World, Area and Group Championships: Meetings requiring an I.P.C. Permit
IPC Athletics section shall have the right to organise or sanction Paralympic, World, Area or Group Championships for athletics at which more than one category of disability competes.
Details of sanctioned events are available from the IPC Headquarters, as are details of how to apply for a permit to stage such an event.
Events organised under this rule will use the IPC classifications
The fact that disabled people take medication to help with their condition is taken account of and all athletes on any medication for a permanent condition should declare their medication with a letter from their regular medical advisor (whether this is the GP or a specialist). However, this rule is emphasised, and any athlete found guilty of taking a banned undeclared substance shall receive the same penalty as an able bodied athlete.
Assistance to Athletes
“Only escorts and guide runners for Class 11 and 12 ( Visually Impaired B1 and B2) athletes will be permitted to accompany competitors on to the competition area. Persons acting as guides or escorts must be clearly identified by wearing a distinctively coloured vest provided by the Organising Committee’
The method of guidance is the choice of the athlete. He/she may choose to use an elbow lead, or a tether, or to run free. In addition the runner may receive verbal instruction from the guide. Bicycles or other mechanical means of transport must not be used by the guide
Methods of Guidance: Athletes are encouraged to provide their own guides. However, the organisers will provide an appropriate guide if the need has been indicated on the entry form in advance (together with specific details of the standard of guidance required)
At no time may the guide pull the athlete, or propel the athlete forward by pushing
Whether or not a tether is used, the athlete and guide shall not be more than 0.5m apart at all times
NOTE: Where extraordinary or accidental circumstances lead to a breach of this rule it shall be the sole responsibility of the IPC Technical Officer to decide the question of disqualification. The principles that will govern such a decision shall include consideration of any danger to or disadvantage suffered by another competitor in the same race
For Class 11 (Totally blind B1), acoustic signals are permitted. However, no visual modification to the existing facility is permitted. In events where acoustic assistance is used (e.g. Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump) complete silence shall be requested by spectators.
For Class 12 (Visually impaired B2), visual modification of the existing facility is permitted (i.e. paint, chalk, powder, cones, flags, etc.) Acoustic signals may also be used.
For Class 13 (Visually Impaired B3) IAAF rules will be followed in their entirety, except as noted below. IPC recognise the special needs of deaf-blind athletes, and is keen to encourage and facilitate their participation in competition. In case where deaf-blind athletes are competing in a competition, some modification to current rules may be necessary. Such modification should only be permitted with the prior approval of the Technical Delegate. In principal no rule modification that disadvantages any other competitor will be allowed
The early amendment just states that if an athlete is disqualified for an infringement of IAAF rules or an IPC modification, then the rule number or modification should appear in the results.
But there is also an additional method of being disqualified. IPC adds paragraph 2 which reads:
Simply states that no performance will be validated unless accomplished within the IAAF rules as amended by IPC
The weights of implements in competition are as per the following table: A greyed out box indicates that the class do not compete with the indicated implement
Class |
Shot |
Discus |
Javelin |
Hammer |
||||
Men |
Women |
Men |
Women |
Men |
Women |
Men |
Women |
|
| F11 | 7.26kg | 4kg | 2kg | 1kg | 800gm | 600gm | 7.26kg | 4kg |
| F12 | 7.26kg | 4kg | 2kg | 1kg | 800gm | 600gm | 7.26kg | 4kg |
| F13 | 7.26kg | 4kg | 2kg | 1kg | 800gm | 600gm | 7.26kg | 4kg |
In addition to the above implement weights there are a number of rules that will affect the throwing events. These are detailed below
Specific Field Rules
“For Class 11 and 12 (visually impaired B1 and B2), athletes may be brought to the throwing circle or runway by an escort. It is the task of the escort to help the athlete orientate him/herself in the throwing circle or on the runway before the attempt. The escort must leave the circle or runway before the attempt begins. Acoustic orientation is permitted before, during and after the attempt. Athletes may only be escorted from the circle or runway after the officials have determined whether or not the attempt was a valid one.
If the official in charge of the event decides that an escort who is providing acoustic orientation is in an unsafe location, the judge has the right to require the escort to move .
Field Events - General Conditions
(Forvisually impaired B1 and B2) “ Competitors in Classes 11 & 12 are permitted to use a caller for acoustic orientation. In providing this the caller must stand in a position which does not hinder the event officials .”
(Forvisually impaired B1 and B2) In field events where competitors receive assistance from callers or guides, the time allowed (1 minute per throw) shall begin, from the moment when the official responsible is satisfied that the athlete has completed the process of orientation. Should any competitor request verbal confirmation of the starting of the timing clock, an official shall give such confirmation.
NOTE: If the athlete loses orientation so that he/she requires to be re-orientated the clock shall be stopped and only restarted (to include any elapsed time already recorded) once orientation has again been completed.
Throwing Events - General Conditions
The first two alterations relate to the implements conforming to the Disability organisation requirements and the disallowing of the use of personal; equipment during the Paralympics.
