Statutes
The IYPT is a legal organization established in Switzerland. Thus, its official statutes are in German. Nevertheless, since the official language of the IYPT is English, an authoritative translation to English is provided.
IYPT Statutes 2025 – English Version
Statutes of the association International Young Physicists’ Tournament
(IYPT)
The following statutes are a translation of the original, legally binding document written in German.
Terms and Definitions
The terms below have the following meaning
- IYPT: International Young Physicists’ Tournament. A natural science competition for high school students organized by the association IYPT.
- IMO: International Member Organization. A full member of the IYPT. IMOs are recognized by the association IYPT and represent its interest in their respective country.
- IOC-Meeting: International Organizing Committee Meeting (IOC). The highest governing body of the association.
- IOC-delegate: a person who is eligible to participate at the IOC-meeting.
- Country: A state recognized by the international community or a territory that has been accepted by an IOC meeting.
- IYPT-Team: a team accepted for participation at the IYPT.
I. Name, Seat, and Purpose
Art. 1 Name
The association “International Young Physicists’ Tournament (IYPT)” is an association within the meaning of Article 60 et seq. of the Swiss Civil Code.
Art. 2 Seat
The legal seat and legal jurisdiction of the association is Zurich (MNG Rämibühl, Physics Institute, Rämistrasse 54, 8001 Zurich).
Art. 3 Purpose
1 The purpose of the association is to organize international physics competitions to promote and support middle school students.
2 The association is politically and religiously neutral and operates on a non-profit basis.
II. Funds
Art. 4 Funds
The association’s funds for pursuing its purpose consist of:
- Membership fees;
- Voluntary contributions (sponsorship funds, donations, etc.);
- Subsidies;
- Proceeds from events and the association’s assets;
- Revenues from service agreements.
The membership fees are determined by the IOC Meeting. Different membership fees for IMO members and supporting members are permitted
III. Membership
Art. 5 Members
1 The association consists of ordinary members (IMO) and supporting members.
2 Only legal entities are eligible to become IMOs. Only one IMO is recognized per country. IMOs have a single voting and election right at the IOC Meeting.
3 Supporting members may be natural or legal persons who support the purpose of the association. Supporting members do not have voting rights.
Art. 6 Admission supporting member
Admission as a supporting member is granted by the Board upon written application.
Art. 7 Admission as IMO
1 Any legal entity that is responsible for the organization and promotion of tournaments in the spirit of the IYPT in its country and supports the purpose of the association may become an IMO.
2 The application for registration as an IMO must be submitted in writing to the Board by an authorized person. The application must be supported by a person who has participated in an IYPT within the last five years as an observer, team leader, team member, or juror.
3 The Board defines a registration process to ensure that all interested students in the respective country have a fair opportunity to qualify for the IYPT-team. Based on this, the board makes its decision regarding the application and the duration of membership (maximum of five years). In the case of a positive decision, a simple majority at the IOC meeting is sufficient. In the case of a negative decision, the IOC meeting can override it with a two-thirds majority.
4 If approved, admission takes effect at the beginning of the next fiscal year.
Art. 8 Rights as IMO
1 IMOs are represented at the IOC Meeting by an IOC-delegate designated by the respective IMO. A list of current IOC-Delegates
2 IMOs have the exclusive right to register a team from their respective country for the IYPT.
Art. 9 Expiry IMO-status and expulsion
1 IMOs lose their status after a maximum of five years and must submit a new application for IMO registration. IMOs also lose their status if they fail to send a team to two consecutive IYPTs.
2 A member may be excluded from the association by an IOC resolution in justified cases, requiring a two-thirds majority.
Art. 10 Resignation
Resignations from the association at the end of the fiscal year must be submitted to the Board in writing at least one month in advance.
IV. Organization
Art. 11 Highest body
The highest governing body of the association is the IOC Meeting (IOC). It appoints the Board and the auditors.
Art. 12 Legally binding signature
The association is legally bound towards third parties by the collective signature of the president and the secretary-general or the treasurer.
Art. 13 Fiscal year
The fiscal year starts on January 1st of each calendar year.
Art. 14 Language
English is the official language of the IYPT.
