strengthen anti-doping compliance, and ongoing work on transgender athlete policy development and bylaw reviews.