The jumping events are entirely ambulant athlete events. There are no major competitions that include competitions for wheelchair users that are considered as substitutes for the jumps.
This does not preclude the classes of athlete not listed above from training and, if possible, competing, but when they compete they must take part in one of the classes listed.
In addition to the general rules in subsection 2.2 above and the classes of competition athletes there are some rules specific to the jumps. These are listed in the table below.
Specific Field Rules
“For Class 11 and 12 (visually impaired B1 and B2), athletes may be brought to the throwing circle or runway by an escort. It is the task of the escort to help the athlete orientate him/herself in the throwing circle or on the runway before the attempt. The escort must leave the circle or runway before the attempt begins. Acoustic orientation is permitted before, during and after the attempt. Athletes may only be escorted from the circle or runway after the officials have determined whether or not the attempt was a valid one.
If the official in charge of the event decides that an escort who is providing acoustic orientation is in an unsafe location, the judge has the right to require the escort to move .
Field Events - General Conditions
(Forvisually impaired B1 and B2) “ Competitors in Classes 11 & 12 are permitted to use a caller for acoustic orientation. In providing this the caller must stand in a position which does not hinder the event officials .”
“ Competitors in Class 11 may use a caller to provide acoustic orientation during the approach run in High Jump, Long and Triple Jump and a guide to assist in positioning the athlete on the runway.
Competitors in Class 12 may be accompanied by only one person who shall be permitted in the competition area who may serve as caller and/or guide. No additional person will be permitted in the competition area.”
(Forvisually impaired B1 and B2) In field events where competitors receive assistance from callers or guides, the time allowed ( 1 minute per jump under normal conditions) shall begin, from the moment when the official responsible is satisfied that the athlete has completed the process of orientation. Should any competitor request verbal confirmation of the starting of the timing clock, an official shall give such confirmation.
NOTE: If the athlete loses orientation so that he/she requires to be re-orientated the clock shall be stopped and only restarted (to include any elapsed time already recorded) once orientation has again been completed.
Vertical Jumps - High Jump
For Class F11 a note is added “NOTE: Class 11 competitors may touch the bar as an aid to orientation before commencing the run up. If on doing so the athlete dislodges the bar this will not count as an attempt.”
For Class F12 The rule is altered to include, “Athletes in Class 12 may place a visual aid on the bar. This must be approved by the responsible IPC technical official.”
Horizontal Jumps – Long Jump
For Class F11 and F12 there is no take-off board used. Instead a chalk square is used and the measurement is taken from “… the nearest impression left by the take off foot. Where an athlete does not take-off from the take-off area, but before it, measurement will be made to the edge of the take-off area furthest from the pit.”
The take-off area is then defined
“The take-off area shall consist of a rectangle 1.00m x 1.22m ( one metre length by the width of the long jump runway) which must be prepared in such a way (by use of chalk, talcum powder, light sand etc.) that the athlete leaves an impression on the area with his/her take-off foot.”
There is an additional note that details a safety aspect of Visually impaired horizontal jumping
“NOTE: For purposes of safety, it is strongly recommended that the minimum distance between the axis of the runway and the sides of the landing area be 1.75m if this recommendation cannot be met additional safety measures may be required by the Technical Delegate”
The diagram that accompanies this advice is reproduced below this table
Horizontal Jumps – Triple Jump
For Class F11 athletes the recommendation for the take-off board distance from the pit is a minimum of 9m
The minimum distance recommendation for Class F12 athletes is 11m.
In addition to the general rules given in Subsection 2.2 above there are a number of rules that will affect ambulant track events specifically. These are detailed below
The Race
For Class T11 and T12
100m to 800m for class 11 – athletes will compete accompanied by a guide. Each athlete shall be allocated two lanes for himself and the guide. The start lines in the staggered start will be those for lanes 1, 3, 5, 7 etc.
Class 12 athletes shall have the right to be allocated two lanes (for themselves and a guide in all races run in lanes, and in 800m started in lanes. In such cases the start lines in a staggered start will be those for lanes 1, 3, 5, 7 etc. An athlete in class 12 may opt to use a guide in any running event If this option is exercised, the rules for Class1 guiding will apply”
Finishing
For Class T11 and T12
“Competitor and guide in a competition are to be regarded as a team. As the athlete crosses the line, the guide must be behind him/her.”
Seedings, Draws and Qualification in Track Events
For Classes T11 – T13
“Track events should have the following maximum numbers (exclusive of guides) assuming an 8 lane track:
Class |
11 |
12 |
13 |
| 100m | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| 200m | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| 400m | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| 800m | 4/5* | 5* | 8 |
| 1500m | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| 5000m | 10 | 10 | 20 |
| 10000m | 10 | 10 | 20 |
* depending on starting arrangements
“The following qualifying conditions will apply for preliminary rounds and finals, except with the arrangements of the Technical Delegate:
100m – 400m (T11 – T12)
5 – 8 entries 2 Heats 1 st in each heat + 2 fastest losers to Final. Remaining
athletes to “B” Final
9 – 12 entries 3 Heats 1 st and 2 nd + 2 fastest losers to semi-finals (then as above)
13 – 16 entries 4 Heats 1 st + 4 fastest losers to semi-finals (then as above)
100m – 1500m (T13)
1 – 8 entries Final
9 – 16 2 Heats first 3 + 2 fastest losers to Final.