IV.1 IOC-Meeting
Art. 15 Tasks and responsibilities of IOC
- Election of the board and auditors;
- Final Decision on IMO membership applications;
- Selection of host countries for upcoming IYPT events;
- Adoption of the regulations for the IYPT;
- Approval of the problems for the IYPT;
- Approval of the minutes from the last IOC meeting;
- Approval and adoption of the annual financial statement, the auditors’ report, and the budget;
- Amendment of the statutes;
- Dissolution of the association.
Art. 16 Ordinary meeting
In every fiscal at least one ordinary IOC-Meeting is held.
Art. 17 Extraordinary meetings
Extraordinary IOC-Meetings must be convened with the announcement of the proposals, at the request of the Board or at the request of at least one-fifth of all IMOs.
Art. 18 Invitation
All IMOs are invited to the IOC Meeting in writing or via email. The invitation must be received at least 14 days before the meeting date. An agenda will be sent to the IMOs at least two days before the IOC Meeting. The Board is responsible for convening the IOC.
Art. 19 Meeting
The President presides over the IOC Meeting. If the President is absent, the Secretary General will preside. The Board is responsible for maintaining the minutes of the meeting. The minutes must be published on the IYPT website at least one month before the next IOC Meeting.
Art. 20 Quorum
A properly convened IOC meeting is quorate if more than half of the attending IMOs cast a valid vote. Extraordinary IOC meetings are quorate if at least half of the IMOs members are present and cast a valid vote.
Art. 21 Decision Making
Resolutions are passed by a relative majority of the valid votes cast (except for amendments to the statutes or tournament regulation, which require a two-thirds majority and decisions on problem selection which follow the rules stipulated in a separate procedural document). In the event of a tie, the chairperson has the casting vote. Upon request, voting can be conducted by secret ballot.
IV.2 Executive Committee
Art. 22 Election and term
1 The Board, henceforth Executive Committee (EC) is elected by the IOC for a term of four years. Re-election can take place as often as desired. The term begins on January 1st following the election.
2 The EC consists of five members: a President, a Treasurer, a Secretary General, and two members at large.
3 An EC-member may resign. In the event of a resignation, a successor will be elected at the next IOC Meeting. The term of the successor will run until the end of the term of the original EC-member.
4 The members of the EC serve on a voluntary basis and are generally only entitled to reimbursement for their actual expenses and out-of-pocket costs. A reasonable compensation may be provided for exceptional services rendered by individual EC-members.
Art. 23 Tasks
The EC manages the affairs of the association, represents it externally, and handles all business unless assigned to the IOC. The EC may form committees for specific tasks and delegate some of its responsibilities to them. These committees are under the supervision of the EC. The EC may transfer the association’s tasks to other organizations.
Art. 24 EC-meeting
The meetings of the EC take place as needed, but at least once per fiscal year. The President presides over the meetings. A record of the decisions is kept.
Art. 25 Decision-making
Quorum is reached when at least half of the EC-members are present. Each EC-member has one vote.
IV.3 Auditors
Art. 26 Election of auditors
The audit body is elected by the general assembly for a term of four years, with the possibility of re-election. It consists of two auditors. A member of the board cannot simultaneously be a member of the audit body.
Art. 27 Tasks of the auditors
The audit body examines the association’s annual financial statements and submits a written report and proposal to the IOC regarding the finances and accounting.
V. Liability, Amendments and Dissolution
Art. 28 Liability
The association’s assets may be used to cover the association’s liabilities. The IYPT and its Executive Committee assume no liability or responsibility for the actions of individual IOC members or IYPT participants. Members of the IYPT have no personal financial obligations toward the IYPT.
Art. 29 Amendments
The present statutes may be amended by the IOC. A minimum of two-thirds approval from the attending IMOs is required for this.
Art. 30 Dissolution
The dissolution of the association takes place following a resolution of the IOC, if at least two-thirds of the attending IMOs agree, or if the purpose of the association can no longer be fulfilled.
Art. 31 Liquidation
The liquidation is carried out by the Board, unless the IOC appoints special liquidators.
Art. 32 Association’s assets
The funds remaining after the dissolution of the association shall be donated to a tax-exempt institution based in Switzerland with a similar or identical purpose. Distribution among the members is prohibited.
VI. Final Provisions
Art. 33 Validity
These statutes were adopted at the general assembly on May 25, 2024, and came into force on that date.