17 – 24 3 Heats first 4 + 4 fastest losers to semi-finals (then as above)
25 – 32 4 Heats first 3 + 4 fastest losers to semi-finals (then as above)
800m (T11 & T12) – assuming 5 in each race
1 – 5 entries Final
6 – 10 2 Heats first 2 + 1 fastest losers to Final.
11 – 15 3 Heats first 2 + 4 fastest losers to semi-finals (then as above)
16 – 20 4 Heats first 2 + 2 fastest losers to semi-finals (then as above)
1500m (T11 & T12)
1 – 6 entries Final
7 – 12 2 Heats first 2 + 2 fastest losers to Final.
13 – 18 3 Heats first 3 + 3 fastest losers to semi-finals (then as above)
5000m & 10000m (T11 & T12)
1 – 10 entries Final
11 – 20 2 Heats first 3 + 4 fastest losers to Final.
21 – 30 3 Heats first 2 + 4 fastest losers to semi-finals (then as above)
5000m & 10000m (T13)
1 – 20 entries Final
21 – 40 2 Heats first 8 + 4 fastest losers to Final.
Relay Races
For Classes T11 – T13
“Each team shall be allocated two adjacent lanes. Where it is required for the relay to be run in lanes, the competitors may use either of their two allocated lanes. The lines of the inner of the two allocated lanes shall be extended across the outer of the two allocated lanes to mark the distances of the stages and to denote the scratch lines. Changes will take places as for lanes 1, 3, 5, 7. The extension of start and exchange box shall be done with tape of the same colour as the existing lane markings
A fair exchange is established when the incoming runner passes the baton to the outgoing runner within the take-over zone. The baton exchange may take place either between guides or athletes without restriction, except that the conditions of the method of guidance must be met and the guide must be behind the athlete at the moment of entering the exchange zone. The outgoing athlete and guide must both be inside the exchange zone at the moment when the baton is exchanged. Once the waiting runner leaves the take-over zone, he/she will not re-enter the take-over zone
One guide per exchange zone will be allowed on the track to help with the positioning of any Class 12 athlete who intends to run without a guide runner. The guide must remain in a position which does not interfere with the conduct of the race.
The relay must have a minimum of one Class 11 and one Class 12 runner. The relay team shall have not more than one Class 13 runner.”
In disability athletics there are combined events competitions in which athletes compete in a number of events, scoring points for their performance in these events. These are normally one day competitions consisting of 5 events. The events and their order are specific to certain classes of athlete. The pentathlon events should be scheduled in the order given in the following table for the classes and genders given. If no gender appears in the class column then both men and women compete in the same order of events
If an athlete in the Cerebral Palsy or Spinal injuries classes (Classes 32 to 38 or classes F51 to F58) is classified in different classes for different events, then the athlete must compete in the higher category for all combined events competitions. For example an athlete may be classed in F53 for javelin, but in F54 for shot and Discus. This athlete must compete in the F54 pentathlon. Since the cerebral palsy and spinal injury classifications are on functional ability when looked at in respect of the activity being undertaken, an athlete may be classified in two or even three different classes for the field events. However, this is not common.
Classes |
1st event |
2nd event |
3rd event |
4th event |
5th event |
| 11 to 13 Men | Long Jump | Javelin | 100m | Discus | 1500m |
| 11 to 13 Women | Long Jump | Shot | 100m | Discus | 800m |
| 33 & 34 | Shot | Javelin | 100m | Discus | 800m |
| 35 & 36 Men | Shot | Javelin | 200m | Discus | 1500m |
| 35 & 36 Women | Shot | Javelin | 200m | Discus | 800m |
| 37 & 38 Men | Long Jump | Javelin | 200m | Discus | 1500m |
| 37 & 38 Women | Long Jump | Javelin | 200m | Discus | 800m |
| 42 | Long Jump | Shot | 100m | Discus | High Jump |
| 44 | Long Jump | Shot | 100m | Discus | 400m |
| 45 Men | High Jump | 200m | Triple Jump | 1500m | Long Jump |
| 45 Women | 100m | Long Jump | 200m | High Jump | 800m |
| 46 Men | High Jump | Javelin | 200m | Discus | 1500m |
| 46 Women | High Jump | Javelin | 200m | Discus | 800m |
| F51 | 100m | Club | 400m | Discus | 800m |
| F52 & F53 | Shot | Javelin | 100m | Discus | 800m |
| F54 to F58 | Shot | Javelin | 200m | Discus | 1500m |
